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Take a Stand Debrief – A Perfect Way to Process a Team Building Activity

Adding props to a debrief or processing activity can often help participants open up to the rest of the group. Take A Stand Debrief utilizes props to create conversations about an activity, initiative, or even at the end of a day.

Paradigm Shift

Number of Participants: 2-200
Time:  5-20 minutes
Activity Level:  Low
Props:  Any prop that you have handy

Objective:  To encourage the group to process an activity

Set Up: Place several throwables or random items around the room.

The object of this debrief is to encourage the participants to stand by a throwable or item. Each item will have a specific meaning or description pertaining to the previous activity or sequence of activities. After the participants take a stand by the item, they discuss their thoughts with the others standing by them. This creates an opportunity for participants to discuss their thoughts with like-minded individuals.

Example: Place a red, green, and yellow throwable in three different areas of the room. Ask the participants to stand by the red throwable if they felt frustrated or if the activity halted their progress, to stand by the yellow if they were confused by the activity, and to stand by the green if they felt like they completely understood and enjoyed the activity.

Facilitator’s Notes:

  1. Be creative with your props and you will be surprised by the participants’ in-depth answers.
  2. Use photos, numbers, toys, books, etc. as props.

Have you used this style of a debrief before? What was effective for you? What is your favorite prop to use?

 

Posted by  |  April 10, 2013 | Categories: Debriefs | Tags: , , | Leave A Comment »

Oklahoma Division of Student Assistance Annual Conference

I have been fortunate to be a member of the Oklahoma Division of Student Assistance since 2006. ODSA is the state organization for the TRiO programs in Oklahoma, and is comprised of some of the most influential and inspirational individuals in my life. This conference was one of the best I have ever attended…thanks to everyone who made it a success! TRiO Works!

Ryan Eller ODSA ODSA Ryan EllerRyan Eller Ryan Eller Ryan Eller Ryan Eller

Posted by  |  April 8, 2013 | Categories: Conferences | Tags: , | 1 Comment »

20 Leadership Camp Volunteer Training

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Posted by  |  April 7, 2013 | Categories: 20 camp | Tags: | Leave A Comment »

Avatar – A Challenging Group Team Building Activity

I love initiatives that require activity and group communication while challenging the group’s thought process. Avatar does just that, and allows for the group to have some fun while solving the group problem. I first learned this fun activity from my favorite trainer Nate Folan at Project Adventure.

Number of Participants: 5-20
Time:  15-30 minutes
Activity Level:  Moderate
Props:  Rope Barrier, Hula Hoop, Spot Markers

Objective: To get the entire team from their spot around the circle and through the hula hoop as fast as possible.

Set Up: Place the spot markers around the circle and place the hula-hoop in the middle of the circle. Ask participants to stand on a spot around the circle.

Rules:

  • The hula-hoop must start in the middle of the circle every time.
  • Participants cannot leave their starting position until time is started.
  • Time is stopped when the last person gets back in their position and yells stop.

Description:
This initiative challenges the group to communicate and work together to achieve a common goal. Each participant must pass through the hula-hoop and return to their starting position as quickly as possible. The team will get four rounds to complete this activity, and will set a team goal in between rounds.

Variations:

  1. Add two hula-hoops for large groups.
  2. If activity is your primary objective, make the circle very large.

Facilitator Notes:

  1. Leave the instructions vague about passing through the hula-hoop, but do make sure that the participants entire body passes through the hula-hoop.
  2. Ensure safety during the activity as some groups will try to jump through the hoop to save time.
  3. Make sure that the time does not stop until the last person yells stop. This is a very important step.

Posted by  |  April 3, 2013 | Categories: Initatives | Tags: , , , | Leave A Comment »

Bear, Ninja, Cowboy – A Fun & Competitive Icebreaker

Bear, Ninja, Cowboy is a perfect partner icebreaker that will get your group energized and laughing. It can be used as a name game, a competitive icebreaker, or as a ridiculously fun activity. It is a fun alternative to Rock, Paper, Scissor.

 

Bear, Ninja, Cowboy

Number of Participants: 2-unlimited
Time:  5-15 minutes
Activity Level:  Moderate
Props:  None

Objective: To have the most winning actions at the end of three rounds.

Description: Pair up the participants in as fun a manner as possible and teach the group three new actions:

  • Cowboy – This action is made by placing your hands on your holster and then shooting your hand pistol while making your best gun noises.
  • Bear – While standing on your hind legs, raise your arms in true bear fashion. Growl as loud as possible to intimidate your partner.
  • Ninja – A ninja will obviously be sly and intense as they kick, punch, or throw their ninja star.

Obviously, a Cowboy would shoot and defeat a Bear, a Bear would maul a Ninja, and a Ninja would defeat a Cowboy with their Ninja star.

