Facilitation Techniques and Workshop Activities | Library

Quick Situations

debriefing thiagi action context teamwork

Here's a debriefing card game that enables participants to reflect on a variety of situations and to come up with suitable action ideas

Constructive feedback is feedback regarding an individual’s performance that can be used to build (construct) connection, successful habits and behaviors. The constructive (building) component is key because with this mindset and approach, seemingly negative feedback doesn’t become discouraging. Rather, a launch pad for creating opportunities for learning and development.

Mix and mingle

icebreaker inclusion remote-friendly

Fun and easy sequence to be used with all types of groups of people (colleagues, team mates, new team, communities, random group of people, etc.)

Empathy Map

empathy motivations persona minkowski

The empathy map allows you to generate a deeper understanding of one’s motivations and why.

Story Spine

public speaking speaking storytelling

Once upon a time... Every day... Until one day... And because of that... And because of that... And because of that... Until finally... And ever since then... And the moral of the story is...

Telephone

active listening speaking storytelling accepting offers body language communication boldness clarity emotional intelligence emotions

message passed without checking to next person

Repeat / Reword / Support

active listening listening and awareness improv game relationship relationships em

Partner A either repeats, rewords, or supports Partner B's statement before adding their own dialogue.

Whispers

debriefing closing thiagi action team

You can use Whispers as a follow-up activity to any interesting experience among a group of friends. It's my favorite game to informally debrief my colleagues at the airport or during the drive back after a conference.

Fist to five

decision making vote empowerment practice

Fist to Five is quality voting. It has the elements of consensus built in and can prepare groups to transition into consensus if they wish. Most people are accustomed to the simplicity of “yes” and “no” voting rather than the complex and more community-oriented consensus method of decision making. Fist to Five introduces the element of the quality of the “yes.” A fist is a “no” and any number of fingers is a “yes,” with an indication of how good a “yes” it is. This moves a group away from quantity voting to quality voting, which is considerably more informative. Fist to Five can also be used during consensus decision making as a way to check the “sense of the group,” or to check the quality of the consensus.

1/2/3 - Snap/Clap/Stomp

listening and awareness cooperation connection collaboration teambuilding energizer energiser applied improv

In pairs count to 3. Then replace 1 with snap, 2 with clap, 3 with stomp

Think - Write - Share

ufmcs red teaming critical thinking

Think-Write-Share (T-W-S) is designed to provide users a structured approach to critically think through any question and serves as a starting point for hearing all voices in any discussion. This tool is very effective for enabling critical and creative thinking.

Workers and Watchers

thiagi debriefing energiser closing

Blindfold half of the participants and ask them to lay a rope on the floor in the form of a circle. Conduct a quick debriefing involving the blindfolded workers and the watchers. Blindfold the other half and give them the task of laying the rope on the floor in the form of a triangle. Continue with the debriefing discussion.

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