Checkin DECK
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an invitation for presence and connection
getting acquainted
inviting presence
diving deeper
why this project?
reflecting and closing
about Chris
contents ACTIVITIES
01 – 05
06 – 10
11 – 15
16 – 19
why this project?Check-ins are powerful catalysts.
They can shift a group’s energy,
deepen relationships, help a team
lean into a difficult issue, spark
creativity, engage individual and
collective purpose, incite joyfulness,
and so much more.
Check-in activities are an invitation
to connect with ourselves, connect
with each other, and settle into the
moment and the task at hand.
They are an essential practice for
culture building.
At HopeLab, we experiment with creating a culture where the whole person is nurtured. We believe that under the right conditions – an environment of purpose, connection, control, integrity, learning, and joy – the exquisite humans in our organization have the opportunity to thrive and, as a result, our business will too. It just might be that the workplace has the greatest potential to improve how we relate to each other, transforming the workplace and, by extension, the world.
What you have before you is a collection of our most creative and memorable check-in activities at HopeLab, divided into four categories: Getting Acquainted, Inviting Presence, Diving Deeper, and Reflecting and Closing.
We offer this deck as an invitation for you to transform your own workplace. Check-ins are a great first step!
Let us know what you learn and how you experiment with and improve upon our ideas. Enjoy!
My advice to facilitators is this:
Ease in. Similar to a social gathering, people often benefit from some simple structure to help them feel comfortable and safe, to open up, and to meaningfully connect with each other.
Innovate. Re-craft or revise the activities to meet the needs of your group.
Improvise. Experiment and have fun with it! It’s not world peace, it’s a check-in activity! Take some risks, make some mistakes, be willing to shift course. Most importantly, play around with the ideas and have fun. You’ll be amazed at the energy you’ll unleash!
Engage. Try to engage multiple senses. If an experience can connect to the head, heart and gut participants are more likely to experience it in a deeper way.
Bring it! Bring your whole self to these activities. It is not about perfection, it is about showing up and being your most creative self. In this way you and your activities will be more compelling.
a note on facilitation
This is a collection of check-in
activties that we have borrowed,
customized or designed for our
own use. I expect you will want to
do the same.
Every group dynamic is unique,
with different players, needs and
interests. You know your group
best – their personalities, balance
of extraversion / introversion,
openness, willingness to take risks,
etc. So, mold these activities to
your group’s needs.
getting acquainted
ACTIVITIES
01 i am...
02 fortune teller
03 jeffry’s fabrics
04 a welcoming exercise
05 concentric circles
Many people are a little bashful in groups, particularly when they are new. This shyness often translates to hesitance, awkwardness and reticence. When multiplied, it can make a group experience less collaborative, less productive and downright painful. Introducing some structured activities to help group members get acquainted can make all the difference. Creating space for this connection can open the doorway for greater openness, trust and interest and allow your group to thrive.
No. 01
TOOLS
HANDDOUTS
PEPENPENSS
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Many acquaintance exercises stop at
“silly.” Being in a new group can be
uncomfortable and icebreakers experienced
as nerve wracking, so it can be tempting to
hurry through them or to keep them
superficial. However, in our experience,
if you push through discomfort you are
likely to learn so much more about your
peers / colleagues and even yourself.
i am...01
No.
I have used this exercise a couple of times at HopeLab and
with great success. It’s fun and invites self-reflection, inquiry
and connection through new, shared insights.
1 Create handouts that are 10 sentence completions – all
starting with “I am .”
2 Distribute the handouts and pens and give participants
3-5 minutes to complete all 10 sentences (typically, as you
progress you get beyond the obvious responses and begin to
reveal more interesting or meaningful things about yourself).
If this is a new group, or one with some new members, the
first “I am ” can be completed with the person’s name.
3 Have participants mingle silently about the room for 3-5
minutes, looking at each other’s lists. Participants can hold up
their lists in front of them as shown in the photo.
4 Then ask participants to find a partner, share his/her list
and allow the listener to ask questions to learn more.
5 After both partners have shared (3 - 5 minutes in total), ask
participants to find a new partner and repeat the exercise.
