Purpose: To challenge participants to develop metaphors from everyday objects as an exercise in creativity.

 Time Required: 10 to 20 minutes.

 Size of Group: Unlimited, but participants should work in small groups of five to seven.

 Materials Required: A paper sack for every small group, filled with a variety of everyday objects.

 The Exercise in Action: Alana Gallaher, a program specialist for the Department of Education in Tallahassee, FL, places a variety of objects in paper bags, such as a rubber band, paper clip, penny, eraser, pencil stub, or pen. She gives one sack to each small group and asks members of the group to choose an object out of the sack and find a way to relate the object to the training topic.

For example, a rubber band can be stretched—and a good instructor stretches the minds of his or her participants; a paper clip holds things together—and a good manager communicates with the entire team in order to build team spirit and hold people together even in tough times.