Today’s Icebreaker
Lost in Translation Exercise
Lost in Translation
• How well is your message received?
• Do your managers and sales associates deliver
your message correctly?
Lost in Translation - Objective
• Test how well your message is received as it is
communicated.
• We will break the group into 3 teams.
• Objective: Get your message across through
your team as fast as possible.
Lost in Translation – The Rules
• The first person on each team is handed a message on
paper.
• Must whisper in next person’s ear so no one else can
hear (one by one).
• You cannot write the message down.
• Quickest team “wins” with the most accurately
communicated message.
• Overall time limit 5 minutes.
The Rules
• First person in line read your message.
• GO!
Time to Communicate
• Team 1 – Last person deliver your message.
“The Rices have recently transferred to the
Catskills and are looking to purchase a 4
bedroom Chalet near the ski slopes of Bear
Mountain. They have a five year old boy and a
three year old girl named Todd and Raquel
who are champion downhill ski board racers.”
Time to Communicate
• Team 2 – Last person deliver your message.
“Liz Burton is a single mom looking to downsize
from her 5 bedroom house on Bergen Drive.
She has great credit and a job as a medical
assistant. She needs to move quickly as her
daughter, Elizabeth, needs to start school in the
fall.”
Time to Communicate
• Team 3 – Last person deliver your message.
“Jim Farrell, divorcee, whose “ex” just took him
to the cleaners is downsizing from his 25 room
Georgian colonial located in Alexandria, VA.
He’s looking to purchase a one bedroom
Brownstone in Georgetown to live with Monica
Lewinski’s best friend, Heidi.”
Debrief
• What was most challenging?
• What would have helped you?
Key Learning Points
• When we communicate an important message, it is
often heard differently by each person receiving the
message.
• Emphasize the most important points of your message
in order of importance to get the correct message
across to each listener.
• To ensure your message is delivered effectively and
clearly:
- Plan what you want to communicate ahead of time.
- Keep track of what you communicated, and to whom.
- Reiterate your message, as needed.
Thank you for participating!