Toolbox
click and find
dance
photography
storytelling
music
competence
creativity
closure
awareness
teambuilding
group size 1-2
group size 14+
group size 2-14
40 min and more
15 to 40 min.
less than 15 min.
example training set-up
| dance | teambuilding | creativity | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | less than 15 min. | music | photography | storytelling |
Objectives:
Triggering creativity
Getting to know each other
Best moment:
Beginning of the training
Material needed:
None
Preparartion:
None
Step by step description:
Ask the participants to sit or stand in a circle. Say a word. Ask your neighbour to say a word he or she associates with your word. Subsequently his/her neighbour should say a word that (s)he associates with that word and so on. Continue until all participants have said their associated words. Depending on the group's enthusiasm you could do another round.
Closure:
Thank the participants and explain how an exercise like this one encourages creative thinking.
Notes for facilitators:
This is also a good exercise to kick-off another phase of the training. It gives the group energy and encourages both their listening as well as their creative skills.
This exercise might be less suitable for a group with lower language skills.
Associate!
Objectives:
Triggering creativity
Getting to know each other
Best moment:
Beginning of the training
Material needed:
None
Preparartion:
None
Step by step description:
Ask the participants to sit or stand in a circle. Say a word. Ask your neighbour to say a word he or she associates with your word. Subsequently his/her neighbour should say a word that (s)he associates with that word and so on. Continue until all participants have said their associated words. Depending on the group's enthusiasm you could do another round.
Closure:
Thank the participants and explain how an exercise like this one encourages creative thinking.
Notes for facilitators:
This is also a good exercise to kick-off another phase of the training. It gives the group energy and encourages both their listening as well as their creative skills.
This exercise might be less suitable for a group with lower language skills.
| dance | teambuilding | group size 1-2 | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | less than 15 min. | 15 to 40 min. | music | photography | storytelling | closure |
Objectives:
To listen and understand how the group is feeling
To collaborate
Best moment:
Beginning of a training day
End of a training day
Material needed:
None
Preparation:
None
Step by step description:
Ask participants to sit in a circle.
Introduce the "check in" and explain that every training course day will start with one. Give an example of what you expect from the participants by describing how you feel and what you expect from this day. After you have done this, ask each participant to share how (s)he feels at that moment and what (s)he expects from the day, one after the other. Make sure everybody listens and does not interrupt one another.
After this first check in, started by you, it's important that you, the facilitator/trainer, on the following training course days let the participants begin. This reduces the chance that they'll be influenced by you in what they say.
The 'check out' should be the last activity of the day. It offers all participants the opportunity to share their experiences, feelings, learning process, etc.
The facilitator closes the check-out by sharing with the group what (s)he has noticed that day (progress, difficulties, developments, etc.)
Notes for facilitator
If a participant becomes emotional during the check in or check out, let it happen. Do not react, unless you feel that the person is in need of help. In that case take the person apart. Best is to ask someone to take over the check in or check out while you try to find out if the person should continue with the workshop or is too emotional for that. If you and the person decide that (s)he can continue, do also keep in mind the rest of the group; is there a risk they will be hindered by continuation? This may be a delicate balance. If you doubt someone's mental health, don't play psychologist yourself. It is better to refer the person to a competent counsellor.
To give an indication of the time this activity takes: with a group of 10 participants you should count on 10 minutes for the check in and 10 minutes for the check out.
Check in and Check out
Objectives:
To listen and understand how the group is feeling
To collaborate
Best moment:
Beginning of a training day
End of a training day
Material needed:
None
Preparation:
None
Step by step description:
Ask participants to sit in a circle.
Introduce the "check in" and explain that every training course day will start with one. Give an example of what you expect from the participants by describing how you feel and what you expect from this day. After you have done this, ask each participant to share how (s)he feels at that moment and what (s)he expects from the day, one after the other. Make sure everybody listens and does not interrupt one another.
After this first check in, started by you, it's important that you, the facilitator/trainer, on the following training course days let the participants begin. This reduces the chance that they'll be influenced by you in what they say.
The 'check out' should be the last activity of the day. It offers all participants the opportunity to share their experiences, feelings, learning process, etc.
The facilitator closes the check-out by sharing with the group what (s)he has noticed that day (progress, difficulties, developments, etc.)
Notes for facilitator
If a participant becomes emotional during the check in or check out, let it happen. Do not react, unless you feel that the person is in need of help. In that case take the person apart. Best is to ask someone to take over the check in or check out while you try to find out if the person should continue with the workshop or is too emotional for that. If you and the person decide that (s)he can continue, do also keep in mind the rest of the group; is there a risk they will be hindered by continuation? This may be a delicate balance. If you doubt someone's mental health, don't play psychologist yourself. It is better to refer the person to a competent counsellor.
To give an indication of the time this activity takes: with a group of 10 participants you should count on 10 minutes for the check in and 10 minutes for the check out.
| dance | teambuilding | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | less than 15 min. | music | photography | storytelling |
Objective:
Best moment:
Needed:
A room with enough space to move.
Preparations:
None
Step by step description:
Ask the group to walk freely across the room. When you say stop, they have to stop and close their eyes.
Then ask them to point at something in the room, for example the smoke alarm, someone wearing red shoes, someone wearing a hat.
Ask them to open their eyes and observe together if everybody pointed in the right direction.
Repeat this a couple of times. You might add that the participants point at two things, one with their left hand and one with their right hand (you could even involve one leg).
Closure:
Ask whether they found it difficult to observe everything as they walked around.
Emphasize the importance of paying attention to what is happening around you.
Notes for the facilitator:
This exercise is not only fun, but also makes people aware of the importance of focusing.
I see, I see what you don't see
Objective:
Best moment:
Needed:
A room with enough space to move.
Preparations:
None
Step by step description:
Ask the group to walk freely across the room. When you say stop, they have to stop and close their eyes.
Then ask them to point at something in the room, for example the smoke alarm, someone wearing red shoes, someone wearing a hat.
Ask them to open their eyes and observe together if everybody pointed in the right direction.
Repeat this a couple of times. You might add that the participants point at two things, one with their left hand and one with their right hand (you could even involve one leg).
Closure:
Ask whether they found it difficult to observe everything as they walked around.
Emphasize the importance of paying attention to what is happening around you.
Notes for the facilitator:
This exercise is not only fun, but also makes people aware of the importance of focusing.
| dance | teambuilding | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | 15 to 40 min. | music | photography | storytelling |
Objectives:
Create mutual trust and the ability to fully rely on others
Building a strong team
Best moment:
Middle of the training
Material needed:
Blindfolds
Preparation:
Create a safe space, without too many obstacles
Step by step description:
Make pairs. One is blindfolded and the other is asked to lead the first through the de limited space. The condition is that this has to be done safely. Start quietly, but challenge the couples later to try something slightly more risky, for example running or climbing a staircase. You can also
change the guidelines depending on your own observations of the group.
Change the role of blindfolded and guides over time (for example after 5 to 10 minutes).
After you have ended the activity ask the participants how they have felt.
Variant: instead of leading through physical contact, you can also make them guide each other by sound. The guide makes a certain
sound that the blindfold must follow.
Facilitators notes:
Take good notice of what happens in the group. The dynamics and the body language of the participants usually provide a lot of useful information for the continuation of the training.
This activity can best be done when the participants feel at ease with each other and mutual trust has been at least partly established. (It might be quite scary for someone to be blindfolded and to rely completely on another.)
Stress the importance of trust and collaboration!
Leading each other
Objectives:
Create mutual trust and the ability to fully rely on others
Building a strong team
Best moment:
Middle of the training
Material needed:
Blindfolds
Preparation:
Create a safe space, without too many obstacles
Step by step description:
Make pairs. One is blindfolded and the other is asked to lead the first through the de limited space. The condition is that this has to be done safely. Start quietly, but challenge the couples later to try something slightly more risky, for example running or climbing a staircase. You can also
change the guidelines depending on your own observations of the group.
