Thiagi Training Tip: First Touch

experiential jolt july 2019 thiagi training tips Jul 15, 2019

July 2019

First Touch: A Jolt

A jolt is an experiential learning activity that lasts for a brief period of time and illustrates one or more important learning points.

My Swiss colleague Samuel van den Bergh recently facilitated this jolt in a diversity training workshop we conducted in Neftenbach, Switzerland. This jolt dramatically demonstrates the power of cooperation.

Form groups. Ask the participants to organize themselves into groups of three. Appoint one person in each group to be the Referee. Give this person a blank sheet of paper.

Brief the participants. Explain that there is a single rule for winning this simple game.

Explain the role of the Referee. Ask the Referee to place the blank sheet of paper in the middle of the table.

Ask the players to get ready. Ask the two players in each group to extend their right index fingers and hold the fingers approximately six inches above the blank sheet of paper.

Give the rule. Make this statement: You win if make the other player’s index finger touch the blank sheet of paper first.

Conduct the game. Say, "Let the game begin!" Ask the Referee to watch the two players and determine who won.

Conclude the game. After about 2 minutes, announce the end of the activity. Identify the winners and congratulate them.

Explain the cooperative strategy. Repeat the rule of the game: You win if you get the other player’s index finger to touch the blank sheet first. Point out that both players could have won if they cooperated to touch the blank sheet at the same time.

Debrief

Conduct a debriefing discussion with this question:

How many of you won the game? How do you feel about it?
How many of you lost the game? How do you feel about it?
How many of you have not completed the game? How do you feel about it?
How many of you used the strategy of both players touching the blank sheet of paper at the same time? How do you feel about it?
How many of assumed that if you win, the other player has to lose?
How does the game reflect events in your workplace?

Learning Points

Activities that involve winning automatically encourage competitive behavior.
If we are willing to think cooperatively, it is possible for everyone to win.

Thiagi Training Tip: First Touch

First Touch: A Jolt

Debrief

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