6 Complete as many rounds as time allows.
gettingacquainted
No. 02
TOOLS
DESIGNNED, PRINTEEDD AND
FOLLDEDFORORTUNE TTELLERS
1 2
3
4 5
6 7 8
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fortune teller
For a copy of our
template, go to
our blog post at
blog.hopelab.org
(May 31, 2012)
We created this exercise for the 2012
Wisdom 2.0 Business conference in San
Francisco. The intention was to creatively
help the 400+ participants connect with
each other and experience the value of
check-in exercises.
This exercise is a “riff” off of a childhood game called
Fortune Teller or Cootie Catcher. We crafted this exercise,
full of fun and provocative questions, to help conference
attendees meet and get acquainted. Fortune Teller design
templates and folding instructions are easily available online.
To play:
1 Have one partner (A) hold the Fortune Teller.
2 The other partner (B) chooses one of the outer words.
Our outer words were values.
3 Partner A spells out the word, opening and closing the
Fortune Teller horizontally then vertically with each letter as
they spell out the word.
4 When finished spelling the word, four inner words will be
revealed. Partner B chooses one of them. Our inner words
were emotions.
5 Partner A lifts up that panel and reveals and reads the
question there that relates to the chosen emotion.
6 Partner B responds and thus ensues a fun “get to know
you” conversation!
If time allows, instructing participants to fold their own
Fortune Tellers would be a fun addition to this exercise.
fortune teller02
No.
gettingacquainted
TOOLS
ASSOORTED FAABRIC
SAAMPLES
No. 03
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1 Collect a diverse selection of fabric samples.
Spread them out on your meeting table.
2 Ask participants to choose one they like.
3 In a go-round, have participants share what appealed
to them about the particular fabric they chose (its pattern,
texture, etc.) and how this fabric might represent something
about them or their role in the group.
Note: When we did this exercise, one participant creatively drew upon
the list of materials and other information (like fire retardance) on the back
of the fabric sample label for inspiration. Delightful!
We always begin our HopeLab board
meetings with a check-in exercise.
Since we only meet a few times each year,
the check-ins are a nice opportunity to
re-connect with each other. Jeffry, a
businessman and interior designer who
serves on our board, devised this
wonderful exercise.
jeffry’s fabric03
No.
gettingacquainted
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Note
the li
of the
serves on our board, devised this
wonderful exercise.
NoNo.N 0044000044
a welcoming exercisegetting acquainted
In any organization the introduction and orientation of new team members is an important and highly leveraged opportunity. Take advantage of it! Doing this well allows for quick connection, immersion and productivity. Our Research and Product Development team came up with a fun way to do this.
After general introductions by all team members, have each existing staff member introduce themselves and share the following:
1 Share 1 or 2 things you have learned at work.
2 Share 1 or 2 things that you do in your role that you never expected.
3 Name a “super-power” of one other person in the group, something they do really well and seemingly effortlessly.
This exercise has been an effective way to introduce new staff members to the areas of expertise of their new colleagues. It is also a great way to illuminate for all team members the amazing talents in the group.
04
No.
gettingacquainted
a welcoming exercise
TOOLS
CHIIME OR BELL
No. 05
ggeettting aaccqquainintteedding cq int
concentriccircles
This is a fun activity which allows for a
maximum number of introductions in a
short amount of time. I like this exercise
because the questions can be tailored
to the group – focusing on basic
introductions or infused with more
serious questions related to the content
of your meeting or questions designed
to elicit deeper sharing.
05
No.
gettingacquainted
1 Divide the group into two.
2 Create two circles, with equal numbers of people,
one inner and one outer - the inner circle facing outward
and the outer circle facing inward. Each person should be
opposite and paired with one other.
3 The facilitator poses the first question to the
group. Each person in a pair takes turns answering the
question. The listening partner does so actively,
asking questions for clarification or deeper understanding
where appropriate.
4 After about 5 minutes close the conversations (a
chime or non-offensive bell is handy) and then ask the
inner circle to rotate clockwise by 3-5 people so they are
facing a new partner.
5 Pose the second question and so on.
6 Conduct as many rounds as time allows.
Some Sample Questions
What vegetable do you most resemble?
Which of the four seasons do you most enjoy?
If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month,
which show would you choose?
You can cast any actor alive or dead to play you in a film
about your life. Whom would you cast in the role?
If you could have one superpower, which would
you choose?
What’s the first thing you notice about someone when
you meet them?
