Sample # 1: Get the IDEA?

Overview of Activity

“IDEA” stands for Innovation, Development, Enthusiasm, and Application—all skills needed to be a an effective leader.

Procedure

Step 1: Provide an overview of the purpose and use of IDEA teams in your program.

The IDEA groups will give participants an opportunity to discuss issues, complete assignments, and share program experiences in smaller groups.

The IDEA teams will act as support groups for participants throughout the program.

Step 2: Explain how the name IDEA was derived, using the large sign.

I = Innovation

Leaders recognize the need for change and continuous improvement so they can lead others in creating innovations.

D = Development

Leaders encourage and provide resources for their followers’ development and their own.

E = Enthusiasm

Leaders need to display enthusiasm and a positive attitude, even during challenging times.

A = Application

Learning is incomplete without the opportunity to apply what has been learned.

Step 3: Organize participants into teams and immediately assign a team-building exercise or a task. Have participants meet in their IDEA teams once each day to complete tasks within selected modules.

Step 4: The IDEA groups you have just joined will give you an opportunity to discuss issues, complete assignments together, and share program experiences periodically. Your IDEA teams will also provide any additional support throughout the program. Additionally, use these groups to discuss workplace issues that may arise.

Sample # 2: Make It Rhyme With “Leader”

Objectives: To stimulate creative thinking while learning leadership skills.

Procedure

Step 1: Divide participants into small groups of 3 to 5 people each. Hand each group a pack of index cards and one sheet of paper.

Step 2: Say, “Thinking about leadership activities in various ways can be instructive. If we stretch our imaginations, which often takes a linear form, we can discover fresh, new perspectives about our leadership strengths and challenges that will astonish us.”‘

Step 3: Give the following directions:

“Your group will be creating a personal leadership ‘deck’ of words or terms that fit the categories listed on the flipchart. You can work from the sheet of paper and then transfer one word to each card, or you can write directly on the cards. Decide this before beginning.”

Step 4: Your flipchart should show the following three categories:

The Five Senses (sight, touch, taste, sound, smell) (16 words for each of the five senses = 80)

Motion (10 words)

Abstractions (10 “abstractions,” such as leadership, love, freedom, meaning of life)

Step 5: Then explain the rules. All words or terms on the list must be:

Meaningful to you

Specific (not “tree,” but “aspen tree”; not “bird,” but “robin”)

Pleasing to the ear

Use no adverbs and no plurals.

Step 6: Begin the poetry part of the activity with this explanation:

“When you have 100 words or terms written on the cards, spread them out. Choose cards that you can use to create a poem about leadership. Take 15 to 20 minutes to write a poem that supports the theme of leadership. Add more words as needed to flesh out the poem.”

Step 7: When the groups have finished, have one member of each group read their poem to the total group. Encourage applause.

Step 8: Post the poems (or collect them and make copies for everyone) and bring the session to a close. The trainer concludes the activity by congratulating all the burgeoning poets and suggesting that they think about leadership activities as involving every sense and feeling identified in their poems.

Leadership Activities

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