500 year gap
In pairs, one person describes a modern appliance to someone from 500 years ago
Library of facilitation techniques
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Methods (1530)
Dinner Challenge
This is a group activity that explores group dynamics, team-building and creative problem solving. It is also a lot of fun. A team of any size has the challenge to prepare a dinner for themselves and their peers, with limited resources and limited time. It works well with new teams as an exercise to help them bond, but it can also be effective for the development of experienced teams.
NUF Test
As a group is developing ideas in a brainstorming session, it may be useful to do a quick “reality check” on proposed ideas. In the NUF Test, participants rate an idea on three criteria: to what degree is it New, Useful, and Feasible?
Back-2-Back Drawing
This is a communication exercise when participants in pairs have to use only verbal communication to help their pair to draw a specific picture. There are several variations of the exercise detailed in the instructions.
Back to Back
This is an energetic improv game that can be used anytime during a training session. My favourite time to use it is at the end of a session for debriefing.
Participants pair up and stand back-to-back. The facilitator asks a question. The participants turn around and face each other and take turns sharing their responses.
The strengths I see in you: team appreciation
Facilitate a team conversation about personal strengths:
Ask participants to pick from a set of strength card, e.g. one strength each for everyone in the group (or more for small groups)
People take turns to “give” a strength to another team member, share how/when they have seen the strength in the other person and say thank you
Everyone will end up with a set of strengths provided by other team members and feel belonging and appreciation
Creative Thinking
We live in fast changing world and we need to think and react quickly and decisively. This gamification tool encourages people to think rapidly and creatively. Remove the mental barriers that prevent people from overthinking and blocking in branstormings.
Postcard to a Friend
Here's a closer that encourages participants to recall what happened in the session and to come up with second thoughts about how they could have benefited more. It also creates useful materials for an interesting icebreaker.
Reaching consensus around several alternatives
A polling process for any workshop where a decision between several alternatives is hard to reach
Feed forward
An engaging variation on a feedback activity that focuses on future changes and positive action, rather than dwelling on what went wrong.
5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique
They say “A Calm Mind is an Effective Mind” and with a calmer mind, you can better explore those challenges in life with calmness and centered awareness.
Constant change, learning new things, and uncertainty are a few of the situations that can cause even the calmest people to feel some stress.
This 5-step exercise can support people in stressful times by helping them to get grounded in the present moment when your focus is distracted by unhelpful thoughts.