If you could be any age again for one week, what age
would you be?
If you could have another occupation for one week, what
occupation would you choose?
What was your favorite toy as a kid?
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
If you could have personally witnessed one event in
history, what would you want to have seen?
What did you want to grow up to be when you were little?
concentric circles
inviting presence
ACTIVITIES
066 a tea exercisse
0777 eenergy check-i-in
08 seess usu s
09 popoot--shots
10 paininint a postcard
In our busy worlds of work tasks and projects, email, texting, cell phones, etc., it is easy to be distracted when entering a meeting. Our minds can continue to race with distracting thoughts throughout the meeting. Bringing attention to this, and creating an opportunity for group members to “press the pause button,” can help them focus their attention and be present for the task at hand and to the relationships in the room. As a result, your meeting is likely to be more engaging and yield greater results.
No. 06
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a tea exercise
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a tea exercise06
No.
inviting presence
1 Prepare small boxes that contain tea balls filled with
a variety of fragrant teas. Wrap each tea ball in tissue
paper and place one in each box along with a tea-related
quote (see samples quotes). I like to use a decorative box,
wrapped beautifully, so it looks curious and inviting.
2 Start by asking participants to take three deep
breaths – to “press the pause button” on any distracting
thoughts and to bring focus and attention to the exercise.
3 Ask participants to notice the box in front of them.
Then invite them to unwrap and open their box.
4 Have participants quietly read the quote inside.
5 Then have participants hold the tea ball to their
nose and take in the aroma of their tea. Ask them to
quietly reflect on what they smell and what memories
are evoked.
6 In a go-round, ask participants to:
Read aloud their quote.
Describe the aroma of their tea.
Sample Tea-Related Quotes
As a practice, tea can be a source of pleasure for a lifetime. It is a way to focus, to center. In a world constantly telling you to hurry up, it is the easiest way to slow down. – Norwood Pratt, New Tea Lovers Treasury
Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cozy, doesn’t try it on. – Billy Connolly (Actor)
...She had that brand of pragmatism that would find her the first brewing tea after Armageddon. – Clive Barker, Weave-World
Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. And whoever this “Earl Grey” fellow is, I’d like to have a word with him… – Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek
Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company. – Author Unknown There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea. – Bernard-Paul Heroux (Philosopher)
May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you and all your heart might desire. – Old Irish Blessing
Share a memory your tea inspires –“This tea
reminds me of .”
7 In closing, invite participants to make and enjoy a
cup of “their” tea sometime in the near future and be
reminded of the exercise and their inspired memory.
No. 07
TOOLS
QUESTIONSS ON A
HANDOUUT OT OR RFLIPCHCHARTAR (OPTIOTIONALNAL))
invitingg pprresence
energy check-in
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exxxpperimeennnttiing with a wellness pprrroogram
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ffocuseeess on eennngggaggement and enneergyy
manaaaggemennttt inn ffoour dimensions ––
physsiiccal, emmmmooottiioonnaall,, mmentaal and
spiriittual eenneeerggyy.
Who am I becoming? Do I feel a sense of purpose today?
Where? How? What rituals might I create that would give me
a greater sense of meaning in my life?
What am I thinking? What is in my head? Is there a pattern to
the thoughts in my busy mind? Am I able to maintain focus
or am I consistently distracted? How might I bring more focus
to my attention?
What am I feeling? What emotion/s am I feeling right now?
How consistent with my personal values are my emotional
responses in any given situation? Are my responses
different at work than at home? If so, how? How much nega-
tive energy am I experiencing – defensiveness,
frustration, anger*, fear, resentment, envy? How might I
redirect this energy in a more positive direction?
What am I sensing? How does my body feel right now?
What physical sensations do I notice? How are the choices I
am making – my habits of nutrition, exercise, sleep, and the
balance of stress and recovery – affecting my physical
energy? What choices might help me maximize my physical
energy to fuel my engagement and my goals?
* Note – anger is not necessarily a negative emotion! In fact, the expression of anger can sometimes be highly creative, supportive and beneficial for self and others.
energy check-in 07
No.
inviting presence
Periodically, we find it helpful for staff to
check-in on how they are managing and
investing their physical, emotional,
mental and spiritual energy. The following
are some questions we’ve posed for this
purpose, some of them drawn from the
book The Power of Full Engagement, by
Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz.
wer of Fuulll Enggagemmeent, by td Toonnyy SSSccccchhhhhwwwwwwwaaaaarrrrrtttttttzzzzz..
