Organizational Development: A Manual for Managers and ... - FPDL

9. Tools
9.1 WARMING UP AND TUNING IN. One of specific features of the “transitional” audience is a
very different background of officials who come for the course. There may be highly educated
professor in one group with the worker or driver. Some are experienced national-wide known
politicians and others are not interested in politics at all. Political belongings may cause quite
hostile pre-adjustments. Ages are different also. However, they all are men and women, usually
they are good people, they are all interested in what will happen, who are the neighbours and
trainers, and so on. Therefore, good way to start is to tell trainees more about the organisers,
why do they do it, who are trainers and what are their ambitions. For example, we always say
that we consider ourselves far not so smart and experienced like our trainees, but we have
some special skills in helping other people to exchange their knowledge and experience,
probably to make theirs life experience a bit more conscious and operable, and so on. However,
it is necessary to advice audience in indirect form about the relevant background and
achievements of those who are going to teach them, just to diminish a cognitive dissonance of
some participants, who could consider themselves older, better educated and experienced, than
trainers.
There are many ways to become acquainted with trainees. A bad one is an official representing
by each trainee of himself. In dependence from the kind of audience, general mood at the
beginning and other circumstances, trainer should choose one of the methods like: talking five
minutes in pairs and then representing neighbours (it works even when all group come from the
same organisation – than we ask them to find out something new about his neighbour and
share with others); playing with the small ball when each who get it should say his name and
something about himself; and so on. We never know in advance, which way will be most
suitable in the moment. (Ones we should start from dancing, just switching in very pleasant
music, than trainers and organisers invited some less reserved participants, others joined us,
and in 15 minutes very cold audience became very warm and ready to work together. In the
other case, a bottle of cognac made the necessary effect.)
9.2 PRESENTATIONS. Oral presentation of the models and necessary theoretical materials is one
of the most difficult things to do in training courses for adult professionals.
To tune in the topic, it is always better to start with the exercise of any kind, which would
demonstrate to trainees, that they do not understand well enough some ideas (for example, it is
not easy to explain what means word ‘politic’ or ‘quality’), or that they understand the idea very
differently. Then the presentation of this idea by trainer looks like having more sense and will be
meet with more consciousness and interest.
Taking in account very different background of trainees, it is a challenge not to say things, which
are well known to the part of the audience, or at least to say them in a way, which would make
these things interesting for everyone. One of the most important rules is never explain what
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