Interpersonal Skills Exercises
Interpersonal Skills Exercises
Interpersonal Skills Exercises
Interpersonal Skills
INTERPERSONAL
SKILLS
MODULE
January 2003
Trinity College Dublin Generic Skills Integration Project
Interpersonal Skills
EXERCISES
Non-Verbal Communication
Definitions of a Group
Group Experiences
Working in Groups
Group Role-Play
Relaxation Techniques
HANDOUTS
Giving a Presentation
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Professional Skills Interpersonal Skills
1. Introducing yourself 1 2 3 4 5
2. Listening - taking in what people say 1 2 3 4 5
3. Listening - showing interest in people 1 2 3 4 5
4. Communicating feelings 1 2 3 4 5
5. Dealing with anger/hostility 1 2 3 4 5
6. Responding to praise 1 2 3 4 5
7. Responding to expression of anxiety 1 2 3 4 5
8. Responding to negative feedback 1 2 3 4 5
9. Coping with apathy and expressions of 1 2 3 4 5
disinterest
10. Coping with silences in conversations 1 2 3 4 5
11. Appreciating other people's feelings 1 2 3 4 5
12. Giving information 1 2 3 4 5
13. Advising on emotional issues/difficulties 1 2 3 4 5
14. Seeking clarification 1 2 3 4 5
15. Asking open-ended questions 1 2 3 4 5
16. Waiting for replies 1 2 3 4 5
17. Changing direction of conversation 1 2 3 4 5
18. Expressing support 1 2 3 4 5
19. Self-disclosure as appropriate 1 2 3 4 5
20. Making a conversation more serious 1 2 3 4 5
21. Making a conversation less serious 1 2 3 4 5
22. Summarising what people have said 1 2 3 4 5
23. Holding someone's interest and attention 1 2 3 4 5
24. Finishing conversations in a positive way 1 2 3 4 5
25. Organising skills 1 2 3 4 5
26. Time management 1 2 3 4 5
27. Liasing with others 1 2 3 4 5
28. Resolving conflicts 1 2 3 4 5
29. Finishing tasks 1 2 3 4 5
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Ask the students to find a partner to work with. Each person will take it in
turns to talk for 2 minutes, about any subject they like, whilst the other person
makes it clear that they are not listening. Call them A and B, so A talks for 2
minutes and B demonstrates not listening and cannot say anything. They
then swap around and it is B’s turn.
When participants try to talk for 2 minutes they usually dry up before the 2
minutes. It is difficult to keep going when someone isn’t taking any notice of
you. This is a light-hearted start to the activity, so if it disintegrates into
humorous chaos, it doesn’t matter, the points will nonetheless be made.
When both A and B have had their turn, ask them first of all how it felt not to
be listened to and discuss and write up their immediate reactions on the
flipchart or board.
The following list represents the answers they are likely to come up with:
● Frustrated
● Angry/cross/livid
● That I’m not important
● What I was saying was boring
● I couldn’t go on – I dried up
● I felt insignificant.
Then ask what behaviours they observed in the person who was not listening
to them.
Point out that the exercise allowed for exaggerations but, taking the first list,
this is how we all feel when others don’t listen to us. In the second list, the
majority of these points apply to poor listeners and most of us are not good
listeners.
Read through each of the statements and then tick a box. You may strongly
agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each statement. You may
also indicate that you ‘don’t know’ about a particular item. Work fairly quickly
through the statements; do not miss any. You may score it by using a scale
with ‘1’ for strongly agree to ‘5’ for strongly disagree. Try discussing the
results with a partner or friend.
Divide into groups of three. Read each situation described and list the
possible feelings that may have been behind the nonverbal expression.
Compare your answers with the others in your group.
1) The radio is playing in the background while two flatmates are studying.
One of them gives a big sigh, gathers her books and goes to her room.
What might she be feeling?
3) Some friends are chatting. As the chat continues, one friend starts
tapping her feet, drumming her fingers and shifting in her seat. What
might she be feeling?
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Students divide into pairs, sitting back to back. One person will be the sender,
the other the receiver. Each sender gets a copy of a diagram similar to the
one below. The sender describes it to the receiver who must draw it as
accurately as possible. The receiver may not ask questions or look at the
diagram. The sender may not answer any questions or give any reactions.
After a fixed time (approx. 5 minutes) allow receivers to see diagrams and
have pairs discuss how the messages could have been improved to enhance
the drawings. As a larger group compare strategies for improving the sending
of messages (usually things like giving an overview, clear steps, etc.). If time
permits do the exercise again, this time allowing two-way communication.
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Feedback can also be practiced in groups of three where one person gives
feedback, one person receives feedback and the third acts as an observer
using the Guidelines for Role-Play Feedback.
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The following checklist may help you diagnose where to focus your attention
to develop your students’ teamwork skills.
From Johnson, D.W. & Johnson, F.P. (2000). Joining together: Group theory
and group skills, 7th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, p. 18.
Given below are several definitions of the concept group. Rank them from
most accurate (1) to least accurate (7). Write down your rationale for your
ranking. Find a partner and share your ranking and rationale, listen to his or
her ranking and rationale, and cooperatively create a new, improved ranking
and rationale. Then find another pair and repeat the procedure in a group of
four.
Rank Definition
A group is a number of individuals who join together to
achieve a goal.
A group is several individuals who are interdependent in
some way.
A group is a number of individuals who are interacting
with one another.
A group is a social unit consisting of two or more persons
who perceive themselves as belonging to a group.
A group is a collection of individuals who influence each
other.
A group is a collection of individuals who are trying to
satisfy some personal need through their joint association.
A group is a collection of individuals whose interactions
are structured by a set of roles and norms.