TOOLS
QUQUOTE CARARDSDS
No. 08
inviting presence
seuss
08
No.
inviting presence
In our 2012 strategic plan, presented to our Board, HopeLab’s Management Team got creative and used Dr. Seuss’s Horton as a muse to tell the story of our work for the coming year. As a check-in for the board meeting I collected a variety of Dr. Seuss quotes (there are hundreds available online!) and created cards out of them. We spread the cards out on the meeting table and conducted the following exercise:
Ask participants to browse the selection and pick two cards: One to describe how they are feeling at year’s end and another that reflects their thoughts or feelings about the year ahead. In a go-round, have participants read each quote then describe why they chose it.
For us, this exercise proved to be a creative and meaningful opportunity for reflection and sharing, perfect for a year-end planning meeting.
While Seuss quotes worked for us, any collection of funny, provocative or inspiring quotes would work well. You could also use this exercise at any time of the year to inspire thoughtful reflection.
seuss
TOOLS
POT-SHOT CARDS
No. 09
pot-shotsinviting presence
09
No.
inviting presence
Over the course of 40 years, Ashleigh Brilliant has produced a vast archive of original thoughts, each one expressed in 17 words or less. He calls his cards “Pot-Shots” or “Brilliant Thoughts” and they are designed to “hit” you in your heart, brain or funny bone - or perhaps all three. He has amassed a collection of over 10,000 cards to date and they can be ordered at ashleighbrilliant.com.
We have our own box of Pot Shot cards (a very large one) and use them regularly. They are a creative way to access people’s thoughts and feelings. Here’s how we use them:
1 Scatter an assortment of cards on your meeting table and ask participants to pick one that says something about them, something they are willing to share with the group. To set more context, the instruction could include how people are feeling in general today; how they are feeling about work today; about the week/month/year ahead; about a particular team dynamic or the status of a project; etc. Allow 3-5 minutes for participants to choose a card.
2 In a go-round, have participants read their card aloud and then share with the group why they selected it.
pot-shots
TOOLS
PENE S
WATERCOLOR PAINTSETS
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No. 10
inviting presence
paint a postcard
10
No.
inviting presence
In crafting an exercise, it is often helpful to think about the use of different senses and imagery, not just words, to tap into everyone’s creativity.
Pat Christen concocted this exercise as a board meeting check-in with the caveat that “no talent is required.” With this disclaimer, we all painted away and, not surprisingly, produced some lovely art! The process was quite joyful. Pat then mailed the cards to each of us at the address we provided. Receiving the postcard in the mail several weeks later was a sweet reminder of the exercise and of our time together.
1 Gather watercolor postcards and small watercolor sets. Have these, plus small cups of water and paper towels, at each participant’s place setting.
2 Pose the following question to the group for inspiration: Coming into this meeting, how do you intend to “show up” or be present?
3 Have participants draw/paint their response to this question. (10-15 minutes)
4 When completed, in a go-round, have participants share their postcards and describe what they created and its significance to them.
5 At the end of the exercise, have participants self-address their postcards. Collect and mail them at a later date of your choosing.
painting a postcard
diving deeper
ACTIVITIES
11 give aan authennticc gigig ft
1212 engagiging the sppiriritt
13 busy
1414 ststory spinnee
155 finnding youur geniuss
When a group has been working together for a while and is well acquainted, there is an opportunity to create even deeper and more meaningful connections. Taking this opportunity requires greater risk for group members but offers greater reward.
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We have been experimenting a lot with the power of improvisation. I crafted this exercise as an opportunity for group participants to acknowledge and appreciate each other.
1 Gather participants in a circle.
2 Have the group take a moment to be still with each other. A short breathing exercise is useful, e.g., have the group breathe in and out together, each to the count of five.
3 Have participants consider the person on their left – How have you experienced this person so far in the group’s time together? What have you observed? What have you learned? What seems important to him/her? What have you seen this person struggle with?
4 With the above in mind, craft an imaginary gift to give to this person.
5 To demonstrate, start with yourself, and give your imaginary gift to the person on your left, acting out the process of giving it and describing the gift and why you chose it to give.
