Building Character for Success

1. Building Character for Success “Body Talk” Lesson 9.9 Created By: Pam Gunter

2. Challenge for the Week – Follow Up • As you progressed through last week, did everyone take the time to identify your relationships and how to appropriately communicate with each type of relationship? Would anyone like to share what they learned? Did you modify how you treated others, how you spoke with others, etc., based on possible future relationships with individuals?

3. Preparation • Materials Needed: • Copy scenarios from the Activity section of this lesson. • Classroom Setup: • Set up two sets of desks at the front of the classroom. Have two desks facing each other on the left side of the class, have two desks facing each other on the right side of the class.

4. The Activity • Ask for four volunteers to begin the lesson. Have them sit down at the desks at the front of the classroom, #1 and #2 at the first set of desks, #3 and #4 at the second set of desks. Explain to the class that the students will be acting out two very similar scenarios. They are going to be acting out a job interview. • Provide each volunteer with the following scripts.

5. The Activity • Script for volunteers #1 and #2… • Setting the stage… Volunteer #1 is interviewing #2. • Volunteer #1 needs to convey confidence and professionalism by sitting up straight, being prepared, looking at the person they are interviewing in the eye, speaking clearly and smiling. • Volunteer #2 needs to slump in their chair, tap on the desk, fidget, wiggle and shift in their chair, speak slow and drawn out. When answering questions, roll eyes when answering questions, change tone and volume to demonstrate nervousness and irriation, etc. • #1 – “Thank you for coming to this interview today. I am going to ask you a few questions so I can determine if you are a good fit for the position.” • #2 – “Yea, no problem.” • #1 – “First, I would like you to tell me about previous jobs you’ve had. Just give me an idea what background you have that will help in this position.” • #2 – “Well, to be perfectly honest, my last job was lame. I didn’t get along with one of the employees, so I just kept to myself and did my job.” • #1 – “What did you like best about that job?” • #2 – “Oh...just the paycheck. Well, even the paycheck wasn’t enough to make up for what I did. I was asked to do way more than I was being paid for.”

6. The Activity • Script for volunteers #3 and #4… • Setting the stage… Volunteer #1 is interviewing #2. • Volunteer #1 needs to convey confidence and professionalism by sitting up straight, being prepared, looking at the person they are interviewing in the eye, speaking clearly and smiling. • Volunteer #2 needs to “mirror” #1 in professionalism and confidence. • #1 – “Thank you for coming to this interview today. I am going to ask you a few questions so I can determine if you are a good fit for the position.” • #2 – “Certainly, I am very excited to meet with you.” • #1 – “Why don’t you start by telling me a little bit about your professional background so I can get an idea how good of a fit you are for our position.” • #2 – “I have extensive experience in the areas you posted in your job announcement. My former position was customer service based, both over the telephone as well as providing service to customers in person.” • #1 – “What did you like best about your former job?” • #2 – “The people I worked with. We were a strong team that built the company and drove customer service to the highest level in the history of the company. Because of our great customer focus, we were able to increase sales by 25% over a two year period.”

7. The Object of the Lesson • Often times success in relationships stems from effective communication skills. • Focusing on volume, speed, and tone of voice can dramatically change the environment of the situation. • Try to “mirror” the person you are conversing with. If they are a little relaxed, you can relax. If they are professional, mirror their level of professionalism. Remember, even when you are mirroring a person, be sure to sustain your own values and standards. • Body language often speaks louder than words so be aware of hand and body gestures, posture, facial expressions and other mannerisms. Be sure your body is speaking the same language as your words.

8. Challenge for the Week • Spend the week building stronger relationships by exercising appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Be aware of eye-to-eye contact, eye , hand and facial expressions, posture, voice tone, volume and speed. • As you develop more effective communication skills, you will find your relationships to be stronger and healthier.