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:
- Participant confidence (before/after)
- Peer evaluation scores
- Real-world application instances
- Time saved through improved communication
- 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