6 Continue the gift giving around the circle until the last gift is given to you.
11
No.
diving deeper
give an authentic gift
In our health and wellness program at
HopeLab, we pay specific attention to the
ways we invest and use energy physically,
emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. A
long-time friend and organization con-
sultant, Susan Edsall, created this “spirit”
exercise as part of one of our staff retreats.
The personal notes produced in the
exercise were stuffed into handmade
ceramic ornaments for safekeeping. The
ornament could be broken open at some
future point to reveal and remind you
of your reflections. Our beautiful clay
ornaments were crafted by our artist friend
Sheri Jarvis (sherimjarvis.com) but any
decorative container could be used.
TOOLS
DECORATIVEORNAMENT
OR BOX
PAPPAPERER
PEN
No. 12
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3 Participants should respond to this sentence
stem over and over again with various versions or
possibilities until they start hitting on something that
really rings true. They might feel a surge of energy
or emotion at that moment.
4 At the end of the 30-minute free-write, have
participants choose a piece of origami paper or other
lightweight paper and write their clarified purpose
statement on it. Then they should roll the paper into a
tight scroll and put it in the hole of the ornament or in
the container you have provided.
5 Encourage participants to place their ornament
wherever they can see it daily or in a place that is of
special significance so it reminds them of the exercise
and of their life purpose and the kind of intention that
is necessary to bring it to pass.
12
No.
diving deeper
1 Set the context for the exercise. Referencing our
clay ornaments, we made the analogy that these
beautiful objects were once just a lump of wet brown
clay, but were turned into objects of beauty through
the devoted attention of the artist - thinking of the
shape, forming the clay, carving it, firing the ornament,
glazing it and firing it again. It is a detailed and lengthy
process, riddled at various times with error, excitement,
tedium, exploration, discovery, satisfaction,
disappointment, and discipline.
The same is true of the intention we bring to our
own lives.
2 Ask participants to commit to 30 minutes of
continued “free writing” with no editing or criticism
allowed. Assure them that they will not be asked to
share anything that they write unless they want to.
The free writing stem is:
“The purpose of my life is....”
Insert purpose here.
engaging the spirit
TOOLS
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No. 13
busydiving deeper
Over the course of one year, I noticed a pattern of staff remarking about how “busy” they were, and not always in a good way. I was curious about this, about the cause of this busy-ness, how we might be creating these burdensome conditions ourselves, and how we might un-busy ourselves to create a more intentional and satisfying workload and life.
I crafted the following questions after reflecting upon my own busy-ness. I posed these questions for individual reflection and then group discussion in a Management Team meeting during a strategic planning session. The intent was to be sure we (individually and collectively) were not creating completely unattainable goals for the year ahead.
What is your relationship to being busy?What might you get out of being busy?How do you know when you are too busy, when you
have slipped from being busy to being overwhelmed? How might others know or recognize when you are
too busy?What are the consequences of being too busy?What typically gets back-burnered when you are busy?
What might be the consequences of that – for you? Your colleagues? The organization?
busy13
No.
diving deeper
TOOLS
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HANNNNDOUUT OT OT OT ORHANNDOUTT ORFLIPCHAART (OPPTIONNAL)
In the summer of 2011, I took part in an intensive four-day improvisation workshop. In it I discovered the powerful principles of improv and how they apply not only on the stage but in life.
No. 14
story spinediving deeper
We used a version of this exercise in a staff retreat, as a way to illuminate how easy it is to create unhelpful stories about situations in the workplace and in life. The Story Spine exercise can help you uncover the impact of your stories.
1 Divide the group into triads.
2 Have each person share a story following the outline below. Stories about a conflict or something that “bugs” you are particularly useful and instructive. Once upon a time…
It was…So every day…And because of that...And because of that…And because of that…Until finally…And the moral of this story is…
3 After each person has shared a story, the triad can debrief with the following inquiry:
Is this story a familiar one in your life? How?How does telling this story help you? How might it not
be helpful?
4 After each triad has completed their storytelling and debriefing, discuss the exercise in the larger group by asking for any reflections, ah-ha’s or things learned.
story spine14
No.
diving deeper
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TOOLS
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finding your geniusdiving deeper
4 On the back of the art card, participants
should write down what they see as the
thread between their flow experiences?
