Banking Communication Excellence: 30 Practical Exercises

Leveraging Available Technology

• Microsoft Teams
• In-house GPT
• External platforms (Instagram, TikTok)

PRESENTATION SKILLS EXERCISES

1. The 60-Second Pitch Refinement

Format: Teams video recording + Peer feedback Technology: Microsoft Teams recording, in-house GPT for analysis Exercise:

• Participants create a 60-second pitch on a banking product/service
• Record the pitch in Teams
• In-house GPT analyzes delivery metrics (pace, clarity, filler words)
• Peers provide structured feedback via Teams chat
• Participants refine and re-record until mastery

2. Data Visualization Challenge

Format: Slide transformation contest Technology: Teams collaboration space, in-house GPT for suggestions Exercise:

• Facilitator provides a slide with poorly presented financial data
• Participants redesign the slide to enhance clarity and impact
• In-house GPT provides alternative visualization suggestions
• Participants vote on most effective redesigns in Teams
• Winners explain their visualization principles

3. Executive Slide Reduction

Format: Presentation condensation Technology: Teams channel for sharing, in-house GPT for feedback Exercise:

• Participants receive a 20-slide presentation on a banking initiative
• Challenge: Reduce to 5 slides without losing critical information
• In-house GPT reviews for content gaps
• Partners review through Teams screen sharing
• Debrief on executive communication principles

4. The “No-Text” Presentation

Format: Visual storytelling challenge Technology: Teams presentation mode Exercise:

• Create a 5-slide presentation using only images/graphics (no text)
• Present complex banking concept using visual storytelling
• Peers evaluate clarity through Teams polling
• Discussion on visual communication power
• In-house GPT provides visual storytelling principles

5. Presentation Recovery Simulation

Format: Real-time adaptation exercise Technology: Teams live meeting Exercise:

• Participant begins standard presentation
• Facilitator introduces disruptions (time cut, technical issues, urgent questions)
• Presenter must adapt in real-time
• Peers evaluate recovery effectiveness
• Video recording reviewed for learning moments

6. TikTok-Inspired Micro-Presentations

Format: Ultra-short format communication Technology: TikTok private account or Teams video Exercise:

• Create 30-second explanations of complex banking concepts
• Apply TikTok-style engagement techniques
• Review in Teams meeting for clarity and impact
• Discuss application to internal micro-briefings
• In-house GPT evaluates clarity and conciseness

EMAIL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION EXERCISES

7. Email Subject Line Laboratory

Format: A/B testing exercise Technology: Teams polls, in-house GPT analysis Exercise:

• Participants write 5 alternative subject lines for the same important email
• Team votes on most compelling version via Teams poll
• In-house GPT analyzes click probability
• Discussion on subject line psychology
• Create departmental best practices guide

8. Clarity Improvement Challenge

Format: Document transformation Technology: Teams document collaboration, in-house GPT assessment Exercise:

• Participants receive poorly written internal memo
• Task: Rewrite for clarity without changing content
• In-house GPT scores before/after readability
• Peer review in Teams pairs
• Extract key clarity principles

9. The “Escalation Email” Workshop

Format: Email crafting and role play Technology: Teams channels, in-house GPT for feedback Exercise:

• Scenario: Critical issue requiring management attention
• Craft escalation email balancing urgency with professionalism
• In-house GPT evaluates tone and completeness
• Role play responses from management in Teams chat
• Develop escalation email templates

10. Email Tone Calibration

Format: Emotional intelligence in writing Technology: In-house GPT tone analysis Exercise:

• Write same information for three different audiences (peer, executive, external department)
• In-house GPT evaluates tone appropriateness
• Peers blindly guess intended audience
• Discussion on contextual writing adjustments
• Create personal tone checklist

11. Executive Summary Bootcamp

Format: Condensation challenge Technology: Teams document sharing, in-house GPT feedback Exercise:

