Publisher's note --
Preface --
About the authors --
Part I. Climate setting and icebreakers. Expectations --
Mistaken identities --
My favorites --
Sign-in party --
Playing card mixer --
The celebrities --
The whole room handshake --
The human spider web --
The 30-second monologue --
Tombstone planning --
I've got a secret --
Merry birthday/happy Christmas --
You ought to be in pictures --
The walking billboard --
Middle name game --
Self-disclosure introductions --
Throw away your troubles --
Treasure hunt --
Part II. Learning. Bingo review --
But I've always done it that way ... --
Come on over! --
Matching review --
"New directions" in learning --
Stop the music! --
Preview/review --
The no-test test --
Resistance to change --
Who cares? --
Tale of the processionary caterpillars --
The company store catalog --
Help wanted --
Part III. Brainteasers. If liars can figure, can figures lie? --
Scrambled cities --
Brainteasers (IQ tests) --
Part IV. Perception. Where you stand depends on where you sit --
Let's be fair about this ... --
Mythologizing (constructing or reacting myths) --
Portrait of my job --
I'm important, but are you? Success is ... --
I wish, I wish ... --
Meet your favorite trainer --
Managing expectations --
The black spot --
Part V. Communication and listening. Decisions, decisions! --
A read and do test --
Just for fun --
Plentiful proverbs preach poetically --
How fast can you go? --
Grumble, grumble --
Fuzzy meanings --
Let's talk --
Part VI. Presentation tools. Tying the knot --
The "no-bell" prize winner --
The standing ovation --
Leader of the band --
I'm glad I'm here --
What you stroke is what you get --
Guest speaker introduction --
Alternatives to "Shut up!" --
The great training spell-down --
Legitimizing levity --
Part VII. Conference leadership. Action auction --
And your recorder is ... --
Expert experience (E2) --
Mix or match --
Password review --
Part VIII. Creative problem solving. Brainstorming revisited --
What if ... --
Square within a square --
Alphabet soup --
Problem solving through synergism (five-square configuration) --
Work smarter, not harder! --
Triangulating on triangles --
One step at a time --
The next dimension --
Equation quiz --
Making work like play --
It'll never fly, Wilbur! --
The parlor game --
IX. Self-concept. Positive strokes --
You're OK --
Confronting the bear --
The one minute praise --
Peak performance --
X. Team building. Let's string along --
A coat of arms --
What's in (on) a penny? --
Zap! You're a group --
What our name? logo? slogan? --
Trust me --
What do I (we) want in life? --
Help wanted.

Get any training session off the ground fast -- or jumpstart one whenever it lags -- with the more than 400 proven activities in the bestselling Games Trainers Play series. These brilliantly offbeat, unexpected, disarming, fully reproducible games have one serious mission: to coax even the most reluctant groups to talk, laugh, think, and work together. Page after page of fun, easy-to-plan tear-out exercises help you: break the ice and get participants acquainted; shake up outworn habits and perceptions; challenge with thought-provoking brainteasers; test learning and retention; develop communication and listening skills; bring out and involve participant-leaders; win back lethargic, distracted, low-energy groups; encourage creative problem-solving; boost or reinforce a group's self-image; forge cohesive work teams that value group effort; facilitate transfer of training to the job.