Change the role of blindfolded and guides over time (for example after 5 to 10 minutes).
After you have ended the activity ask the participants how they have felt.
Variant: instead of leading through physical contact, you can also make them guide each other by sound. The guide makes a certain
sound that the blindfold must follow.
Facilitators notes:
Take good notice of what happens in the group. The dynamics and the body language of the participants usually provide a lot of useful information for the continuation of the training.
This activity can best be done when the participants feel at ease with each other and mutual trust has been at least partly established. (It might be quite scary for someone to be blindfolded and to rely completely on another.)
Stress the importance of trust and collaboration!
| dance | teambuilding | creativity | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | less than 15 min. |
Objectives:
Make the participants realize they have to trust one another
Stimulate cooperation.
Best moment:
Beginning of a training day (better not on the first day)
Needed:
A bamboo stick (other light material is also possible) of at least 1,5 meters
Preparations:
None.
Step by step description:
Ask the participants to stand in two rows, facing each other and to stick out their hand and their pointing fingers.
Put the stick on the pointing fingers and ask the participants to lower the stick together.
Continue the exercise until the stick is almost on the ground.
Closure:
Ask the participants if it was difficult to do the exercise and why
Stress the importance of trusting each other in group work
Notes for facilitators:
You will notice that in most cases the stick will go up instead of going down. Don't interfere, leave it up to the participants to solve the problem.
You can add the element of silence in the exercising, inviting the participants to find other ways of communicating than speech.
Let the stick go down
Objectives:
Make the participants realize they have to trust one another
Stimulate cooperation.
Best moment:
Beginning of a training day (better not on the first day)
Needed:
A bamboo stick (other light material is also possible) of at least 1,5 meters
Preparations:
None.
Step by step description:
Ask the participants to stand in two rows, facing each other and to stick out their hand and their pointing fingers.
Put the stick on the pointing fingers and ask the participants to lower the stick together.
Continue the exercise until the stick is almost on the ground.
Closure:
Ask the participants if it was difficult to do the exercise and why
Stress the importance of trusting each other in group work
Notes for facilitators:
You will notice that in most cases the stick will go up instead of going down. Don't interfere, leave it up to the participants to solve the problem.
You can add the element of silence in the exercising, inviting the participants to find other ways of communicating than speech.
| teambuilding | competence | group size 2-14 | 15 to 40 min. | storytelling |
Objectives:
- To collaborate
- To listen and to develop logical thinking skills
- To take initiative
Best moment:
Beginning or middle of the training
Material needed:
None
Preparation:
None
Step by step description:
Indicate an imaginary line on the floor. Explain that the participants are going to create a story together. Ask one participant to go and stand on one end of the line and to make up and tell the first few sentences of the story. Ask a second participant to go and stand on the other end of the line and to make up and tell the final sentences of the story.
Invite the remaining participants one by one to create their own part within the story and to go and stand on the spot between the beginning and the end of the story where they think their part belongs.
Every time a participant joins the line, the people already "in" the story repeat the story so far, thus spinning the story together.
Once everyone has joined the line, the story is complete.
Closure
Ask the participants to tell their part of the story one after the other.
Tips for facilitators
- Don't say too much, just let them do it and discover the fun of this activity and the possible gaps in the story.
- You can use this story to warm up the participants at the beginning of a training session day, or halfway a workshop to activate them.
- You could combine this exercise with an exercise in which the participants reduce their own part of the story to one sentence. These sentences can serve as a base for new stories. (Best to do that with more advanced groups!)
Making a story together
Objectives:
- To collaborate
- To listen and to develop logical thinking skills
- To take initiative
Best moment:
Beginning or middle of the training
Material needed:
None
Preparation:
None
Step by step description:
Indicate an imaginary line on the floor. Explain that the participants are going to create a story together. Ask one participant to go and stand on one end of the line and to make up and tell the first few sentences of the story. Ask a second participant to go and stand on the other end of the line and to make up and tell the final sentences of the story.
Invite the remaining participants one by one to create their own part within the story and to go and stand on the spot between the beginning and the end of the story where they think their part belongs.
Every time a participant joins the line, the people already "in" the story repeat the story so far, thus spinning the story together.
Once everyone has joined the line, the story is complete.
Closure
Ask the participants to tell their part of the story one after the other.
Tips for facilitators
- Don't say too much, just let them do it and discover the fun of this activity and the possible gaps in the story.
- You can use this story to warm up the participants at the beginning of a training session day, or halfway a workshop to activate them.
- You could combine this exercise with an exercise in which the participants reduce their own part of the story to one sentence. These sentences can serve as a base for new stories. (Best to do that with more advanced groups!)
| dance | teambuilding | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | less than 15 min. | music | photography | storytelling |
Objectives:
Encourage ‘listening’
Encourage collaborating.
Best moment:
Halfway a training day.
Needed:
A big enough room to move in freely.
Preparation:
None
Step by step description:
Ask the group to walk across the room at the same pace. Tell them to stop when you clap your hands. When you clap again, they should move again. Repeat this three times.
Then ask the group to stop and start walking at a moment they choose themselves. They should not speak with each other.
Variant: you can also add different speeds and ask the group at a given time to jointly determine to adjust the speed.
Closure:
Discuss if it went well and why (not).
Stress the importance of forming a group and paying attention to each other.
Notes for facilitators:
This exercise gives you a good insight into the group dynamics and allows the participants to feel these dynamics as well.
Move as a group
Objectives:
Encourage ‘listening’
Encourage collaborating.
Best moment:
Halfway a training day.
Needed:
A big enough room to move in freely.
Preparation:
None
Step by step description:
Ask the group to walk across the room at the same pace. Tell them to stop when you clap your hands. When you clap again, they should move again. Repeat this three times.
Then ask the group to stop and start walking at a moment they choose themselves. They should not speak with each other.
Variant: you can also add different speeds and ask the group at a given time to jointly determine to adjust the speed.
Closure:
Discuss if it went well and why (not).
Stress the importance of forming a group and paying attention to each other.
Notes for facilitators:
This exercise gives you a good insight into the group dynamics and allows the participants to feel these dynamics as well.
| dance | teambuilding | group size 1-2 | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | less than 15 min. | music | photography | storytelling |
Objectives:
Energize the group
Loosen up the mussels
Create a playful atmosphere
Best moment:
Beginning of a training day
Needed:
None
Preparation:
None
Step by step description
Ask the participants to stand in a circle. Ask them to shake the right hand 10 times (in the air). Then ask them to shake their left hand 10 times (in the air). Continue with asking to shake their right foot 10 times and after that their left foot 10 times.
Then ask to do the above, but nine times. After that 8 and continue until all participants shake their hands and feet only one time.
Turn up the speed with every step in the exercise, so that the last shake is really fast.
Closure:
Ask if everybody feels energized
Notes for facilitators:
This is a great and easy exercise to start a workshop day with or to do after a break in order to energize everybody again.
Shake that thing
Objectives:
Energize the group
Loosen up the mussels
Create a playful atmosphere
Best moment:
Beginning of a training day
Needed:
None
Preparation:
None
Step by step description
Ask the participants to stand in a circle. Ask them to shake the right hand 10 times (in the air). Then ask them to shake their left hand 10 times (in the air). Continue with asking to shake their right foot 10 times and after that their left foot 10 times.
Then ask to do the above, but nine times. After that 8 and continue until all participants shake their hands and feet only one time.
Turn up the speed with every step in the exercise, so that the last shake is really fast.
Closure:
Ask if everybody feels energized
Notes for facilitators:
This is a great and easy exercise to start a workshop day with or to do after a break in order to energize everybody again.
| dance | teambuilding | group size 14+ | less than 15 min. | music | photography | storytelling |
Objectives:
Energize the group
Create a playful atmosphere.
Best moment:
Beginning of a training day.
Needed:
Nothing
Preparation:
None
Step by step description:
Make three groups, b, c and d. Make sure that one participant is not in a group.