Ask the partners to stand back to back and then walk off three paces. After three paces the participants will immediately turn around and act out one of the three actions.  Depending on what they choose, one participant will become the winner. If both participants choose the same action, then they both immediately choose a new action. Play three rounds to see who will be the win the best out of three.

Variations:

  1. This can be played as a competitive activity, where the winners of each game move on to play winners of other games until there is only one champion.
  2. You can play this in a Rock, Paper, Scissor Olympics style where the winner of each round gains the following of the participants they just defeated. Play until there are only two players left, with half of the room rooting for one player, and the other half cheering for the other.
  3. After each game, ask the partners to pair and share with each other an interesting fact, name, etc.

Questions for Discussion:

  1. Did you have any strategies during the activity? What were they?
  2. Did you play to compete or for fun?
  3. What are the differences between playing for fun or competition?

Have you played this fun activity? Do you have any variations I should add to this list? Please comment below!

Posted by  |  March 27, 2013 | Categories: Icebreakers | Tags: , | 1 Comment »

Dream Catcher – A SMART Goals Initiative

This activity is meant to help your participants discover and develop their dreams and goals. Dream Catcher is based on the SMART goals theory that goals and dreams must be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.

Jerrod Murr

Number of Participants:  Any size
Time:  15-45 minutes (depending how in depth you would like to go with your group.)
Activity Level:  Moderate
Props: A bucket to act as the Dream Catcher and a throwable for each participant to act as their dream (If you do not have enough throwables, have the participants wad up a piece of paper)

Objective: For every member of the team to toss their dream (the throwable) in the dream catcher (the bucket) as quickly as possible

Set Up:
Organize participants into a circle and place the bucket in the middle of the circle.

Description:
While the participants are in the circle, challenge them to think of their dream. During each round the participants are trying to complete the round as quickly as possible and help each participant “achieve” their dream by placing it in the Dream Catcher. This activity will have three timed rounds:

  • Round 1: The goal is for each participant to say their dream and place it in the “Dream Catcher” as quickly as possible.
  • Round 2: Challenge the participants to restate their goal, making it more specific and time bound. The team still has the same goal for    this round: Each participant says their dream and places it in the “Dream Catcher” as quickly as possible.
  • Round 3: This time the group gets even more specific and has the same goal: Each participant says their dream and places it in the “Dream Catcher” as quickly as possible.

In between each round, challenge the participants to really think about their dream and start to “own it” by declaring that they will achieve their dream each time they share it with the group. The group always has the goal of completing the activity as quickly as possible while every participant “achieves” their dream. They may start out by tossing their dream into the Dream Catcher or even running to the middle to place their dream in the Dream Catcher. There are no rules on how their dream gets into the Dream Catcher, and they can even pick it up and pass it around the group.

Variations:

  1. You can use this activity just as a dreams activity without the actual initiative involved.
  2. Do the activity with five rounds and follow the SMART goal steps.

Questions for Discussion:

  1. Were the participants inspired by each other’s dreams?
  2. Were there any ideas or options to help them more quickly “achieve” their dreams?
  3. Could they have moved the bucket? Are there any things in their actual life that could help them achieve their dreams?

Facilitator Notes:

  • Use the processing time as an opportunity to help the participants plan out ways to achieve their dreams.
  • Challenge the participants to come up with a dream that is actually achievable or attainable.

Posted by  |  March 20, 2013 | Categories: Goals, Initatives | Tags: , , | Leave A Comment »

Leadership Man…or Woman

Leadership Man/Woman is a perfect way to implement a Full Value Contract with your group while discussing leadership characteristics, group social norms, and expected group contributions. I love to start a day off with this interactive and engaging activity.

Paradigm Shift
Paradigm Shift
Paradigm Shift

Number of Participants: 7-15 per piece of butcher paper
Time:  20-30 minutes
Activity Level: Low
Props:  7-8 feet of butcher paper per group, and colorful markers

Objective: To discuss and write down the leadership characteristics the group finds important in a “perfect leader.”

Set Up:
Cut a piece of butcher paper long enough for any participant to lie down upon. Provide markers for the group to write on the paper.

Description:

  1. Trace the outline of one of the students.
  2. Name the leadership man.
  3. Talk about the leadership traits the group wants to demonstrate throughout the camp, afternoon, week, workshop, summer, etc.
  4. Have each member write the trait inside the leader in the spot that the trait should be located (courage in the area of the heart, knowledge by the brain).
  5. Explain that these are the traits we want to display throughout the camp. Each group will then will take an oath to try to model these traits for the next few days.
  6. Encourage each member of the group to sign the leadership man.

Variations:

  1. This can be done on an individual basis (especially with small groups with limited space). The individual can share with the entire group.

Questions for Discussion:

  1. Why did you write down your certain terms and characteristics?
  2. Where there any characteristics you disagreed with?
  3. What opportunities have you had to experience these traits?
  4. Did you think of a particular leader when you thought of these characteristics?

