"Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - 
is the key to unlocking our potential."
                                                        ~Winston Churchill

 

Wheel of a Deal Wednesday

The Spokesperson E-Newsletter
Five Tips for Delivering Virtual Keynotes (or Playnotes!)
Hello facilitator friends!

The last few weeks I have delivered several Virtual Keynotes/Playnotes to a variety of audiences.  Yesterday I lead one for 12-14 year old teens with a focus on leadership, We had so much fun!  So far the main platform I have used is Zoom, so my experience is based on their features, but whether you are delivering a keynote or any other presentation, here are a few tips on working with a large audience in a Virtual format: 
  1. Use the Chat Box often.   When you ask a question, encourage them to type a response in the Chat Box.  This helps keep participants engaged and you get instant feedback.  In the first few minutes of your meeting when you are waiting for everyone to arrive, ask them to type in where they are viewing from today, or use the interactive polling feature.
  2. Call people by name.  The smiles that light up on people's faces when they hear their name called out is completely amazing!  
  3. Get them moving.  Incorporate activities that require some kind of movement to them.  In yesterday's session I did a modified version of Have You Ever with various levels of risk/comfort zones geared towards 12-14 year olds. There is a sample of this activity in this video recording at the 54:43 mark.  This is from the first Virtual Team Building Activities session I lead back in March.  (We did not record yesterday's session for public viewing because it was with kids.)
  4. Use breakout rooms.  This is one of my favorite features on Zoom, and why I prefer this platform.  I'm sure the other platforms will eventually add this feature, too (or at least I hope they do!).  Small breakout rooms are so valuable for allowing participants their opportunity to discuss or debrief their experiences.  You can also use them for creative gallery photos and other ways to let participants have some fun!  (Look at these smiles!)
  5. Let them Debrief!  Create a custom slide with good debriefing questions for participants to discuss in breakout rooms.  Make a jpeg of the slide and add it to your website so you can put a link to the graphic in the chatbox.  Send participants into breakout rooms and ask one person to link to the graphic and share their screen so everyone can see it.  Here's an example of one slide I used yesterday to debrief the 'Have You Ever' activity with the teens:  
    (If you click on the photo, it will also take you to the website view.)
Hopefully these tips are helpful!

Now I have a question for you...  What type of webinar content would be helpful to you right now?  I"m happy to create more useful content for everyone, but I'd love some feedback on what would be the most helpful at this time.   Click on this link to add your response!  I'm using Poll Everywhere to gather this information, so you'll be able to publicly see what other people are responding with as well.

Last week Chris Cavert and I met up to record another new episode of our podcast, ' Ask Michelle & Chris About Team Building'  This week we tackled: "What are the Pros and Cons of Using Blindfolds?"     You can listen to, download and access the show notes to this episode and all available episodes  at this link .  

Best wishes to you and your loved ones to be healthy, safe and to be virtually connected.  

Have fun out there, 
Michelle        
Michelle Cummings
Owner/Trainer/Big Wheel
Training Wheels  

Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer
Personify Leadership
www.PersonifyLeadership.com
Personify Leadership Self-Paced Online Course

Many of you know I have a second company called Personify Leadership.  My business partner, Angela Sebaly, and I have developed a Self-Paced, Experiential, Online Course for leaders based on her best-selling book, The Courageous Leader.  

Are you looking for a unique virtual course that will help build your skills as a Courageous Leader?  Look no further!  Our self-paced, virtual version of this course is a perfect fit for remote teams and those seeking professional development online.

We are offering a discounted price until July 31.  Click here to register or to learn more!
Important Training Wheels Info

Wheel of a Deal:  On Sale this Week...

Portable Team Building Activities

by Chris Cavert
Games, Initiatives, and Team Challenges for Any Space
By Chris Cavert and Friends

An evocative list-FUN, choice of challenge, discussion, compassion, self-efficacy, respect, acceptance, integrity, discovery, teamwork-all integral parts of experiential/adventure education. Did you notice the bold first word in this magic list? Fortunately, Chris Cavert, is a dedicated FUN magnet, and your welcoming guide to active participation (from the Foreword by Karl Rohnke).

This book is filled with a variety of teambuilding activities with a range of challenge levels.These activities can be used with middle and high school students, college students, and adult groups of all ages and backgrounds. Most of the challenges require easy-to-find props and equipment, others require some extra effort before you play. All the activities can be resources to add to powerful and positive pro-social development programs.   

Regular:  $34.99  On Sale:  $29.99

Comfort Zone Bullseye

Those of us in the Experiential industry often ask our participants to step outside of their comfort zones.  This Comfort Zone Bullseye Activity will help participants to understand what it means to step outside of their comfort zone and be open to experiencing something new.  This activity also allows participants to see how one person may be in their Comfort Zone, and another person may be in the Danger Zone for the same scenario.  This leads to excellent debriefing points on how we all have different tolerances for different scenarios.
The Three Zones
  • Comfort Zone:  Where you are comfortable and feel 'safe'.  Routines are easy, I possess skills that enable me to perform tasks well.
  • Stretch Zone:  Where you are doing something new, allowing yourself to learn, you feel energized and engaged.  You are willing to take risks.  
  • Danger Zone:   (or Panic Zone)  Where you are paralyzed by fear, cannot think straight and are completely and utterly challenged to use your resources.
Regular:  $799.99  On Sale:  $599.99  (Floor model)
Regular:  $49.99   On Sale:  $44.99  (Table Top model)

Blank Thumball

The Blank Thumball was designed to help facilitators, trainers and teachers create their own review questions to get participants talking about what they are learning. Using a fine-tipped permanent marker, you can write directly onto the blank panels.

This active review process can help shift some of the responsibility for successful processing from the facilitator to the participants. The questions can be answered in a group setting or used with individuals.  Create that custom content and start using it with your groups today!

Regular:  $26.99  On Sale:  $24.99

Experiential Facilitation 101 Class

Our Experiential Facilitation 101 training is an introductory class for the team building facilitator.  This three-day training provides an important first step in building the foundational skills necessary to lead experiential programs.  
 
 
Date:  October 6-8, 2020
Date:  December 15-17, 2020
Location:  Hampton Inn, Littleton, CO
Time:  9:00am-4:30pm,  Breakfast & Lunch included!
Price:  $975
Includes instruction manual and $50 credit towards Training Wheels gear.

Certification in this class:  $3500, July 7-10, October 6-9 and December 15-18.
Social Media Sites
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Make sure to 'Like' us on Facebook!  We post coupons, activity ideas and other fun things each week.  You can also interact with other Facilitators!
 
Connect with me on Linked In!  
Training Wheels Linked In Company Profile:  Training Wheels Group LLC
Personify Leadership Linked In Company Profile:   Personify Leadership
 
Follow me on Twitter!  @TrainingWheels1     @PersonifyLeader   @MichelleCSocial
Where In the World is Michelle?
Upcoming Conferences and Workshops where Michelle is presenting:  
biking backpackers
Want to participate in one of Michelle's workshops?  Is she near you?  Piggy back a training for your organization when she is traveling near you.  Here's a link to our event calendar as well.

All In-Person Programs Cancelled or Postponed through the middle of August.

July 22, Virtual Keynote for a Youth Event

July 29, Virtual Keynote for a Youth Event

July 31, Virtual Client Program

August 4, Client Program, Denver, CO

August 26, Client Program, Missouri

August 25-26, Virtual Client Program
I can't believe you made it all the way to the bottom of this email! Kudos!