Ask the b’s and the c’s to stand in front of each other, with their arms in the air and their fingers touching each other, as if it is a house. These are the castles. Ask the d’s to be the princesses and to find a castle: to stand in the middle, between a b and a c.
One person does not have a castle, but wants to have one. S-he has two opportunities: if s-he yells ‘princess’, all princesses have to find a new castle. Of course, the princess without a castle will find one now, implying someone else is now without a castle.
S-he can also shout ‘castle’. In that case all participants forming a castle have to find a new partner to form a castle with, thus providing a roof for a princess (the princesses stay where they are). The princess that was without a roof pairs with someone to form a new castle. This implies someone else will be left without a castle-forming partner.
Repeat this a couple of times.
Then introduce a new opportunity: the princess without a roof can also yell ‘all’. In that case, everybody needs to form either a new castle or find a castle as a princess. The roles may completely change: princesses can become castles, castles can become princesses.
Closure:
Ask if everybody feels energized.
Notes for facilitators:
This is a great exercise to start a workshop day with, or to do after a break, to energize everybody again
This exercise can only be done with groups of 10 people or more.
Princesses looking for castles
Objectives:
Energize the group
Create a playful atmosphere.
Best moment:
Beginning of a training day.
Needed:
Nothing
Preparation:
None
Step by step description:
Make three groups, b, c and d. Make sure that one participant is not in a group.
Ask the b’s and the c’s to stand in front of each other, with their arms in the air and their fingers touching each other, as if it is a house. These are the castles. Ask the d’s to be the princesses and to find a castle: to stand in the middle, between a b and a c.
One person does not have a castle, but wants to have one. S-he has two opportunities: if s-he yells ‘princess’, all princesses have to find a new castle. Of course, the princess without a castle will find one now, implying someone else is now without a castle.
S-he can also shout ‘castle’. In that case all participants forming a castle have to find a new partner to form a castle with, thus providing a roof for a princess (the princesses stay where they are). The princess that was without a roof pairs with someone to form a new castle. This implies someone else will be left without a castle-forming partner.
Repeat this a couple of times.
Then introduce a new opportunity: the princess without a roof can also yell ‘all’. In that case, everybody needs to form either a new castle or find a castle as a princess. The roles may completely change: princesses can become castles, castles can become princesses.
Closure:
Ask if everybody feels energized.
Notes for facilitators:
This is a great exercise to start a workshop day with, or to do after a break, to energize everybody again
This exercise can only be done with groups of 10 people or more.
| dance | teambuilding | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | less than 15 min. | music | photography | storytelling |
Objectives
- Energize the group
- Give focus
- Encourage multi-tasking
Best moment
Beginning of a workshop day (or in between activities when you notice the energy in the group is low)
Material needed
None
Preparation
None
Step by step description
Make a circle. Explain to the participants that they have to pass on the bunny bunny: with two fingers, the index and the middle finger, they first make a sort of scratchy movement in front of their own face, saying bunny bunny, and then with the same movement, but with the hands facing outwards, and by saying 'bunny bunny' they pass the bunny bunny on to someone else in the circle. The person to whom they've passed the bunny bunny then does the same things.
Repeat this for a couple of turns.
Add the next step: the person standing next to the one receiving the bunny bunny turns to the bunny receiver, bents his/her knees, waves his/her hands and says 'tokky tokky', while the other person says 'bunny bunny'.
Repeat this for a couple of turns.
Add the next step: ask the group to make a sound and a movement simultaneously. After having repeated that, you introduce the bunny bunny and the tokky tokky again.
After a while you can add a competition element: ask everyone who makes a mistake (p.e. forgets to say 'bunny bunny' or 'tokky tokky', or to bend his/her knees, etc.) to leave the circle.
Closure
Thank the participants and ask if they liked this activity.
Facilitators notes
- Develop your own way of doing this exercise. Come up with your own sound/movement combination.
- You can always use this exercise to wake up a group
- Be aware that the silliness of this exercise may cause that some participants decide to step back, especially in adult groups.
Tips
This exercise immediately produces immediate energy. Everybody is able to join, but you‘ll notice that for some it will be easier to do different actions at the same time than for others. This may be valid information for your workshop/training.
Bunny Bunny
Objectives
- Energize the group
- Give focus
- Encourage multi-tasking
Best moment
Beginning of a workshop day (or in between activities when you notice the energy in the group is low)
Material needed
None
Preparation
None
Step by step description
Make a circle. Explain to the participants that they have to pass on the bunny bunny: with two fingers, the index and the middle finger, they first make a sort of scratchy movement in front of their own face, saying bunny bunny, and then with the same movement, but with the hands facing outwards, and by saying 'bunny bunny' they pass the bunny bunny on to someone else in the circle. The person to whom they've passed the bunny bunny then does the same things.
Repeat this for a couple of turns.
Add the next step: the person standing next to the one receiving the bunny bunny turns to the bunny receiver, bents his/her knees, waves his/her hands and says 'tokky tokky', while the other person says 'bunny bunny'.
Repeat this for a couple of turns.
Add the next step: ask the group to make a sound and a movement simultaneously. After having repeated that, you introduce the bunny bunny and the tokky tokky again.
After a while you can add a competition element: ask everyone who makes a mistake (p.e. forgets to say 'bunny bunny' or 'tokky tokky', or to bend his/her knees, etc.) to leave the circle.
Closure
Thank the participants and ask if they liked this activity.
Facilitators notes
- Develop your own way of doing this exercise. Come up with your own sound/movement combination.
- You can always use this exercise to wake up a group
- Be aware that the silliness of this exercise may cause that some participants decide to step back, especially in adult groups.
Tips
This exercise immediately produces immediate energy. Everybody is able to join, but you‘ll notice that for some it will be easier to do different actions at the same time than for others. This may be valid information for your workshop/training.
| dance | competence | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | less than 15 min. | music | photography | storytelling |
Objectives
- To create connection
- To stimulate brain activity and focus
- To create Group spirit
Best moment
Middle of the training
Material needed
None
Preparation
None
Step by step description
Ask the participants to stand in a circle.
The assignments: 1) Tell your neighbour on your left your favourite drink. Do this one after the other until everyone has shared his/her favourite drink with the neighbour. 2) Remember who told you his/her favourite drink and to whom you told yours.
3) Everyone moves position. 4) Tell your favourite drink to the person to whom you told it in the first round, who is now standing somewhere else in the circle. 5) That person then tells his/her favourite drink to his/her former neighbour (also standing somewhere else in the circle now), and so on.
Do this for a few minutes.
6) One after the other, make an animal sound to your right neighbour. 7) Remember to whom you made the sound and who made the sound to you.
8) Everyone moves position again. 9) Pass the animal sound to your former neighbour. 10) That person then passes his/her animal sound to his/her former neighbour (also standing somewhere else in the circle now), and so on.
Do this for a few minutes. Then ...
11) Not only pass the animal sound to your former neighbour, but also tell your first neighbour your favourite drink.
Do this also for a few minutes. Then ...
12) Make a random move to your neighbour. 13) Remember clearly to whom you made the movement and who made it to you.
14) Everyone moves position again. 15) Pass the random movement on to your former neighbour.
Repeat this part of the activity for a few minutes, then 16) add the favourite drink and, after a short while, 17) the animal sound.
Now everyone is passing on his/her favourite drink, animal sound, random movement to different former neighbours, so one has to stay really focused to be able to keep up!
You might want to add another sound, movement or word and then repeat all steps, ending up with four things one has to pass on to four different former neighbours, but experience has taught us that four often is too much for a group to handle.
Closure
- If this activity becomes very chaotic, you'd better stop it.
- Discuss with all present what went right and what went wrong and why
- Praise the participants.
Facilitators notes
Try to find out how much information the group can handle.
If you are working with the same group for several days, you could try to build up this activity, starting with just two things the participants have to remember and building this up over the days to four things.
