i2u2me2we team building mike cardus

I2U2ME2WE

  • Getting to know others
  • Creating a focus on the content & purpose of your meeting/ program
  • time together
  • Uses for active processing and learning
 Props Needed:
  • 1 index card for each participant
  • Pens

Here are some examples of two scenarios or questions about the content covered in the meeting/ program/ time together.

  • What was your first job
  • Describe one of your strengths
  • What is a goal you have set for yourself
  • How old were you when you left your parents home
  • In what ways will you add to our time together
  • How can this team be supportive of your great work
  • When you leave this meeting, one area you would like greater clarity on is
  • What time do you go to sleep/ wake up
  • Favorite meal
  • How can you apply what you have learned
Group Size:
  • Best for groups of 6-15
  • If there are more than 15 people break then into smaller groups of ~6 people
Instructions:

Hand a blank index card to each participant. Here is the briefing for the simulation

“Please write your first name on the index card. Thank you for now put your pens down. I will ask you to think of two scenarios from your life. Please DO NOT write anything else; think about the question I ask and try to keep the stories short and succinct.”

One of the scenarios should be easy and fun, i.e., What was your first job? The second one should be more program-centered, i.e., Think of a positive example of a leader in your life.

“The first question; What was your first job? Please keep it to yourself; quietly reflect on your first job. Remember, don’t write it down.

The second question; What do you hope to gain from our time together? Quietly reflect and think about what you hope to gain from our time together.

Does everybody have responses to the two scenarios inside their head? GREAT!

Now please complete the following challenge. You are going to change personalities with at least 3 other people. Each time you meet a new person, you will share the story and exchange index cards and stories. So, for example, Mike and Shirley come together and share stories. Mike becomes Shirley (holding her name card), and Shirley becomes Mike (holding his name card). Mike, who is Shirley, will now meet Sam. Mike, who is Shirley, will share Shirley’s story as Mike remembers it, and Sam will share his story. Mike will now become Sam, and Sam will now become Shirley. Each interaction, you become the name card the person is holding.

You CANNOT take notes or ask for clarification. Once you have had at least 3 exchanges return to your seat and wait for the others to finish.”

Allow for some confusion and questions. Once everyone is sitting, ask for a volunteer or choose a person to start.

“Everyone holds on to your stories, and now we will get your personalities back. Here is how we will start with Shirley. She will share whoever she is. That person will have the opportunity to add and change anything they wish. Shirley will then hand that person back their name card. Then that person will share, etc., until all have their personalities back.”

I generally do not process this if you choose to here some possible questions;

Processing Questions:
  • What was your initial reaction to this activity?
  • How did your stories change?
  • In what ways do our stories create and confine us? As a group? As leaders? As individuals?
  • Where did the communication challenges arise?
  • How is this like work, school, and life?
Facilitator Notes:

I have used a variation: instead of opening with the activity, try closing with it. You will need to change the questions to topics like;

  • What was gained from our time together?
  • One thing I learned about myself was?
  • An action step I am willing to take in the next hour is
  • I feel the purpose of this meeting was to

Either place you use I2U2ME2WE is a fun way to get people thinking and discussing the content.