Positivity – Communication and Constructive interaction

[Anonymous]

One of my favorite exercises is to demonstrate communication within a team or from a team leader to a subordinate. This exercise involves using a simple object (e.g. a pen, pencil, book, whatever is in the room).

1. The group is situated in a manner where they can hear and have a view of each member ; no tables (horseshoe configuration or circle)

2. The coach establishes the ground rules.
a) identify two or three volunteers to participate
b) each participant must describe the selected object (provide their own unbiased perspective)
c) the coach encourages disagreement mid-way through the conversation by offering differing opinions that will ignite the conversation
d) after a few minutes, the coach carefully injects a perspective that shifts the conversation from describing the object to carefully criticizing or challenging a participant’s description.
e) the coach monitors the conversation to ensure things do not get out of hand
f) the exercise should lasts for no longer than 5-7 minutes
g) Debrief

Debriefing opportunities:
a) Acknowledge the communication shift (i.e. from object description to individual disagreements/criticism).
b) Most often, within a team or any group settings (relationships), conversations tend to become heated when the parties are not focused on the task rather as opposed to their team member’s inefficiencies or faults.
c) acknowledge how each team member responded to the situation. What are some of the strengths or team toxins?
d) What are some underlying themes?

L’Lorenzo

[Author]

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