Title: Jeopardy

Exercise Type: Communication Skills, Conflict Resolution

Time Required: 60 minutes
Suggested Group Size: Small to Medium
Suggested Age Group: Teenagers, Adults
Activity Level: Light

Materials Needed: One foam board labeled with Jeopardy and the four categories listed below.
Four questions for each of four categories attached to the board with Velcro. One-gallon bucket with mixed candy to reward participants.

Venue: Typical meeting room.

Purpose/Outcome: To practice effective listening, speaking, and conflict resolution skills.

Activity Description: The Jeopardy board is placed in a prominent position so that contestants can choose their question. Two contestants are selected for each question. In three of the categories there is double jeopardy and the Mystery category is all double value. Each contestant receives a minimum of three pieces of candy (each question has a value attached to it) for each role play. Contestants are arranged in chairs facing each other. Sample categories and questions are listed below.

Sample Presentation
The facilitator positions the two contestants and reads the question. Contestant number one gets to choose which role he/she will take. After the question is read the role-play begins, each contestant is encouraged to be in the role and use the most effective communication tools they have to get what they want.

Work Place
A co-worker gives constant putdowns, then says, "Oh I was just kidding."
You come to work late and your boss starts screaming at you and using profanity.
You just start a new job and the boss says that he wants to see more of your legs.
One of your employees consistently shows up late for work.

Family
Your teen-aged son/daughter comes home an hour late.
Your seven year old has been caught stealing candy from a store.
Your child has been kicked out of school.
You lose your wallet with $200 you were going to use to pay bills and you have to tell your wife/husband

General
At the gas station you ask for $8, the attendant pumps $18 and demands payment.
A friend you go out with constantly disappears when the bill is to be paid.
Having returned to your car after grocery shopping, you find you've been short changed by $10.
Your husband/wife is loaded or drunk again.

Mystery
Celebrating your new job, you order a steak medium rare and receive it well done.
You discover drug paraphernalia in your child's room.
You see your significant other passionately kissing your best friend.
On your way home from store, you discover you've received $2 too much change.

Debrief/Facilitator Notes: Upon completion of each role-play ask questions that bring out the points that you want to make for Communication and/or Conflict Resolution. Here are some sample questions:

• What was the most difficult scenario for you and what made if difficult?

• What gets in the way of effective communications for you?

• Where else has a similar experience happened to you?

• What did you do differently this time?

• What key things did you learn about conflict resolution?

• What was most difficult thing to communicate during the role play?

• What was the most effective thing you did?

• What was the least effective?

Learning Points: As determined by facilitator.

Application: Define Your Process. Take ten minutes to identify and write down your physical, emotional, and psychological reactions to conflict.

Resources: None.

About the Author: Steve Davis, M.A., M.S., is an Facilitator's Coach, Infoprenuer, and free-lance human, helping facilitators, organizational leaders, educators, trainers, coaches and consultants present themselves confidently, access their creativity, empower their under-performing groups, enhance their facilitation skills, and build their business online and offline. Subscribe to his free weekly ezine at www.MasterFacilitatorJournal.com or visit www.livingmastery.com to learn more about him and his offerings.