Try to be as strict as possible and to keep this activity structured.
Of course you can replace the topics (favourite drink, animal sound, etc.) for other topics.
Tips
This exercise teaches the participants to really make contact with each other. But it also gives you a great insight in group dynamics. If the exercise goes well and even the third level goes smoothly, then you can conclude that the group spirit is good. Sometimes you might be working with a group for which even level 1 is too difficult. This is an indication that you have to put a lot of effort into the training to get the wished for results.
Game of many things
Objectives
- To create connection
- To stimulate brain activity and focus
- To create Group spirit
Best moment
Middle of the training
Material needed
None
Preparation
None
Step by step description
Ask the participants to stand in a circle.
The assignments: 1) Tell your neighbour on your left your favourite drink. Do this one after the other until everyone has shared his/her favourite drink with the neighbour. 2) Remember who told you his/her favourite drink and to whom you told yours.
3) Everyone moves position. 4) Tell your favourite drink to the person to whom you told it in the first round, who is now standing somewhere else in the circle. 5) That person then tells his/her favourite drink to his/her former neighbour (also standing somewhere else in the circle now), and so on.
Do this for a few minutes.
6) One after the other, make an animal sound to your right neighbour. 7) Remember to whom you made the sound and who made the sound to you.
8) Everyone moves position again. 9) Pass the animal sound to your former neighbour. 10) That person then passes his/her animal sound to his/her former neighbour (also standing somewhere else in the circle now), and so on.
Do this for a few minutes. Then ...
11) Not only pass the animal sound to your former neighbour, but also tell your first neighbour your favourite drink.
Do this also for a few minutes. Then ...
12) Make a random move to your neighbour. 13) Remember clearly to whom you made the movement and who made it to you.
14) Everyone moves position again. 15) Pass the random movement on to your former neighbour.
Repeat this part of the activity for a few minutes, then 16) add the favourite drink and, after a short while, 17) the animal sound.
Now everyone is passing on his/her favourite drink, animal sound, random movement to different former neighbours, so one has to stay really focused to be able to keep up!
You might want to add another sound, movement or word and then repeat all steps, ending up with four things one has to pass on to four different former neighbours, but experience has taught us that four often is too much for a group to handle.
Closure
- If this activity becomes very chaotic, you'd better stop it.
- Discuss with all present what went right and what went wrong and why
- Praise the participants.
Facilitators notes
Try to find out how much information the group can handle.
If you are working with the same group for several days, you could try to build up this activity, starting with just two things the participants have to remember and building this up over the days to four things.
Try to be as strict as possible and to keep this activity structured.
Of course you can replace the topics (favourite drink, animal sound, etc.) for other topics.
Tips
This exercise teaches the participants to really make contact with each other. But it also gives you a great insight in group dynamics. If the exercise goes well and even the third level goes smoothly, then you can conclude that the group spirit is good. Sometimes you might be working with a group for which even level 1 is too difficult. This is an indication that you have to put a lot of effort into the training to get the wished for results.
| competence | group size 2-14 | 40 min and more | storytelling |
Objectives
- To practise the three pillars (mainly using narrative structure and telling with images)
- To train presentation skills
- To train structuring thought
Best moment
Middle of the training
Material needed
None
Preparation
None
Step by step description
- Ask the group to make a short story about an event during a holiday, taking into account the elements of the narrative structure.
- Give them five to ten minutes to prepare (also indicate that the exercise isn’t meant to immediately result in a perfect story) and invite everyone to share the story (if you’re working with a large group, you’d better restrict this sharing of the story to only a few participants).
- After each story identify the elements you have heard (like: forgetting to turn off the car lights = opponent! Nice lady who showed you the right way when you were lost = helper!)
- A group of 6-8 participants is ideal for this exercise.
Closure
- Thank the participants and summarize the feedback you have given;
- Ask everyone in the group what s-he learned from this exercise (from the telling of own story and listening to others');
- Point out that everybody can share a story, that this is not as difficult as one might think.
Facilitators notes
- Working with bigger groups is possible, if you don't mind that time may not allow for everybody to share his or her story. To give you an indication: if your group consists of 6 up to 8 participants, this exercise takes 40-60 minutes;
- Try to avoid stories that are too long.
Tips
This exercise is a good entrance to making and telling a more personal story. Point out that the next step, to share a more personal story, is not such a big step after having done this exercise.
Holiday story
Objectives
- To practise the three pillars (mainly using narrative structure and telling with images)
- To train presentation skills
- To train structuring thought
Best moment
Middle of the training
Material needed
None
Preparation
None
Step by step description
- Ask the group to make a short story about an event during a holiday, taking into account the elements of the narrative structure.
- Give them five to ten minutes to prepare (also indicate that the exercise isn’t meant to immediately result in a perfect story) and invite everyone to share the story (if you’re working with a large group, you’d better restrict this sharing of the story to only a few participants).
- After each story identify the elements you have heard (like: forgetting to turn off the car lights = opponent! Nice lady who showed you the right way when you were lost = helper!)
- A group of 6-8 participants is ideal for this exercise.
Closure
- Thank the participants and summarize the feedback you have given;
- Ask everyone in the group what s-he learned from this exercise (from the telling of own story and listening to others');
- Point out that everybody can share a story, that this is not as difficult as one might think.
Facilitators notes
- Working with bigger groups is possible, if you don't mind that time may not allow for everybody to share his or her story. To give you an indication: if your group consists of 6 up to 8 participants, this exercise takes 40-60 minutes;
- Try to avoid stories that are too long.
Tips
This exercise is a good entrance to making and telling a more personal story. Point out that the next step, to share a more personal story, is not such a big step after having done this exercise.
| teambuilding | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | 15 to 40 min. | photography | storytelling |
Objectives
- To get to know each other
- To get the participants in a 'story sharing mood'
- To create group spirit by being silly together.
Best moment
Beginning of the training.
Material needed
None
Preparation
None
Step by step description
1. Explain the exercise to the group.
2. Ask the participants to walk through the room while buzzing like mosquitoes and flapping their arms like wings.
3. At a certain moment you say a number. The ‘mosquitoes’ then have to form groups consisting of that number of participants. 4. When this is done, you mention a theme the groups have to talk about, such as: favourite food; favourite music; a nice memory; a sad memory; family.
5. After a while you say: ‘mosquitoes’ and everybody starts flapping and buzzing around the room again.
6. Then you say another number and the mosquitoes form groups consisting of that number of participants and talk about the theme you then announce.
You can repeat this several times.
Closure
-Ask everybody to come and stand in a circle.
- Make them aware of what they’ve just done: sharing little stories with each other and point out how easy this was for them to do.
- Thank the participants
Notes
- You could start with accessible themes like the ones mentioned above and shift gradually towards more serious themes like: ‘what was the last time you told someone that you appreciate him/her’? Before you do so make sure the whole group is ready for this. If you did some team building exercises already, it might work well.
- Make sure you give the groups enough time to share their little stories and keep an eye on everybody’s participation
- Join the group in buzzing and flapping around like a mosquito. By acting silly together you also get involved in the group dynamics. (You’d better not also share a short story about the themes. Instead make sure everybody participates and feels comfortable in doing so.)
- Of course, you can replace the mosquitoes by other animals or situations as long as the exercise keeps its silly character.
Tips
Although imitating mosquitoes is ‘silly’, do keep in mind that acting silly collectively connects people. By also sharing stories about the themes you’ve chosen people get to know each other better.
Mosquitoes
Objectives
- To get to know each other
- To get the participants in a 'story sharing mood'
- To create group spirit by being silly together.
Best moment
Beginning of the training.
Material needed
None
Preparation
None
Step by step description
1. Explain the exercise to the group.
2. Ask the participants to walk through the room while buzzing like mosquitoes and flapping their arms like wings.
3. At a certain moment you say a number. The ‘mosquitoes’ then have to form groups consisting of that number of participants. 4. When this is done, you mention a theme the groups have to talk about, such as: favourite food; favourite music; a nice memory; a sad memory; family.
