Exercise 31. Outline the purpose of

Exercise 3
1. Outline the purpose of the activity.
2. Divide the group in half and ask one half to wait outside the training
room and await instructions. Explain to the other half of the group that
they will be observers for the exercise and outline what will be taking
place. Ask them to note what helps and what hinders the person’s
listening skills.
3. Call in the first member of the group outside the room. Tell him or her to
listen carefully to the impending message and that he or she will have to
repeat the same message to the next member of the group. Explain that
taking notes or asking questions is not allowed. Relay the message on
Handout 45.2 in a way that will help the participant listen. For example,
put the participant at ease, vary your tone of voice, and emphasize the
key points. Once the message has been read, ask the participant to call
in another participant of the group and relay the message from memory.
Repeat this process until all participants have heard the message.
4. Review the exercise by asking the observers how the message became
distorted. Ask the group to comment on how much easier the exercise
would have been if the group had been able to take notes and ask
questions. Stress that everyone has a limit to the amount of information
they can remember. Notes are useful if taken selectively (for example,
by writing down key words). Taking lengthy notes results in a lack of eye
contact and concentration, and consequently gives the impression that
people are not listening. Furthermore, if notes are going to be taken, it is
beneficial to explain to the speaker what is happening and why.