Facilitator Notes:

  • I often ask the group to find one or two characteristics that they would like to model for the rest of the workshop, and then try to emulate those traits.
  • This pairs up very well with Character Card Matching, or any other leadership activity.

Have you used Leadership Man/Woman? What types of Full Value Contract activities do you use with your group?

Ryan Eller
Founder, Paradigm Shift
ryan@myparadigmshift.org

Posted by  |  March 13, 2013 | Categories: Initatives | Tags: , | Leave A Comment »

ORU Young Adult Burn Survivor Conference

There is nothing better than being inspired.  I attend conferences to hopefully inspire, motivate, or encourage others to achieve their goals and dream big dreams…but the participants at the ORU Young Adult Burn Survivor Conference completely inspired me. I have never met a group of young adults so courageous, so goal-driven, and so motivating. These students have faced life, grabbed it by the face, and told life who was boss.

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Click here to see all of the photos of the event. Thank you all for inspiring me, and I expect you all to be Dreamers of Dreams and Music Makers.

Ryan Eller
Founder, Paradigm Shift

Posted by  |  March 11, 2013 | Categories: Conferences, Workshops | Tags: , , | Leave A Comment »

Likert Scale Debrief

There are times before, during, or after an activity when the facilitator needs to check in with the group and Likert Scale Debrief fulfills that need.

Likert Scale Debrief

Number of Participants: 1-100
Time:  1 – 15 minutes
Activity Level:  Low
Props:  None

Objective:  To rate a participant or group’s energy level, engagement, etc., using their own personalized Likert Scale.

Description: Before, during, or after an activity, ask the participants to pull out their Likert Scale. Likert Scales are made by holding 10 fingers in the air. The participants will hold out a number of fingers rating anything the facilitator or group wants to rate. Typically 10 is high and 1 is low, but feel free to mix it up from time to time to measure the participants’ focus.

Examples:

  1. On a scale of 1-10, how safe did we play in that last activity?
  2. How was lunch?
  3. How much effort did you put into that game?

Facilitator’s Notes:

  • Feel free to use the Likert Scale Debrief for as short, or as long as you would like. You do not always need to elaborate on why the participants held up a certain number of fingers.

In what circumstances would you use the Likert Scale Debrief? Have you used this activity or one similar to it?

Ryan Eller
Founder, Paradigm Shift
ryan@myparadigmshift.org

Posted by  |  March 6, 2013 | Categories: Debriefs | Tags: , , | Leave A Comment »

Quadrants – A Powerful Time Management Activity

I have used Quadrants many times to really help my clients and participants focus on what is most important in their everyday life. I challenge them to live a life hanging out in Quadrant 2.  It appears this activity was popularized by Stephen Covey and created by Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Number of Participants: Unlimited
Time:  15-30 minutes
Activity Level:  Low
Props:  Quadrants Worksheet

Objective:
To determine what is important, not important, urgent and not urgent.

Description:
For those who are not familiar with quadrants, here is a picture and a brief overview.

Paradigm Shift

  • In Quadrant 1 (top left) we have important, urgent items – items that need to be dealt with immediately.
  • In Quadrant 2 (top right) we have important, but not urgent items – items that are important but do not require your immediate attention, and need to be planned for.
  • In Quadrant 3 (bottom left) we have urgent, but unimportant items – items which should be minimized or eliminated. These are the time sucks, the “poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part” variety of tasks.
  • In Quadrant 4 (bottom right) we have unimportant and also not urgent items – items that don’t have to be done anytime soon, perhaps add little to no value and also should be minimized or eliminated.

Have the participants fill in the Quadrants one at a time as you give them examples for each square. Really dig deep to define which areas of their life fall into different Quadrants. This activity goes perfectly with other time management initiatives that help the participants really break down the things they do on an everyday basis.

Variations:

  1. Instead of this being a time-management activity, make it a budgeting activity. What are some items that we purchase that are in Quadrant 1 (replacing water heaters, medical bills, etc.)? Quadrant 2 (Savings, Vacation Planning, College Fund)? Quadrant 3 (overdue bills, interest charges)? Quadrant 4 (Video Games, Things from Sky Mall)?

Questions for Discussion:

  1. What are some things you can eliminate from your schedule (Quadrant 4) immediately?
  2. How do some things from Quadrant 3 keep you from being productive?
  3. Can you name the times when you felt most productive? What Quadrant were you in?

Facilitator Notes:

Be prepared with examples for each quadrant and really help each participant brainstorm. This has several practical applications if the participant will truly focus on staying in Quadrant 2.

Have you used this activity? How would you implement it into your program?

Ryan Eller
Founder, Paradigm Shift
ryan@myparadigmshift.org

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Posted by  |  February 27, 2013 | Categories: Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

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