5. After a while you say: ‘mosquitoes’ and everybody starts flapping and buzzing around the room again.
6. Then you say another number and the mosquitoes form groups consisting of that number of participants and talk about the theme you then announce.
You can repeat this several times.
Closure
-Ask everybody to come and stand in a circle.
- Make them aware of what they’ve just done: sharing little stories with each other and point out how easy this was for them to do.
- Thank the participants
Notes
- You could start with accessible themes like the ones mentioned above and shift gradually towards more serious themes like: ‘what was the last time you told someone that you appreciate him/her’? Before you do so make sure the whole group is ready for this. If you did some team building exercises already, it might work well.
- Make sure you give the groups enough time to share their little stories and keep an eye on everybody’s participation
- Join the group in buzzing and flapping around like a mosquito. By acting silly together you also get involved in the group dynamics. (You’d better not also share a short story about the themes. Instead make sure everybody participates and feels comfortable in doing so.)
- Of course, you can replace the mosquitoes by other animals or situations as long as the exercise keeps its silly character.
Tips
Although imitating mosquitoes is ‘silly’, do keep in mind that acting silly collectively connects people. By also sharing stories about the themes you’ve chosen people get to know each other better.
| teambuilding | creativity | group size 2-14 | less than 15 min. | music |
Objectives
- To wake up the mind
- To get focussed
- To work in a team.
Best moment
Beginning of the training.
Material needed
An object (like a set of keys, sheet of paper, a coat, etc.)
Preparation
None.
Step by step description
- Make a circle with people sitting on chairs or on the floor.
- Ask who would like to begin, or appoint someone.
- Find an object and place it in the centre of the circle on the floor.
- Ask the person you have chosen to describe the object to the rest of the group. This has to be done in a poetic way and without mentioning the object itself.
(This exercise takes a room of silence and concentration)
Closure
Thank the participants and tell them they did a great job.
Notes
- Tell the group that this exercise is about being as open minded as possible.
- Make sure you give each person plenty of time to think, but to not take too long as not to lose his/her spontaneity.
- Ask the group to be as creative as possible.
Tips
- When doing this session the key is to be creative with words but to not overthink.
- The mission is to be as poetic as possible when describing the object in front of you.
Describe the object poetically
Objectives
- To wake up the mind
- To get focussed
- To work in a team.
Best moment
Beginning of the training.
Material needed
An object (like a set of keys, sheet of paper, a coat, etc.)
Preparation
None.
Step by step description
- Make a circle with people sitting on chairs or on the floor.
- Ask who would like to begin, or appoint someone.
- Find an object and place it in the centre of the circle on the floor.
- Ask the person you have chosen to describe the object to the rest of the group. This has to be done in a poetic way and without mentioning the object itself.
(This exercise takes a room of silence and concentration)
Closure
Thank the participants and tell them they did a great job.
Notes
- Tell the group that this exercise is about being as open minded as possible.
- Make sure you give each person plenty of time to think, but to not take too long as not to lose his/her spontaneity.
- Ask the group to be as creative as possible.
Tips
- When doing this session the key is to be creative with words but to not overthink.
- The mission is to be as poetic as possible when describing the object in front of you.
| creativity | competence | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | 40 min and more | music |
Objectives
- To wake up the mind
- To be focussed
- Team work.
Best moment
Beginning of the training.
Material needed
Pens, papers.
Preparation
None
Step by step description
- Ask people to sit or stand in a circle.
- Ask them to each think of a short story about themselves. For this they can use questions like: Who am I; What kind of person am I; Who do I want to be in the future? What makes me tick?
- Once the group has had time to think about that story, ask them to write a short piece about themselves. The piece will be titled WHO AM I. It can be in any style of writing they like; rap, poem, spoken word and so on.
Closure
Thank the participants and tell them they did a great job.
Notes
- This is to give people a chance to really think about who they are as a person as well as an artist.
- Writing about oneself can be hard for some people. Showing as much support as possible is important when listening to their stories.
Tips
- Make sure each person feels that they are in a safe environment when telling stories about themselves or a personal experience.
- It's best to do this exercise with a group of 20 people max.
Tell your story
Objectives
- To wake up the mind
- To be focussed
- Team work.
Best moment
Beginning of the training.
Material needed
Pens, papers.
Preparation
None
Step by step description
- Ask people to sit or stand in a circle.
- Ask them to each think of a short story about themselves. For this they can use questions like: Who am I; What kind of person am I; Who do I want to be in the future? What makes me tick?
- Once the group has had time to think about that story, ask them to write a short piece about themselves. The piece will be titled WHO AM I. It can be in any style of writing they like; rap, poem, spoken word and so on.
Closure
Thank the participants and tell them they did a great job.
Notes
- This is to give people a chance to really think about who they are as a person as well as an artist.
- Writing about oneself can be hard for some people. Showing as much support as possible is important when listening to their stories.
Tips
- Make sure each person feels that they are in a safe environment when telling stories about themselves or a personal experience.
- It's best to do this exercise with a group of 20 people max.
| teambuilding | creativity | group size 2-14 | 15 to 40 min. | music | photography |
Objectives
- To wake up the mind
- To focus.
Best moment
Beginning of the training.
Material needed
None.
Preparation
None.
Step by step description
Make a circle standing. The aim is to make a story together. Each person is to say about 2-3 lines, then must pass the story on to the next person. The group can put as many spins on the story as possible, making up whatever they like. The mission is to also be as creative as possible. One must think quickly to get a smooth result.
Closure
Thank the participants and tell them they did a great job
Notes
It is important you push the group to think as quickly as possible. This will help them when learning lines for a role on stage.
Tips
- Many groups who are trying to build their confidence will find it hard to project their voice or to talk in a group. This means you will have to encourage them to push their voices.
- This exercise is best done with a group of 20 people max.
Think fast
Objectives
- To wake up the mind
- To focus.
Best moment
Beginning of the training.
Material needed
None.
Preparation
None.
Step by step description
Make a circle standing. The aim is to make a story together. Each person is to say about 2-3 lines, then must pass the story on to the next person. The group can put as many spins on the story as possible, making up whatever they like. The mission is to also be as creative as possible. One must think quickly to get a smooth result.
Closure
Thank the participants and tell them they did a great job
Notes
It is important you push the group to think as quickly as possible. This will help them when learning lines for a role on stage.
Tips
- Many groups who are trying to build their confidence will find it hard to project their voice or to talk in a group. This means you will have to encourage them to push their voices.
- This exercise is best done with a group of 20 people max.
| awareness | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | 15 to 40 min. | photography |
Objectives
Create awareness of personality.
Best moment
Near the end of the POWER workshop.
Material needed
Internet (www.16personalities.com)
Preparation
None
Step by step description
- Ask the participants to take out their phones, to surf to www.16personalities.com and to answer the questions. This will take about 10 to 15 minutes. After they've answered the questions, the website will give information about one's personality.
- Give participants 5 minutes to digest this information.
- Ask them to form groups of 3 or 4 people (max) and to share what they do or don’t recognise in the website's description of their personality.
Closure
Ask participants to get together and share their experiences and thoughts about their personality with the whole group.
Notes
It is important to do this exercise to at the end of the POWER workshop as it brings a lot of information together.
Tips
- Keep a close eye on everyone's well being and offer (individual) support if needed.
- We advise to do this exercise with groups of 20 people max.
Discover the ME
Objectives
Create awareness of personality.
Best moment
Near the end of the POWER workshop.
Material needed
Internet (www.16personalities.com)
Preparation
None
Step by step description
- Ask the participants to take out their phones, to surf to www.16personalities.com and to answer the questions. This will take about 10 to 15 minutes. After they've answered the questions, the website will give information about one's personality.
- Give participants 5 minutes to digest this information.
- Ask them to form groups of 3 or 4 people (max) and to share what they do or don’t recognise in the website's description of their personality.
