How to Teach Job Skills in Forms of Games & Activities

Teaching job skills can be a healthy part of team-building in the workplace.

Promoting skills for job growth in the form of games and activities gives your associates a hands-on approach to learn something new. These types of activities promote team-building, general knowledge, understanding of roles within the company and other job positions. Put together a training session several times a year for your employees, so they can learn from one another.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pens
• Basket
• Stop watch

Instructions

Role Reversal Activity

1. Allow employees to cross-train in other areas before or after business hours. Schedule all associates to come in an hour or two early or have them stay late after a shift. This activity is especially beneficial in restaurant or retail settings.

2. Assign an associate to train with a team member from a different department. For example, set one of your top executives up with an administrative assistant. He should learn her filing systems and how she coordinates meetings. In a restaurant, you may want to have one of your servers train with a cook, or in a retail store, set up a cashier with a floor sales associate.

3. Give the trainee specific tasks to master in their new position. They should be able to sign off on the tasks by the end of the shift. Cross-training employees helps with communication and gives them a better understanding of their current position. A server who learns a little about what goes on behind the line, for example, allows him to effectively communicate to his tables how long an entree will take to make.

New Skills Game

1. Have each associate write down one task they had to complete that day. Tasks should be job-specific and require only a few words. For example, a line cook may write down, "assemble egg rolls" or a marketing manager might write, "give PowerPoint presentation."

2. Fold each piece of paper and drop it into a basket. Have each employee draw one task from the pile. If you get your own, you need to draw again. Assign one person as a coordinator to be in control of the basket and to run a stopwatch.

3. Have the employee act out the task on his paper, without speaking to the rest of the group. If the task is "answer phones," he would sit down and pretend to do so. The coordinator should stop the acting employee after 30 seconds.

4. Take turns guessing what the acting associate is doing. Employees should be able to guess the activity and correlate it to a job title. This game gives associates a better understanding of certain skills that their co-workers possess.

5. Tally points for the person who has the most correct guesses. The winner of the teaching session gets a prize. Reward them with an afternoon off or a gift card. Offering rewards as an incentive may entice associates to participate.

Tips & Warnings

• Positive reinforcement is essential in building skills. If the employee makes an error, tell him something positive before suggesting corrective actions.

References

• BusinessBalls.com: Free Team Building Activities Ideas