• Receive detailed 10-page banking analysis
• Create one-page executive summary
• In-house GPT evaluates comprehensiveness
• Peer review for clarity and impact
• Refine based on feedback

12. Micro-Email Challenge

Format: Brevity exercise Technology: Teams channel, in-house GPT word optimization Exercise:

• Participants receive standard internal email
• Challenge: Reduce word count by 75% while maintaining message
• In-house GPT scores information retention
• Team votes on most effective condensation
• Create departmental brevity guidelines

MEETING FACILITATION EXERCISES

13. The 15-Minute Meeting Design

Format: Meeting structure optimization Technology: Teams meeting scheduler, in-house GPT for agenda creation Exercise:

• Participants design 15-minute meeting structure for complex topic
• Create precise timing, speaking assignments, and outcome expectations
• Test in live Teams simulation
• Peer feedback on efficiency
• Create departmental meeting templates

14. Virtual Meeting Engagement Tactics

Format: Meeting facilitation practice Technology: Teams breakout rooms Exercise:

• Participants lead 10-minute virtual team discussion
• Must use 3 specific engagement techniques
• Peers evaluate via Teams reactions and forms
• In-house GPT analyzes participation distribution
• Create engagement playbook for virtual meetings

15. The Silent Meeting Protocol

Format: Written collaboration exercise Technology: Teams collaborative document Exercise:

• Conduct 15-minute meeting entirely through collaborative document
• No verbal communication allowed
• Practice real-time written collaboration
• Debrief on efficiency and clarity
• Develop guidelines for document-driven meetings

16. The Disruptor Challenge

Format: Meeting management simulation Technology: Teams meeting, role play Exercise:

• Participant facilitates standard meeting
• Peers play assigned “disruptor” roles (dominator, tangent-starter, silent participant)
• Facilitator must maintain meeting effectiveness
• Video review and feedback session
• Create disruption management strategies

17. Meeting Documentation Sprint

Format: Real-time note-taking challenge Technology: Teams meeting and document collaboration Exercise:

• Participant takes notes during simulated banking meeting
• Must produce action items, decisions, and follow-ups within 5 minutes of meeting end
• Peers evaluate completeness and clarity
• In-house GPT scores documentation quality
• Develop standardized documentation templates

18. Instagram-Style Meeting Summarization

Format: Visual meeting recap Technology: Instagram private account or Teams channel Exercise:

• Create Instagram-style visual story summarizing key meeting takeaways
• Limited text, emphasis on visual communication
• Peers evaluate clarity and engagement
• Apply learnings to internal communication channels
• Discuss visual summary effectiveness

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COMMUNICATION EXERCISES

19. Technical Translation Challenge

Format: Jargon conversion exercise Technology: Teams channels for different departments, in-house GPT for simplification Exercise:

• Participants receive technical banking process description
• Create three versions for different internal audiences (risk, retail, technology)
• In-house GPT analyzes jargon levels
• Cross-departmental peers evaluate clarity
• Create translation principles for common terms

20. The “Project Translation” Relay

Format: Information transfer exercise Technology: Teams sequential breakout rooms Exercise:

• Initial team receives detailed project information
• Must brief next team in 5 minutes who briefs next team
• Final team must accurately describe original project
• Measure information preservation across handoffs
• Discuss information loss prevention

21. Cross-Functional FAQ Development

Format: Collaborative document creation Technology: Teams wiki or document, in-house GPT for gap identification Exercise:

• Mixed functional team creates FAQ for new banking initiative
• Must address questions from multiple department perspectives
• In-house GPT identifies missing stakeholder considerations
• Test FAQ with neutral reviewers
• Create cross-functional communication template

22. Department Dictionary Creation

Format: Terminology standardization Technology: Teams shared document, in-house GPT for definitions Exercise:

• Cross-functional teams identify jargon from their departments
• Create plain-language definitions for each term
• In-house GPT generates alternative explanations
• Compile into searchable internal reference
• Regular updating process established

