Personal Presentations

Support each participant in getting to know each other as individuals and to build trust and openness in a group by enlarging the social arena.

Step 1:

Each participant prepares their personal presentation: a short presentation about “3 things (experiences, events, people, stories) that have contributed to shaping the person I am today.”

The presentation should be visualized using words and symbols on a single flip-chart paper. Give participants about 15-20 minutes to prepare this.

Facilitator notes

It can be effective for one facilitator to do his/her presentation before participants be their own. This helps role model personal storytelling and supports participants to select their own things to share.

Step 2:

Presentations: Each participant gets 3 minutes (or more depending on time and group size) to present his/her presentation to the whole group. Encourage focus and active listening.

Facilitator notes

It is very important to create a safe and inviting space since individuals will share personal stories. In some cases, individuals may share experiences that generate emotion in themselves and/or within the group. As a facilitator, remind participants that this is normal and welcome. If individuals become very emotional, follow-up with them individually after the session.

Step 3:

If you are a smaller group, where time is not limited, facilitators can invite members of the group to ask questions to each person immediately after his/her presentation.

Source: Hyper Island toolbox

Hyper Island designs learning experiences that challenge companies and individuals to grow and stay competitive in an increasingly digitized world. With clients such as Google, adidas and IKEA, Hyper Island has been listed by CNN as one of the most innovative schools in the world