Trait Tales
Goal
build relationships
understanding others and their skills/strengths
build listening skills
Instructions
1. Each person silently writes 3 strengths or superpowers (1 min)
2. Form groups of 2 or 3, decides who goes first
3. In your small group, the first person has 2 min to share a story that embodies one of the qualities that they listed. They don't share the quality directly. (1-2 min)
4. After they share their story the rest of the group guesses what quality they were thinking of and the first person confirms what was the quality after the other participants in the group have a chance to guess. (1-2 min)
5. Repeat for each person in the group (4 min each)
6. Debrief
Variation
Rather than start with individuals listing strengths, start with people to think of a story in response to a prompt (e.g. What is a story of an accomplishment from the last year that you are proud of achieving) and from that they can identify a strength that was at play. Then break into groups and share stories.
Background
Learned as "Here's what I did" from Paul Z. Jackson at the 2024 board retreat of the Applied Improvisation Network.
Author
I help teams connect, collaborate, and perform at their best in both virtual and in-person environments. As an executive and leadership coach, I design highly engaging experiences where people can think together, navigate challenges, and strengthen the way they work. With a background in leadership coaching, facilitation, and applied improvisation, I create interactive retreats, conferences, and networking events that energize participants and create lasting impact. My work creates the conditions for psychological safety, honest communication, and deep collaboration, allowing teams to build trust, navigate challenges, and achieve meaningful results together. I am deeply committed to mission-driven organizations. As a board member of the International Applied Improvisation Network, I partner with nonprofit and social justice leaders to help their teams thrive in fast-changing environments.
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