Word at a Time / Sentence at a Time
Goal
Creates connection
Appreciation of each person's contribution being important, sharing control
Applied: Brings out patterns, themes in a group. Use to open or close a topic.
Instructions
In a circle, each person adds one word. Punctuation counts as a word (period, exclamation point). Can also do in pairs or small groups. Establish the order people contribute to minimize hesitation. You may want to start with people telling a known story to practice the mechanism.
Starting ideas
- Happily married couple remembering their best vacation
- Loving grandparents, remembering when they saw their first grandchild
- Best friends in college, on graduation day, remembering the first day of school
- Advice. e.g. Worst advice for preparing for a hurricane
- Write a complaint letter to [Santa] Then write the response (also one word at a time)
Facilitation Tips
If a sentence, let the first person know they will go first to get it off to a good start
Facilitator can walk around the circle and/or points to keep the cadence going
To keep from becoming a disaster story, encourage sensory details instead of plot
If in pairs, switch pairs so people can more easily debrief the process, not the story.
A warm up to get people to practice rapid turn taking is 1-2-3.
Applications
Use to pull out themes on any topic the team is addressing.
Phrase question in the future at the start of a workshop. Creates intentions.
Phrase in past as a wrap up for a workshop. For example,
- Favorite part of the day/event
- Important lesson from today
Use this activity to illustrate... (many things; making space for a list here)
change vs. transition (Bridges model of change) - change is fast, adjusting to the change = transition, takes time & skills.
Debrief ideas
• Who was in charge of creating this memory/story?
•What did we have to do to succeed? How would you define a successful conversation?
• Where did we get stuck?
• Where did you feel momentum in the story? What did we do that helped build that momentum?
• What would be different if you listened at work the way you listened here?
How was that?
(answer) What do you make of that?
(answer) Where else / does that resonate in your life/work/role
Variations
Two or Three-word-at-a-time (this is a bit more challenging)Interview an expert that is made of multiple people
Use photo cards - Each person draws a card. Their sentence/word is based on the photo card.
Drawing one line at a time
Acting Out Variation (from Kat Koppett)
2 people telling 1 story while physically acting out the story together (rather than look at each other telling the story)
Facilitation tips for this variation
- pairs are easier than groups of 3 or more
- demo starting with a verb ("climbing-the-tree-we-reached etc.) can encourage actions
-do in the first person (because you want people acting it out)
-switch partners so people have different experiences. What did you assume, etc.
Once Upon A Team w/photo cards
Turn photo cards upside down and spread like deck of cards
Have each person pick a card
Start the story: Once upon a time, there was a team that got together for 2 days and what they learned.....
First person….tells their story based on their card, then shares card with the group
Debrief: What did you learn? What themes emerged?
Background
8.1 in AINbook is Remember the Time
http://improvencyclopedia.org/games/Word_at_a_Time_Story.html
Author
I lead a team that helps multi-stakeholder groups tackle high-stakes, complex work with clarity and connection. We design and guide strategic planning sessions, workshops, retreats, and conferences where people think well together, make sound decisions, and take coordinated action. Our team is trained in improvisational theater, and as active members of the International Applied Improvisation Network, we bring adaptable, creative methods that build trust, surface essential perspectives, and keep momentum strong. We also share what we know, offering facilitator training that blends inclusive process design with the flexibility and presence of improv.
More about author