Galactic Activity 1

This is perhaps the most challenging activity. It requires thinking on your feet and responding to unexpected suggestions or ideas or topics. 

It can be run in two ways – by switching topic or switching opinion. 

It’s important to read the expanded material on this activity

Activity 1 – Switch

Duration: Up to 4 mins
Applicable Streams: Personal challenge; humour

Aim

This activity aims to develop your ability to:

  • think on your feet,
  • respond to unexpected situations and ideas effectively, and 
  • incorporate effective segue to link ideas and thoughts

Objectives

To do this, you will need to keep the following objectives in mind:

  1. manage rapid thought shifts
  2. segue, seamlessly, from one topic or opinion to another

The Why…

In a meeting or a public presentation you may be required to think on your feet and respond to unexpected suggestions or ideas. Different ideas may be presented on the spur of the moment, which you may be required to take into consideration and incorporate into your presentation. This is useful political skill to have, to be able to find positives and suggest actions to achieve a goal for a contrary or different position. It could come from a sudden change in business priority at work, or noticing a gradual consensus shift as part of a facilitated discussion. 

Where do I start?

This activity takes practise! It’s not easy to switch opinion or topics seamlessly but the more you give it a go, the easier it will be.

It’s a fun activity to do outside Rostrum meetings as well – have a go at home with someone who is willing to have a go too! 

You could create a bank of flashcards that have different words on them (even better if you could ask a family member or friend to populate the cards so you have no idea what’s coming up next), then practice by using a repeating timer on your watch or phone, to flip a new card every 30 seconds; once you see the new card, finish up the sentence you were on and segue into a new sentence that contains the idea or concept on the card. If you’re stuck for ideas on what words to use on the prompt cards, start with 10 each of the following categories: colours, numbers, animals, cities, government departments, clothing items and nationalities. 

If you don’t want to use flashcards, there are also a lot of online resources that will generate random words for you – just google – random word generator – they’re free and super simple to use. Click ‘generate new word’ and an algorithm will flash a new word up every time you click. You can also create random new sentences or define what types of words you want generated. 

You can also practice by picking a random word, and then speaking for 30 seconds about the topic then switching opinion for the next 30 seconds, and repeat until you get to 4 minutes. This is almost like having a mini debate with yourself where you have to keep acknowledging and rebutting each argument as you come up with them. Challenging, but fun! 

The How

Specific guidelines on how to tackle this activity.

With no preparation, you’ll switch (topic or opinion) seamlessly every 20 – 30 seconds for up to 4 minutes.

  • Your Program Director or Coach will call out new topics (or the word ‘change’ if you’re changing opinion) every 30 seconds
  • Once you hear the word, you must finish the sentence or phrase you’re in the middle of, and switch to the new topic or opinion. 
  • Whilst maintaining a flow of speech, keep one ear open for the new word or topic, and expect and be prepared for the next interruption. 

Variations: Switch topics or switch opinion

Tips and traps

TIPS:

  • Relax and allow your thoughts to flow with good pace, and don’t hurry through a thought process. 
  • Use your breath wisely, and don’t be afraid of using short pauses to help gather your thoughts.
  • If scrambling for ideas, use strategies like: 
    • Repeating the new word 
    • Using a ‘filler’ phrase such as: ‘<Insert new word>. Now that’s a fabulous question/idea/thought. What that has in common with the last idea, is that <insert segue or link >’ 

TRAPS:

  • Being distracted by the interruptions, rather than focussed on the new topic and how to incorporate it into your flow.
  • Not being tuned in to hear the audience suggestions.
  • Repeating the word or topic, defining it and then speaking to the new topic only.
  • Changing your speech or story to the new topic without linking ideas.

Guidelines for Program Director:

  • Provide suggested topics for the Chair to start the Switch speech. As suggested above, you can use an online random word generator if desired. 
  • Roster speakers repeatedly to provide opportunities to practise – this will not be a skill developed or mastered at the first attempt. 
  • Start with a shorter time-period and extend the time with further practise.
  • Consider using this activity as a warmuper, or quick fun activity to break up a meeting if for example there are two longer speeches scheduled.