Getting to know YOU
🔍 A Journey of Self-Discovery and Team Togetherness
The "Getting to Know YOU" icebreaker is a dynamic resource designed to unravel the layers of team dynamics and individual roles within an organisation. It's a unique blend of personal reflection and collective exploration, powered by the BIG PICTURE framework. This tool uses simple yet powerful symbols – Team, Customer, Technology, Measure, Money, Process, Challenge, Opportunity – to facilitate a dialogue that's both fun and thought-provoking. The essence of BIG PICTURE here is not in its comprehensive business modeling but in how these symbols help team members express and understand their roles and perceptions within the broader organisational context.
Participants engage with these Symbols, reflecting on which ones resonate with their personal and professional identities. This process of reflection and sharing is designed to foster a deeper understanding of not only individual roles but also how these roles interweave to form the fabric of the organisation. It's an exercise that brings to light the diverse perspectives and strengths within a team, encouraging a culture of openness and shared insight.
The 'Getting to Know YOU' Resource transforms standard icebreakers into dynamic sessions rich in personal connection, team cohesion, and a deeper understanding of each symbol's role in business, fostering both individual insight and collective accountability.
Kate
MikeGoal
To engage team members in a thought-provoking and fun dialogue about how they perceive themselves and their role in the organisation using BIG PICTURE symbols. By the end of the session, participants should have a better understanding of the importance of each symbol in the business context, as well as a sense of personal and collective accountability for action.
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Attachments
Materials
Instructions
- Welcome participants and briefly describe the aim of the exercise;
- Say: "For joining dots for YOUR learning with BIG PICTURE, let's explore the dots/Symbols we're going to dance with."
BIG PICTURE Symbol Primer (5 minutes)
- Introduce each Symbol in random order for a fast-paced meet-and-greet with these iconic game-changers. These descriptions are designed to give participants a quick, clear understanding of each symbol in the context of the activity:
Team: Represents the collective strength, diversity, and dynamics of the people working together in your organisation;
Customer: Symbolises the individuals or groups who receive and value your services or products, central to business success;
Technology: Stands for the tools, systems, and innovations that streamline processes, enhance productivity, and shape your business landscape;
Measure: Reflects the metrics and benchmarks used to assess performance, success, and areas needing improvement;
Money: Denotes financial aspects, including revenue, costs, investments, and economic factors influencing the business;
Process: Represents the sequence of steps or procedures that define how tasks are completed and goals are achieved;
Challenge: Highlights obstacles, difficulties, or problems that need to be addressed and overcome for growth and success;
Opportunity: Symbolises potential avenues for growth, innovation, and competitive advantage in the business environment.
Setting Expectations (2 minutes)
- Declare: "You're all going to be soul-searching about your connection with these Symbols. Are you ready?"
First Personal Reflection (Q1) (5 minutes)
- Ask: "Which Symbol best describes YOU and WHY?"
- Invite participants to jot down their answers on a Post-it note and put their chosen Symbols and Post-it note somewhere people can see as they share.
Second Personal Reflection (New) (5 minutes)
- Pose: "Choose one other Symbol that you can either relate to in your role or would prefer to avoid. Spill the beans, folks!"
- Again, participants write their chosen Symbol and reason on a Post-it note, again putting their chosen Symbols and Post-it note somewhere people can see as they share.
- Set the stage with an 'X' marker in the center of each table;
- Inquire: "Ready to build a constellation? Place the Symbols around the X, from most to least important for a successful business or organisation."
- Let the teams huddle, debate, and assemble their Symbolic constellations around the 'X'.
Sharing Insights (3 minutes)
- Call on a trailblazer from each group to unveil their group's celestial formation and the wisdom behind it.
Closing and Action Points (2 minutes)
- Inspire: "Carve these connections into your memory and take action! Be the change-maker of your own narrative."
- Offer gratitude and lower the curtain on this thrilling act.
Background
đź“š BIG PICTURE Kit
Each BIG PICTURE Kit brings its own flavor and dimension to team engagement and facilitation. Here's how you could get the most out of each one:
Free A4 PDF 'Cheat Sheet' with Board and Tear-Off Symbols- Quick and accessible, this is perfect for small team huddles or remote brainstorming sessions. Print, tear, and start connecting those dots instantly!
- Unite your remote team under one digital sky. Facilitate meaningful conversations and activities without losing the BIG PICTURE touch, no matter the distance.
Meeting Kit with A2 Paper Board, Symbol Stickers, and Poker Chip Symbols
- Transform your standard team meetings into a dynamic playground for innovation and alignment. Lay out the A2 Board, and let the Poker Chips fall where they may!
Workshop Kit with A0 Magnetic Board, Magnetic Poker Chip Symbols, and Road Sign-Sized Symbols
- Ideal for large workshops or off-site retreats. The magnetic Board and life-sized Symbols turn your facilitation into an immersive, interactive experience.
Activity Kit with Rope to Fill a Room and Road Sign-Sized Symbols
- Go beyond the Board and fill the room with the essence of your team's spirit. The rope and road signs provide a tactile, whole-room learning experience.
Each Kit is a different key to unlock your team's potential, so choose wisely—or better yet, use them all for a 360-degree impact! 🚀
Expectations: Open dialogue, self-reflection, and a sense of collective responsibility;
Benefits: Enhanced team cohesion, understanding of personal and organizational priorities, fostering a culture of accountability;
Limitations: Participants must be willing to engage openly for the session to be effective
Tools Used: This session utilises the BIG PICTURE tool exclusively, serving as a great intro or refresher for teams.
Comments (1)Â (5.0 avg / 1 ratings)
I've been using this is an Icebreaker with and without BIG PICTURE for years! The Symbols really help with a common language and lens to focus- as such everyone in the room is able to make sense about what each other are all about. Also, a ready-made starter to start joining the dots with other fundamental elements of the business such as Customer and Measures. I created BIG PICTURE so if you have any questions please look me up and ping me it!