These might be:
A common activity
Common kind of companion
Certain skills or talents being used
A certain kind of motivation
A shared emotion
5 What is the genius being expressed?
6 In small groups (no more than 4 people):
Share the common characteristics you discovered
about your “flow” experiences (share as much/little as
you like)
What does this imply about your genius?
In what ways might you use your genius more?
Note - others in the group should listen attentively and
then respond to what they have heard – Does what you
have heard make sense to you, given how you know
this person? What might you add?
7 In the large group, have participants share what struck
them as interesting or helpful in this exercise.
15
No.
diving deeper
1 Ask participants to reflect on times in their lives when
they were in a state of “flow.”
To help, think about specific periods of life –
First decade - Birth to 10 years
Second decade - 11 to 20 years
Third decade - 21 to 30 years
Fourth decade - 31 to 40 years
Fifth decade - 41 to 50 years
For each decade, write down things you did that were
a “flow” experience. Write down as many as you can
think of.
2 Scatter a variety of art postcards on the floor.
For postcards, go for the greatest diversity you can find –
art genres, subject matter, etc.
3 Ask participants to
choose an art card from
the floor that seems to
represent all that they
just wrote down.
finding yourgenius
reflecting and closing
ACTIVITIES
166 fletterer t to seself
117171 yoyoou are.e...
111118881811111118 ini aa b ox
1111119999999119199 onone--wwordd-a-at-a-a-timme wwissdom
Providing space at the end of a meeting or retreat for reflection allows for learning and creates an opportunity for participants to think about how they can apply and sustain what they have learned. It is a powerful pause that supports impact.
TOOLS
No. 16
PAPERS
ENEVEELOPES
PENPEN
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16
No.
reflecting and closing
In one particular staff retreat, our group
spent time discovering our “genius,”
our individual core talents, and reflecting
on how we can express this more in our
personal lives and work. We ended the day
with this exercise:
1 Imagine you see yourself as a child standing
before you.
2 Given our work today, and what you have learned
about your self and your genius, what advice would you
give to unleash this child’s (your) genius?
3 Write down what you’d say on the provided card.
When done, insert the card in an envelope and address it
to yourself.
4 Facilitator – collect the envelopes from everyone and
mail them at a future date of your choosing.
Below is a reaction from one of our staff members to
receiving her card to herself months later:
“On my refrigerator door hangs the note I wrote to my child
self at the retreat. I wrote that note at a time in my life when
I was struggling with a major life decision, and I knew I was in
for a challenging road ahead, no matter the decision I made.
Writing that note was a powerful exercise in the moment –
it helped me to ground myself in love and let the decisions
I was struggling with flow from this space. And then to read it
a few weeks ago, wow. What a blessing and a reminder that
despite how painful a situation can be, when rooted in love,
it’s all worth it. ”
letter to self
TOOLS
ONEONEONEONENENE PO POPOPO POPOSTESTER R PERPER PE PEERSORSONN
PE PEN/MN/MARKARKERER
No. 17
you are...reflflflecctiinngg and ccclloossiinnggg
This exercise is a nice follow-up to the “I am” check-in activity. At the end of a meeting or retreat, this exercise is a nice way for participants to affirm each other.
1 Create posters, one for each participant, with their name at the top.
2 Tape the posters around the room, allowing ample space between posters.
3 Distribute pens or markers and instruct participants to make their way around the room, writing an affirmation for each team member. Depending upon the content of your meeting, this exercise could be framed in different ways: A skill, strength or competency observed
A contribution this person has made to the teamSomething you appreciate about the person
4 The length of the exercise will depend upon the number of participants. A helpful formula might be 30 seconds multiplied by the total number of participants.
5 At the end of the exercise, have participants take down their poster and review the comments their peers have made.
6 The exercise might be debriefed as a large group, asking participants to share what it was like to write the comments and to receive them.
you are...17
No.
reflecting andclosing
TOOLS
BOX, RANDOMOBJECTS
(MORE THANNUMBER OFOFOFOF
PARTICCCCIPAIPAIPAIPANNTS)
No. 18
in a boxreeeflflflfleeeeccccctttiiinnnnggggg aaaaannnnndddd cclllooossssiiiiinnnnggg
I love this exercise. It is so random and so interesting to see what people come up with!