Closure
Ask participants to get together and share their experiences and thoughts about their personality with the whole group.
Notes
It is important to do this exercise to at the end of the POWER workshop as it brings a lot of information together.
Tips
- Keep a close eye on everyone's well being and offer (individual) support if needed.
- We advise to do this exercise with groups of 20 people max.
| awareness | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | 15 to 40 min. | photography |
Objectives
To create awareness of one's purpose (answer to the question why).
Best moment
After team building exercise in the PURPOSE session.
Material needed
Post-its
Flipover
Markers
Beamer
Screen
Internet connection https://www.youtube.com (TedTalk of Simon Sinek)
Preparation
None
Step by step description
For a full description of this activity see the Photography/PURPOSE workshop in the PoA Methodology on this website http://thepowerofart.eu
- Show the TED talk of Simon Sinek about the Golden Circle and why it is important to act from your WHY (https://www.youtube.com).
- Ask the participants to use their 7 post-its from the Pleasure workshop (see find my PLEASURE exercise) and to ask each other in pairs six times ‘WHY’ per post-it.
Closure
- Ask everyone to sit together and share the outcome of this exercise; their core.
- Ask the participants to add all information gained to their PURPOSE cirkel (optional).
Notes
Be patient! For some people it is hard to get to their core, so they may need some extra guidance and questions.
Tips
We advise you to do this exercise with groups of 20 people max.
Find your WHY
Objectives
To create awareness of one's purpose (answer to the question why).
Best moment
After team building exercise in the PURPOSE session.
Material needed
Post-its
Flipover
Markers
Beamer
Screen
Internet connection https://www.youtube.com (TedTalk of Simon Sinek)
Preparation
None
Step by step description
For a full description of this activity see the Photography/PURPOSE workshop in the PoA Methodology on this website http://thepowerofart.eu
- Show the TED talk of Simon Sinek about the Golden Circle and why it is important to act from your WHY (https://www.youtube.com).
- Ask the participants to use their 7 post-its from the Pleasure workshop (see find my PLEASURE exercise) and to ask each other in pairs six times ‘WHY’ per post-it.
Closure
- Ask everyone to sit together and share the outcome of this exercise; their core.
- Ask the participants to add all information gained to their PURPOSE cirkel (optional).
Notes
Be patient! For some people it is hard to get to their core, so they may need some extra guidance and questions.
Tips
We advise you to do this exercise with groups of 20 people max.
| teambuilding | awareness | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | 15 to 40 min. | photography |
Objectives
- To create a safe learning environment
- To raise self-awareness
Best moment
Beginning of the training, after a team building exercise during the first session.
Material needed
Flip chart
Markers
Preparation
None
Step by step description
- Draw an iceberg on the flip chart and explain that people are often compared to icebergs because both show only 6% of themselves and the rest stays hidden below the surface.
- After this short explanation ask the participants to name 'things' they associate with the 6% that people show to the world, like fashion, success, social media, etc.. Write these words down on the flip chart.
- Then ask them to name 'things' they associate with what stays hidden below the surface, like pain, anger, insecurities, etc.. Write these words down on the flip chart.
Closure
Ask the participants if they recognise the words written below the surface of the iceberg.
Explain that in this training we will work on getting those words above the surface; that one of the aims of this training is to show more of ourselves.
Notes
By sharing words that one connects with 'hidden below the surface' a person already shows something of him-/herself, often without being aware of it. Those words help you to get some insight in the person's personality. Moreover, this exercise contributes to the confidence of the group that they can say something without being judged.
Tips
- An example of the outcomes of this exercise you will find in the annexes to the PoA Methodology on this website
- Keep the drawing of the iceberg as a reference for everyone to see during the workshops!
- We advise you to do this exercise with groups of 20 people max.
Iceberg
Objectives
- To create a safe learning environment
- To raise self-awareness
Best moment
Beginning of the training, after a team building exercise during the first session.
Material needed
Flip chart
Markers
Preparation
None
Step by step description
- Draw an iceberg on the flip chart and explain that people are often compared to icebergs because both show only 6% of themselves and the rest stays hidden below the surface.
- After this short explanation ask the participants to name 'things' they associate with the 6% that people show to the world, like fashion, success, social media, etc.. Write these words down on the flip chart.
- Then ask them to name 'things' they associate with what stays hidden below the surface, like pain, anger, insecurities, etc.. Write these words down on the flip chart.
Closure
Ask the participants if they recognise the words written below the surface of the iceberg.
Explain that in this training we will work on getting those words above the surface; that one of the aims of this training is to show more of ourselves.
Notes
By sharing words that one connects with 'hidden below the surface' a person already shows something of him-/herself, often without being aware of it. Those words help you to get some insight in the person's personality. Moreover, this exercise contributes to the confidence of the group that they can say something without being judged.
Tips
- An example of the outcomes of this exercise you will find in the annexes to the PoA Methodology on this website
- Keep the drawing of the iceberg as a reference for everyone to see during the workshops!
- We advise you to do this exercise with groups of 20 people max.
| awareness | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | 15 to 40 min. | photography |
Objectives
- To find out what one really likes
- To gain more self-knowledge.
Best moment
Last exercise of the Pleasure session, after a brainstorm about pleasant moments.
Material needed
Flip chart, markers, post-its.
Preparation
None.
Step by step description
- Make sure all participants take a bunch of post-its.
- Write the following question on the flip chart:
What do you love to do?
What do you spend a lot of time on?
What gives you energy or What takes your energy?
What are you passionate about?
- Ask each participant to write down as many answers to these questions (one answer per post-it).
- Ask the participants to split up in groups of 3, 4 max. and to allocate the post-its to 1 of the following 3 categories:
NOT FUN FUN REAL FUN
Every member of the group has a role. One will be the allocator, one will be the monitor, the other one (or two) will be the oberserver(s). Once a group member has allocated his/her answers, they switch roles until all group members have allocated their answers to a category. The observer has to observe the allocator while he or she is allocating the post-its to a category. The observer will afterwards share his/her observations. The monitor should ask the allocator for his/her reasons for choosing a category (‘’why there?’’). And if the answer on a post-it is not clear: ‘’can you explain what you mean with this post-it?’’.
- Then ask participants to take the NOT FUN post-its away.
- Next, the monitor starts asking more in depth questions about the FUN post-its and tries to find out if they should not be allocated to REAL FUN. If so, they can be reallocated.
- The post-its that in the end stay allocated to FUN are taken away. Now only the REAL FUN post-its remain.
- The allocator then has to reflect on the post-its that are left and to choose 7 up to 14 that will remain in the REAL FUN category. These s-he allocates to self-named categories within this categorie.
- After this is done, the people in a group change roles until everybody has allocated post-its to self-named categories within the REAL FUN category.
Closure
- Invite the participants to sit in a circle to discuss this exercise together. You start the discussion by asking how it was to answer the questions and to allocate the post-its. After that you challenge the participants to share their experiences and outcomes with each other.
- Ask them to add all the information gained to their Pleasure circle (optional).
- Thank them for their commitment.
Notes
- Support the participants at all stages of the process.
- During the plenary discussion at the end you can help participants to reflect on the exercise by asking questions.
Tips
- This exercise helps participants in a friendly way to learn more about what gives them pleasure.
- Best to do this exercise with 3 to 30 people max.
Find your PLEASURE
Objectives
- To find out what one really likes
- To gain more self-knowledge.
Best moment
Last exercise of the Pleasure session, after a brainstorm about pleasant moments.
Material needed
Flip chart, markers, post-its.
Preparation
None.
Step by step description
- Make sure all participants take a bunch of post-its.
- Write the following question on the flip chart:
What do you love to do?
What do you spend a lot of time on?
What gives you energy or What takes your energy?
What are you passionate about?
- Ask each participant to write down as many answers to these questions (one answer per post-it).