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4. What is the most enjoyable or satisfying group you have been a member
of, and what made it so good?
5. What is the least enjoyable or satisfying group you have been a member
of, and why was the experience a negative one?
6. From your experience to date, what skills do you have that may contribute
to working successfully in a group?
7. From experience so far, what group skills do you think you need to work
on?
Adapted from Maskill & Race (1996), Personal and professional development
for scientists, Unit 2, pp. 4-5.
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Below are several suggestions that provide group experiences for students.
Please also consult Gibbs (1994), Learning in teams; Jacques (2000),
Learning in groups; Johnson & Johnson (2000), Joining together: group
theory and group skills, 7th ed.
3. Take five minutes to brainstorm ideas on the theme “How could I wreck
group sessions and make sure they are an ordeal for the group and the
tutor?” Keep a list. Then take five minutes to brainstorm “If that is how
I wreck a group, how can I make it work?” From this a list of ground
rules for groups can be generated.
This is a group role-play activity from Maskill & Race (1996), Unit 2, p. 11.
The actual tasks can be altered to suit the subject matter. Encourage
structured feedback after the role-play
Presume that you are the advisory panel for a large international company
which has recently taken over a smaller pharmaceutical company. The
pharmaceutical company is developing two major new drugs:
Drug B might postpone the aging process by 20% for those over the age
of 40.
Task 1
The company can only afford to develop one of these drugs. As a team, you
have to advise the company on the following:
● Which of the two drugs should the company develop and why?
Task
2. Take in a slow, gentle breath, 2
breathing in through your nose.
As a team, design an innovative logo and choose a new name for this
pharmaceutical
3. Hold it for acompany.
second or two (count to four).
4. Let it go, slowly with a leisurely sigh of relief out your mouth.
6. Repeat 4 times.
This exercise forces your shoulders down and eases the abdomen, both
sources of tension. It also gives you a short break to think some positive
thoughts and get back in control.
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ASSESSMENT OF PRESENTATION
Material
Relevant to topic/audience 1 2 3 4
Structure clear & logical 1 2 3 4
Broken into key elements 1 2 3 4
Adequately explained/argued 1 2 3 4
Delivery
Kept to time 1 2 3 4
Mix of inputs/aids 1 2 3 4
Relevant/clear visual aids 1 2 3 4
Appropriate for topic/audience 1 2 3 4
Held audience interest 1 2 3 4
Showed confidence 1 2 3 4
Projected voice/self/content 1 2 3 4
Dealt with questions 1 2 3 4
Overall assessment 1 2 3 4
Comments:
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Person 1
Acceptance
What were your thoughts and feelings about the experience?
What do you think went well?
⮚ Suspend
What were you less judgement
pleased about? What– would
listen you
withdounbiased and
differently?
What help or suggestions do
open mind you want?
Person 3
Understanding
From what observed, what did you think was positive?
⮚ you
What do Usethink
probing
they in a helpful
might way to follow up
do differently?
⮚ Paraphrase and summarise to let the listener
know you are listening and to give them a
chance to correct misunderstandings
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An “I” message can include any or all of the following five parts.
The more you include, the more effective your message.
● Wants. You are far more likely to get what you want if
you say what you want. If someone doesn’t know what
you want, he doesn’t have a choice about helping you get
it. Ask clearly. Avoid demanding or using the word need.
Most people like to feel helpful, not obligated. Instead of
“Do the dishes when it’s your turn, or else!” say, “I want
to divide the housework fairly.”
From Ellis, D. (1994). Becoming a master student, 7th edition. Rapid City,
SD: Houghton Mifflin Co, p. 246.
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Giving Receiving
Constructive Feedback Feedback Constructively
Give feedback on others’ actions in a Ask for feedback about your actions in
specific situation, not in the abstract. a specific situation, not in abstract.
Share your perceptions and feelings, Ask for perceptions and feelings, not
not advice. advice.
Give feedback only when other people Do not let people force feedback on
ask you to. you.
Do not give people more feedback than Only receive as much feedback as you
they can understand at the time. can comprehend and process.
DO:
DO NOT:
Final Deadline:
1. ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
1. ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Sub-task 1: _________________________
Sub-task 2: _________________________
Sub-task 3: _________________________
Sub-task 4: _________________________
GIVING A PRESENTATION
Tips for an effective presentation
⮚ What are the goals of your presentation? Knowing this will help you to
determine what information to include and how you might format the
presentation.
⮚ Who is your audience? Identifying this will help you to know what level to
pitch the information, what questions might be asked and how to keep
your audience interested.
⬥ The Middle. This part of your talk covers the main points
(remember the Kiss principle, “Keep It Simple Stupid”). This is
where you develop your position. Try to link your ideas coherently
so the presentation flows and makes sense.
Tell them!
DELIVERY
⮚ If possible check out the room to ensure everything works and you have
an idea of the layout.
⮚ Try not to “read” your talk. Use cue cards to prompt your memory. On an
index card list a key point with several words to remind you of what you
want to cover or an example.
⮚ Use a conversational tone. Make sure you are speaking loud enough to be
heard.
⮚ Be aware of your body language i.e. try to maintain eye contact and keep
your hands under control (one way is by holding your cards). Face the
audience and try smiling occasionally!
⮚ Try to be enthusiastic.
⮚ Use visual aids only when making that point and remove when finished.
Try not to turn your back to the audience while using visual aids.
⮚ Try imagining the room and giving the presentation in a successful way,
playing it over and over in your mind’s eye. This will give you a feeling of
confidence and control.
⮚ Anticipate what might go wrong and prepare ahead, i.e. a glass of water in
case your mouth goes dry.
⮚ Take a deep breath, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through your
mouth to relieve tension – no one can see you do it!