1 Collect a variety of random, varied objects and place them in a box.
2 At the close of your meeting, have each participant blindly select an item from the box.
3 Instruct participants to reflect on how their chosen object might represent what they learned in the meeting or how they will use the meeting’s content in the future.
4 In a go-round, have participants share what their object is and their answers to the questions.
5 You can let folks keep their object if you like, as a fun reminder of the day.
My craziest box object was a fart machine with a remote control. When the lucky person who drew this object was about to report out, I made it “fart” which greatly amused our group!
in a box18
No.
reflecting andclosing
No. 19
one-word-at- a-time wisdomreflecting and closing
one-word-ata-time wisdom
Here’s another improv activity inspired by a game called Proverbs in which participants invent a new proverb by speaking it one person and one word at a time.
I have adapted the exercise to be a group reflection on the outcomes or learning from a meeting or retreat.
1 Have participants stand or sit in a circle.
2 Ask the group to reflect quietly for a moment on the day and what they learned.
3 Then have one person start by saying one word. The next person in the circle (going clockwise or counter-clockwise) adds the next logical word to what was just said.
4 Continue around the circle until a “wisdom” has been completed. At that point, the whole group claps, supporting the wisdom, and then the next person in the circle starts a new wisdom. Note – like a proverb, wisdoms are intended to be short and wise (or pithy!). Some examples from our team: Beware of mysterious objects in a box Check-ins are good for the soul
5 Continue making wisdoms for as long as it makes sense. The activity will move along more smoothly as the group gets the hang of it.
19
No.
reflecting andclosing
about Chris
Why is this work important to me?
I grew up in a military family. We moved many times during my childhood – between various countries, between rural and urban centers, between ethnically diverse and homogenous communities. This nomadic life left a mark on me and being “new” was a challenge I learned to navigate. Along the way, I developed a keen sense of the actions groups and communities can take that can leave one feeling either welcomed or sidelined.
From my life experience, I developed a personal mission to support people feeling welcomed. Check-in activities are one of the tools I use to accomplish this.
Facilitating these activities has been a tremendous experience for me. I have explored the limits of what works (and doesn’t) and have experimented with many ways of creating positive “energy” in groups. I am proud to be the gardener of the HopeLab community and culture and I give great thanks to my colleagues for their encouragement and openness to grow and create with me.
For more information please contact me at [email protected].
Chris
Acknowledgments
This project is inspired from 30 years of experience with check-in activities – from the many workshops, ropes courses, orientation sessions, retreats and other group experiences I have had the privilege to participate in. These experiences have informed my philosophy and practice and I am grateful.
Many people have helped me learn this craft. I particularly want to acknowledge the following: My student affairs professors, mentors and colleagues The hundreds of students, employees and friends that have
engaged in these exercises with me over the years All the facilitators, trainers and OD professionals that I have
observed and learned from The staff at Bay Area Theater Sports (BATS) in
San Francisco The staff at HopeLab for being the most awesome
co-learners and co-creators
This project would not have been successful without the contributions of:
Diana Chapman for the inspiration to start this projectSheri Jarvis for her artistic gifts and inspirationLiz Song for her gift of photography and for capturing so
many of our cultural events at HopeLabKian Kuan for his well honed design skillsPat Christen, Susan Edsall and Richard Tate for being the
best co-conspirators
Many thanks to you all!
aboutt
In the late 1980s, HopeLab founder Pam Omidyar spent her days as a research assistant in an immunology lab. At night, after hours watching malignant cancer cells multiply under a microscope, she unwound by playing video games with her husband, Pierre Omidyar, the software engineer who went on to found eBay. As a scientist and game enthusiast, Pam began to wonder if giving young cancer patients a chance to blast their cancer in a video game might actually improve their health. In 2001, Pam founded HopeLab to develop and test this concept, which led to our first product, Re-Mission.
Today we continue to harness the power and appeal of technology to improve kids’ health. Our most recent product, Zamzee, is a kid-friendly activity meter designed to get kids moving and ultimately help battle the childhood obesity epidemic. Our future work will explore ways to nurture resilience in young people facing adversity, supporting their sense of purpose, connection and control.
The energy and innovation we use in our product development is equally applied to the tending of our organization culture.
Read more about HopeLab’s story at www.hopelab.org.