23. The Stakeholder Perspective Switch

Format: Role-play exercise Technology: Teams role assignments Exercise:

• Participants receive cross-functional project information
• Must present update from perspective of different department
• Team evaluates accuracy of stakeholder representation
• Discussion on perspective-taking in communication
• Create stakeholder communication checklist

24. TikTok-Style Department Explainers

Format: Short-form video education Technology: TikTok private account or Teams video Exercise:

• Create 60-second department function explanation
• Use engaging TikTok-style techniques
• Share across departments via Teams
• Quiz other departments on understanding
• Compile into cross-functional orientation library

DIGITAL CHANNEL OPTIMIZATION EXERCISES

25. Teams Channel Architecture Design

Format: Collaboration structure exercise Technology: Microsoft Teams workspace Exercise:

• Small groups design ideal Teams channel structure for project
• Must balance information access with notification management
• Present and defend structure to peers
• Vote on most effective design
• Create Teams best practices guide

26. The “Right Channel” Challenge

Format: Communication medium selection Technology: All available platforms Exercise:

• Participants receive 10 different communication scenarios
• Must select best channel for each (email, Teams chat, meeting, call, etc.)
• Group discussion on selections
• Create decision tree for channel selection
• In-house GPT evaluates channel appropriateness

27. Digital Communication Audit

Format: Personal habit assessment Technology: Teams analytics, in-house GPT for pattern analysis Exercise:

• Participants review one week of their digital communication
• Analyze patterns, response times, channel usage
• In-house GPT provides optimization suggestions
• Create personal improvement plan
• Follow-up audit after 30 days

28. Teams Status Communication Protocol

Format: Availability signaling exercise Technology: Microsoft Teams status features Exercise:

• Design personal status rotation for typical workday
• Create custom status messages that balance information with brevity
• Peer review for clarity and helpfulness
• Implement for one week and gather feedback
• Create departmental status guidelines

29. Digital Asset Organization Challenge

Format: Information architecture exercise Technology: Teams file structure, SharePoint Exercise:

• Groups receive disorganized project materials
• Create logical file structure and naming convention
• Other group must locate specific information quickly
• Measure retrieval time and accuracy
• Develop file organization standards

30. The “Notification Detox” Experiment

Format: Digital wellness and priority exercise Technology: Teams notification settings Exercise:

• Participants audit current notification settings
• Design intentional notification strategy
• Implement for three days
• Document impact on productivity and stress
• Create team notification protocols

Implementation Guidelines

Exercise Selection

• Begin with foundational exercises (1, 7, 13, 19, 25)
• Match exercises to identified communication pain points
• Rotate through categories to build comprehensive skills
• Increase complexity as participants advance

Facilitation Approach

• Dedicate 45-60 minutes per exercise
• Structure with clear introduction, execution, and debrief phases
• Collect qualitative and quantitative feedback
• Create physical or digital “communication playbook” from learnings
• Recognize and celebrate improvement

Technology Integration Best Practices

• Microsoft Teams:
  • Create dedicated learning circle channel
  • Use breakout rooms for small group practice
  • Leverage forms for structured feedback
  • Utilize recording for review and reflection
  • Create exercise template library in files section
• In-house GPT:
  • Pre-program with communication best practices
  • Create specific prompts for exercise analysis
  • Use for objective feedback on subjective elements
  • Generate variation ideas for practice
  • Compile insights across participants
• External Social Media:
  • Create private accounts for learning purposes only
  • Extract engagement principles rather than actual platform use
  • Apply modern communication techniques to traditional formats
  • Use as inspiration for internal communication innovation

Measurement Framework

For each exercise, evaluate:

1. Participant confidence (before/after)
2. Peer evaluation scores
3. Real-world application instances
4. Time saved through improved communication
5. Reduction in clarification requests

Program Evolution

• Collect feedback after each exercise
• Rotate in new exercises quarterly
• Allow participants to design custom exercises
• Create bank-specific case examples
• Develop advanced modules for graduates