- Ask the participants to split up in groups of 3, 4 max. and to allocate the post-its to 1 of the following 3 categories:
NOT FUN FUN REAL FUN
Every member of the group has a role. One will be the allocator, one will be the monitor, the other one (or two) will be the oberserver(s). Once a group member has allocated his/her answers, they switch roles until all group members have allocated their answers to a category. The observer has to observe the allocator while he or she is allocating the post-its to a category. The observer will afterwards share his/her observations. The monitor should ask the allocator for his/her reasons for choosing a category (‘’why there?’’). And if the answer on a post-it is not clear: ‘’can you explain what you mean with this post-it?’’.
- Then ask participants to take the NOT FUN post-its away.
- Next, the monitor starts asking more in depth questions about the FUN post-its and tries to find out if they should not be allocated to REAL FUN. If so, they can be reallocated.
- The post-its that in the end stay allocated to FUN are taken away. Now only the REAL FUN post-its remain.
- The allocator then has to reflect on the post-its that are left and to choose 7 up to 14 that will remain in the REAL FUN category. These s-he allocates to self-named categories within this categorie.
- After this is done, the people in a group change roles until everybody has allocated post-its to self-named categories within the REAL FUN category.
Closure
- Invite the participants to sit in a circle to discuss this exercise together. You start the discussion by asking how it was to answer the questions and to allocate the post-its. After that you challenge the participants to share their experiences and outcomes with each other.
- Ask them to add all the information gained to their Pleasure circle (optional).
- Thank them for their commitment.
Notes
- Support the participants at all stages of the process.
- During the plenary discussion at the end you can help participants to reflect on the exercise by asking questions.
Tips
- This exercise helps participants in a friendly way to learn more about what gives them pleasure.
- Best to do this exercise with 3 to 30 people max.
| creativity | competence | group size 2-14 | 40 min and more | storytelling |
Objectives
- To get to know one's strengths and weaknesses
- To learn how to use these strengths and weaknesses and how to involve them in a story
- To improve one's self-expression skills
- To develop one's self-presentation skills
Best moment
End of training.
Material needed
Pen and paper.
Preparation
The participants need to have a personal story ready, whether or not created in an earlier stage of the training.
Step by step description
- Ask the participants to form duos.
- Ask them to each share their story with the other. While one person is telling, the other takes notes, focusing on the strengths and weaknesses expressed in the story. (20 to 30 min.)
- After sharing the stories, the duos discuss the strengths and weaknesses they've noted in the other's story according to the following questions:
Do you recognise the strengths and weaknesses?
Are there any strengths and weaknesses mentioned that you've never thought of?
Do you understand how the strengths and weaknesses that the other has noted are 'triggered' by / intrinsic to your story?
- After this discussion (20 min), each participant starts making a new story, using the information they got out of the discussion about strenghts and weaknesses. (30 to 40 min.) This story they will later present to the entire group.
Closure
- Praise the participants for their work.
- Give general feedback, based on what you have noticed while walking around.
- Link this exercise to moments in the 'real world' in which one has to present oneself (p.g. a job interview).
Notes
- You can help participants with the second story by giving them the assignment that the story should be useful for a job interview. It could, for example, be an answer to the question: ‘What do you think your added value to this company is?’
- Make clear that a story with only strengths is not always the best story. Someone who dares to share his/her weaknesses is often considered to be more authentic and will have a better chance of getting a job, especially when one is able to point out how one deals with these weaknesses.
- During the exercise walk around and offer support.
- People might need more time to create the second story. Give them as much time as is needed.
Tips
This is an important exercise in the process of developing competences. Thus, take enough time for this exercise!
SWOT and swop your story
Objectives
- To get to know one's strengths and weaknesses
- To learn how to use these strengths and weaknesses and how to involve them in a story
- To improve one's self-expression skills
- To develop one's self-presentation skills
Best moment
End of training.
Material needed
Pen and paper.
Preparation
The participants need to have a personal story ready, whether or not created in an earlier stage of the training.
Step by step description
- Ask the participants to form duos.
- Ask them to each share their story with the other. While one person is telling, the other takes notes, focusing on the strengths and weaknesses expressed in the story. (20 to 30 min.)
- After sharing the stories, the duos discuss the strengths and weaknesses they've noted in the other's story according to the following questions:
Do you recognise the strengths and weaknesses?
Are there any strengths and weaknesses mentioned that you've never thought of?
Do you understand how the strengths and weaknesses that the other has noted are 'triggered' by / intrinsic to your story?
- After this discussion (20 min), each participant starts making a new story, using the information they got out of the discussion about strenghts and weaknesses. (30 to 40 min.) This story they will later present to the entire group.
Closure
- Praise the participants for their work.
- Give general feedback, based on what you have noticed while walking around.
- Link this exercise to moments in the 'real world' in which one has to present oneself (p.g. a job interview).
Notes
- You can help participants with the second story by giving them the assignment that the story should be useful for a job interview. It could, for example, be an answer to the question: ‘What do you think your added value to this company is?’
- Make clear that a story with only strengths is not always the best story. Someone who dares to share his/her weaknesses is often considered to be more authentic and will have a better chance of getting a job, especially when one is able to point out how one deals with these weaknesses.
- During the exercise walk around and offer support.
- People might need more time to create the second story. Give them as much time as is needed.
Tips
This is an important exercise in the process of developing competences. Thus, take enough time for this exercise!
| teambuilding | creativity | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | less than 15 min. | storytelling |
Objectives
- To energise the group
- To encourage creativity.
Best moment
Beginning of the training.
Material needed
Chairs for all participants.
Preparation
Put the chairs in several rows of three (depending on the number of participants), as if it is a bus.
Step by step description
- Explain to the group that they will take the bus. Ask someone to be the driver. He/she will sit on the chair in the front row. Ask him/her to really pretends the bus is driving and stopping
- Then ask the participants to enter the bus one by one when the bus stops. While entering, you make a specific movement. Everybody in the bus (including the driver) repeats that movement, until the next one enters the bus.
- Continue until everybody is on the bus.
Closure
Thank the participants and ask them if they liked the activity.
Notes
Observe the group and notice the level of creativity of each participant. Does s-he come up easily with a movement or not?
Tips
Through this exercise the group immediately gets energy. Everybody will able to join, but you'll notice that for some it will be easier to come up with a creative movement than for others. Use this information in the next step of your workshop/training.
The bus
Objectives
- To energise the group
- To encourage creativity.
Best moment
Beginning of the training.
Material needed
Chairs for all participants.
Preparation
Put the chairs in several rows of three (depending on the number of participants), as if it is a bus.
Step by step description
- Explain to the group that they will take the bus. Ask someone to be the driver. He/she will sit on the chair in the front row. Ask him/her to really pretends the bus is driving and stopping
- Then ask the participants to enter the bus one by one when the bus stops. While entering, you make a specific movement. Everybody in the bus (including the driver) repeats that movement, until the next one enters the bus.
- Continue until everybody is on the bus.
Closure
Thank the participants and ask them if they liked the activity.
Notes
Observe the group and notice the level of creativity of each participant. Does s-he come up easily with a movement or not?
Tips
Through this exercise the group immediately gets energy. Everybody will able to join, but you'll notice that for some it will be easier to come up with a creative movement than for others. Use this information in the next step of your workshop/training.
| competence | group size 2-14 | 15 to 40 min. | storytelling |
Objectives
- To get to know each other
- To get the participants in the sharing of stories mood
- To train self-expression skills
- To introduce indirectly the different domains of storytelling: the personal, the emotional and the universal domain.
- To train listening and repetition skills.
Best moment
Best to do this activity at the first day of the training after an ice-breaking exercise; participants should feel at ease and warmed up for the workshop.
Material needed
Enough chairs for everybody. Participants can either sit in a circle or in duos, spread over the room.
Preparation
None.
Step by step description
- Ask participants to tell each other (in duos) in 6 minutes max. about their name on the basis of the following questions: 1) who gave them their name; 2) why did the name-givers choose their name; 3) if applicable – does their name have a meaning; is there a story linked to their name; 4) are they happy with their name.
