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

Third – the cases should not be too complicated, taking in account the possibility to process
them to the successful end within the information and time available at the training event. Any
exercise with the practical case should be completed to demonstrate the power, not the
hopelessness of method, which is the subject of training. Trainers should come to the feeling
that they can do it in this way, and that this way is effective. Even going through the utmost
efforts and frustration, they should receive at the end of exercise positive emotions. Otherwise
the new skill will not be fixed and the willingness to apply it will not appear.
9.6 INDIVIDUAL EXERCISES. This kind of exercises may produce a double effect – not only in
developing certain target skill, but also developing the general skill of dialog with yourself. Best
managers and politicians do it often. Others may benefit a lot from the training, which would
accustom them to look on them, critically analyse the way of minding, background of decisions,
place and role in organisation and so on. Individual exercises works well, when participants are
motivated enough to put necessary efforts and to be earnest with themselves. To ensure it is
another challenging task for trainer.
Before asking trainees to do something individually, trainer should be sure, that everyone is
willing or at least agrees to do so and in the way prescribed. Of course, when they know that it
will be mandatory to make the report of results to the whole group – they are forced to do well, if
not the best (it depends from the composition of the group and the general mood in the moment
of exercise). However, it does not work in all cases.
Some individual exercises are designed to provide feedback to the trainee himself and they may
touch the matters, not suitable for publicity. Trainer cannot and should not require unacceptable
disclosure. In such cases, only trainees are controllers of themselves. If they do not like to do
what they asked to do – they will not do it. This may destroy the base for following activity and
diminish following up effect of the training.
9.7 GROUP EXERCISES. It goes without discussion – group exercises are the most powerful
instruments of training. However, it is necessary to ensure a sufficiently strong and positive
experience for trainees. They should be impressed, and then they will probably make
conclusions and change their attitude. For this effect to happen, the groups should be of a right
size (4-6 person) and a right composition (which would allow both motivation and openness),
they should have relevant and sufficiently difficult tasks to mobilise efforts and demonstrate
advantages, and they should have enough time to get the necessary experience (but not more
time).
9.8 GAMES. Game is a very powerful instrument. Adults love games. It is very tempting for some
trainers to use games as much as possible. However, while keeping in mind all advantages of
games, we should also take in account, that any game takes off some critical resources,
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