Count Down
General Description
To achieve openness and trust in a team, all the members must express how they are and what bothers or preoccupied them. It is not easy because not all team members are prepared to show vulnerability and then learn from the mistakes and understand that they are not alone.
The count down activity tries to push all the members to speak up, to not wait until its too late, and to be open about their feelings, even if they are negative. To achieve that, everyone needs to share openly, and the team must listen actively to create a trust spiral environment.
Applicable for:
Trust Spiral
Fail but learn
Reflection
Inclusion Safety
Challenger Safety
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30 - 60 min
4-20 people
Level: difficult
Steps
Explain the reason why you do this activity, and the importance of sharing these feelings and fears before it is too late, and the situation explodes! Be sure that each member has a paper and a pen or pencil to draw.
Step 1
Each member will have 15 minutes for this activity. They will have to draw their version of a countdown device, such as an hourglass or a bomb with a timer! Then, they will answer the following questions:
- What should I say about my feelings and fears before it is too late...
- The biggest blocker that I find in this team is...
- In this team, I am not comfortable with...
- I feel lost about...
- Making the difference between work and home is blurry when...
- I feel that in this team, I am missing...
- For me, it is hard to...
Bonus:
- Each member should find a quiet place at home/office.
- The facilitator should prepare reflective music.
Step 2
Ask all the members to have their device camera turned on. Each member will show their drawing, and then a volunteer will start-off sharing their story, the time frame will be for three minutes.
The other members should be muted and focused on what the other person is saying. When he or she finishes, the rest of the team should say 'thank you'.
To choose the next team member who will share their feelings, the person who just finished will ask everybody to show their drawings and will select one of them out.
Step 3
Final reflection: Ask the whole group the following questions; it is voluntary participation:
- What is your future commitment within your team?
- Last words to your team.
Bonus:
- In the end, everybody looks at each other for 1 minute in silence, smile, and then finish the meeting.