- Tell about your own name to give them an example of what you expect of them.
- After 12 minutes time is up. Ask all participants to repeat what their duo-partner has told them about his/her name. DO NOT tell them beforehand that this is what you'll expect them to do!
- Ask the participant whose name-story has been repeated if s/he recognises her/himself in the version the partner has told. (Do not give any comment yourself!)
Closure
- Thank all participants for their commitment.
- Ask them what they noticed.
Notes
- Make mental or written notes of the participants' telling and listening skills.
- After all participants have told the name-story of their partner explain why you've made them do the exercise as they did: in storytelling the listener is as important as the teller. The listener will 'colour' the words of the teller/translate the story in his/her mind.
- Keep in mind that for some participants repeating what they have heard in the group might be hindered by shyness (in other words; a not too good repetition might not only be due to bad listening).
Tips
- Names carry meaning, which is why this exercise affects three domains: 1) The personal space domain, by asking how someone got his or her name. In almost every case a name is given by parents or other members of the family. Sometimes someone decides to change his/her name at a later age. 2) The emotional domain, by asking if someone is happy with his or her name. 3) The universal domain, by asking about the meaning of a name. This question easily leads to the ‘big stories’: religious stories, myths and folk tales.
- When you ask people to tell something about their name, they often do not consider this to be storytelling. But it is, and they will notice they can do it! By then asking them to retell the story they've just heard, you make them realise whether or not they have really listened to what has been told to them.
- Count on 40 minuten when working with 6 pairs (12 participants). We recommend a maximum of 16 participants.
- This exercise will give you an indication of participants' telling and listening skills and thus an indication of what they'll need to improve their (oral) self-presentation skills.
Name game
Objectives
- To get to know each other
- To get the participants in the sharing of stories mood
- To train self-expression skills
- To introduce indirectly the different domains of storytelling: the personal, the emotional and the universal domain.
- To train listening and repetition skills.
Best moment
Best to do this activity at the first day of the training after an ice-breaking exercise; participants should feel at ease and warmed up for the workshop.
Material needed
Enough chairs for everybody. Participants can either sit in a circle or in duos, spread over the room.
Preparation
None.
Step by step description
- Ask participants to tell each other (in duos) in 6 minutes max. about their name on the basis of the following questions: 1) who gave them their name; 2) why did the name-givers choose their name; 3) if applicable – does their name have a meaning; is there a story linked to their name; 4) are they happy with their name.
- Tell about your own name to give them an example of what you expect of them.
- After 12 minutes time is up. Ask all participants to repeat what their duo-partner has told them about his/her name. DO NOT tell them beforehand that this is what you'll expect them to do!
- Ask the participant whose name-story has been repeated if s/he recognises her/himself in the version the partner has told. (Do not give any comment yourself!)
Closure
- Thank all participants for their commitment.
- Ask them what they noticed.
Notes
- Make mental or written notes of the participants' telling and listening skills.
- After all participants have told the name-story of their partner explain why you've made them do the exercise as they did: in storytelling the listener is as important as the teller. The listener will 'colour' the words of the teller/translate the story in his/her mind.
- Keep in mind that for some participants repeating what they have heard in the group might be hindered by shyness (in other words; a not too good repetition might not only be due to bad listening).
Tips
- Names carry meaning, which is why this exercise affects three domains: 1) The personal space domain, by asking how someone got his or her name. In almost every case a name is given by parents or other members of the family. Sometimes someone decides to change his/her name at a later age. 2) The emotional domain, by asking if someone is happy with his or her name. 3) The universal domain, by asking about the meaning of a name. This question easily leads to the ‘big stories’: religious stories, myths and folk tales.
- When you ask people to tell something about their name, they often do not consider this to be storytelling. But it is, and they will notice they can do it! By then asking them to retell the story they've just heard, you make them realise whether or not they have really listened to what has been told to them.
- Count on 40 minuten when working with 6 pairs (12 participants). We recommend a maximum of 16 participants.
- This exercise will give you an indication of participants' telling and listening skills and thus an indication of what they'll need to improve their (oral) self-presentation skills.
| dance | teambuilding | awareness | group size 2-14 | group size 14+ | 15 to 40 min. | music | photography | storytelling |
Objectives
- To break the ice
- To communicate (without words)
- To collaborate
- To think strategically
- For all to discover the group dynamics.
Best moment
Beginning of the training.
Material needed
Chairs for all participants plus one.
Preparations
Place the chairs criss-cross in the room.
Step by step description
- Ask participants to each sit on a chair. Make sure that one chair remains empty.
- You appoint one participant and tell him/her: you are a robot and you move like a robot. You have one goal and that is to take a seat on an empty chair as quickly as possible.
- The only way the group can prevent the robot from doing so is by making sure s-he is never near an empty seat. Whenever they see the robot coming close to the empty seat, one of them has to occupy that seat before the robot can sit on it. But by leaving his or her chair, s-he leaves another seat empty and the robot will go for that one. And so forth.
- The robot may only walk around robot-like in a moderate pace, saying tic tac; the other participants may run to get to the empty seat as quickly as possible.
- Whenever someone gets his/her buttocks off his/her seat to run to the empty seat and notices somebody else got there first, one is not allowed to go back to his/her former seat! S-he then has to run to the seat left empty by that other person.
- The group may discuss a strategy in advance (without the robot being able to hear them), but must remain silent at all times during the game.
- You time how long it takes the robot to get an empty chair.
Repeat the exercise a number of times so that the group has a chance to keep the robot off the empty chair for longer. You can appoint other robots for each round.
Closure
- Thank the participants and ask if they liked the exercise.
- Point out that this game was not only fun, but was also about collaboration and communication
- Discuss with the group what went well and what could be improved.
Notes
Observe the group dynamics closely. Add some excitement by saying that other groups did this exercise way better.
Don’t go on for too long; you’ll feel when the group has reached its maximum level.
Tips
As well as it is entertaining, this exercise gives a good insight into the group’s dynamics. Who takes the lead? How does the group communicate without words? How do people react to each other? Etc.
Tic Tac
Objectives
- To break the ice
- To communicate (without words)
- To collaborate
- To think strategically
- For all to discover the group dynamics.
Best moment
Beginning of the training.
Material needed
Chairs for all participants plus one.
Preparations
Place the chairs criss-cross in the room.
Step by step description
- Ask participants to each sit on a chair. Make sure that one chair remains empty.
- You appoint one participant and tell him/her: you are a robot and you move like a robot. You have one goal and that is to take a seat on an empty chair as quickly as possible.
- The only way the group can prevent the robot from doing so is by making sure s-he is never near an empty seat. Whenever they see the robot coming close to the empty seat, one of them has to occupy that seat before the robot can sit on it. But by leaving his or her chair, s-he leaves another seat empty and the robot will go for that one. And so forth.
- The robot may only walk around robot-like in a moderate pace, saying tic tac; the other participants may run to get to the empty seat as quickly as possible.
- Whenever someone gets his/her buttocks off his/her seat to run to the empty seat and notices somebody else got there first, one is not allowed to go back to his/her former seat! S-he then has to run to the seat left empty by that other person.
- The group may discuss a strategy in advance (without the robot being able to hear them), but must remain silent at all times during the game.
- You time how long it takes the robot to get an empty chair.
Repeat the exercise a number of times so that the group has a chance to keep the robot off the empty chair for longer. You can appoint other robots for each round.
Closure
- Thank the participants and ask if they liked the exercise.
- Point out that this game was not only fun, but was also about collaboration and communication
- Discuss with the group what went well and what could be improved.
Notes
Observe the group dynamics closely. Add some excitement by saying that other groups did this exercise way better.
Don’t go on for too long; you’ll feel when the group has reached its maximum level.
Tips
As well as it is entertaining, this exercise gives a good insight into the group’s dynamics. Who takes the lead? How does the group communicate without words? How do people react to each other? Etc.