Who Are You?

What it is

A paired activity that moves people through three levels of communication and shows how good it feels to talk on a deeper level with those around you. It is one of the best opening activities we offer: partners learn more about each other in a few minutes than in years of working side by side. It is less a team task than a communication and icebreaker experience that energizes the room.

What to watch for

• Notice the energy of the group.
• Type of answers from each of the different levels – write down examples.
• Watch for people not following instructions and not really participating.
• If this is pervasive throughout the group, stop them and explain the three levels – look at variations above.
• What did you think about this activity and what do you think about it now?

Variations

• One common variation is to front-load the event.
• Using this, you will tell the group that within 10 minutes, they will be telling a complete stranger more about your values and beliefs than you have told most of your friends.
• They will not believe you and yet, at the end, if you remind them about what you said, the group will agree and understand the power of this activity.
• Explain the Three Levels at the Start Sometimes this is necessary to get buy-in with a difficult group.
• They need to know that the activity is going somewhere.
• The Level 1 communication is very superficial and that is how these groups may perceive the activity.