Training a Sales Team With Games for Both Sides of the Brain
There are thousands of games and exercises for a team leader to use in sales team training. Most of these games provide exercises that improve team bonding or problem solving. Team leaders need to make the games fun, dynamic and interesting in order for them to be effective. If the games are boring and dull, sales people may tune out in the middle and not reap the full rewards from the games. No one wants sales team training that is boring and ineffective.
One of the best ways to make your team meetings fun is to play games that work both sides of the brain. The human brain is a paired organ; it consists of two separate halves. These halves, called cerebral hemispheres, control two different types of thinking. It is known that the right hemisphere is connected to left hand movements and the left hemisphere of the brain is connected to right hand movements. The right side of the brain is connected with intuitive, creative and holistic thinking, while the left brain is more analytical, rational and logical. Our world is often packed full with left brain activities such as writing, typing and paperwork. Since the majority of the population is right-handed, much of the business world is stuck doing left-brain work with right-hand movements. This means that many of us have a lopsided brain. As an enlightened team leader, you can help balance the brains of your team members.
One of the best ways to get your sales team to start using their right brain is to get them to use their non-dominant hand for simple tasks. Have them write, comb their hair, throw a soft object or catch something with their other hand. Games can be created for non-dominant hands. Break your sales staff into teams and have a writing relay race or relay race that involves throwing a Nerf ball. Any type of relay race that involves the non-dominant hand will help work the right brain.
Another fun team-building exercise is to have a day where everyone is expected to use their other hand. Basketball or baseball coaches often do this to give their teams a fun practice, and you can use this in your sales meetings or for a portion of the workday. It is fun and may provide for some helpful right brain stimulation.
It is also engaging fun to stimulate memory and sequential thinking by playing games. Crossword puzzle races are a great way to stimulate thinking. Break your staff into teams and give each team the same crossword puzzle and see which team finishes first. Team Scrabble and Team Concentration are two other great games that build chemistry and stimulate left brain thinking.
There are hundreds of brain games that can be adapted to sales team training. Use games that work each side of the brain and you will be helping your sales staff improve all types of thinking. Using a greater percentage of their brains will definitely help them become better salespeople.
Deb Bixler provides direct sales training for consultants on how to increase cash flow at home by putting systems into place that create a consistent cash flow.
