- Give each meeting attendee a blank 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper.
- Tell meeting attendees that you will be giving them instructions on how to fold their paper.
- Tell them they must close their eyes and keep their eyes closed for this activity. Also tell them that they may not ask questions/talk while you are giving them directions.
- You are ready to begin—eyes closed and no talking. Give them various instructions on folding and ripping their papers several times (slowly and deliberately—you are not trying to lose them). Do not correct anyone as he or she is folding—there is no one right answer. The directions might be something like this (feel free to ad lib as you go):
◊ Tear off the upper right-hand corner.
◊ Fold your paper in half again.
◊ Tear off the lower right-hand corner.
◊ Fold your paper in half.
◊ Tear off the upper left-hand corner.
◊ Fold in half a final time.
◊ Tear off the lower left-hand corner.
◊ Unfold your paper and hold it up.
- Have everyone open their eyes, unfold their papers, and compare what they look like.
Debrief:
- If you were given the same directions, why are the products/outcomes so different? (Individual perceptions vary, no clear communication, expectations were not clear, no feedback to verify what was “correct” along the way…)
- Within our own department and across departments, are we communicating (& working together) so that we’re all on the same page? (Communicating expectations clearly to our internal customers, getting clear expectations—especially when there are ever changing priorities, communicating when there is a job well done, etc.)?
- How can our team get better at communication and internal customer service so in 2013 we are ALL on the same page?
- How could my instructions have been improved? As your leader, how could my communication (day-to-day in “real life") be improved?
- What other implication(s) does this activity have for us back on the job?
SHINE ON!
