What Others Are Saying
When we began our initial assessment of the state of things in our office, we had some major hurdles to overcome. I am happy to report that things are very different in our office now, and I can only attribute it to the skill you exercised in working with our group over the past year. Your one-on-one coaching of our supervisors, the team-building retreats, and the conflict resolution training were very successful. I was skeptical at first, but the results speak for themselves.
Director, Human Resources
Categories
What: An introductory activity that enables participants to mix, mingle and learn some interesting facts about one another. Works especially well with large groups.
Group Size: 20 +
Time: 10-15 minutes
Props: None
Instructions
- Ask the large group to separate into smaller groups that you are about to announce. Call out a "category" using any of the suggested questions below (or make up your own).
- Allow enough time for the groups to form (anywhere from 5 seconds to 30 seconds, depending upon the category).
- Repeat steps one and two. Continue until the group is warmed up and ready for a new activity.
Category Questions to Get You Started
- Clasp your hands together and fold the thumbs across the top. Is your right thumb on top or your left? [If this is your first question, follow the question with something like "All lefties to this side of the room, all righties over there." This should help them understand your process.]
- Fold your arms across your chest. Is your right arm on top or is your left arm on top?
- Which month of the year were you born in?
- Which season of the year were you born in?
- Do you see yourself more as a Cadillac, a Miata, or a Jeep?
- Quickly choose a partner. Turn to them and give a spontaneous wink. Which eye did you wink with?
- What is your shoe size?
- Imagine yourself licking an ice cream cone. Are you twirling your cone clockwise, counterclockwise, or are you licking up and down?
- Can you roll your tongue?
Facilitator Notes
Keep things moving by watching the groups and calling out new categories. Participants should not be running to their groups or out of breath, and if they are asking questions of you or each other as they respond to each category, that is a good thing - let it happen.
Some of these "categories" will produce 50/50 splits, some will give you groups of 3-4, others up to 12 or more. Unless you have a particular reason to do otherwise, alternate 50/50 splits with larger splits.
Train-the-Trainer
- Learn how to facilitate activities in ways that promote real learning and long-term behavior change
- Enhance your facilitation skills - learn from leading practitioners
- Experience the activities yourself!
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