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Title: A
to B Exercise.
Exercise Type:
Personal Growth, Self-Disclosure
Time Required: 40-60
minutes
Suggested
Group Size: Medium
Suggested Age Group:
Teenagers, Adults
Activity Level:
Moderate
Keywords:
habits, patterns, goal achievement
Materials Needed:
None.
Venue: Typical:
Large or Outdoor. Requires an open space of around
10ft. x 30 ft.
Purpose/Outcome:
This exercise exposes participants to the habitual
patterns they use when pursuing their goals. These
patterns are revealed accurately and swiftly in
this simple exercise. The typical outcomes of
this exercise are: self-insight, pattern recognition,
and knowledge of their own and their team-member's
barriers to achievement.
Activity Description:
Identify two points in the classroom, point A
and Point B, which are a minimum of 25 feet apart.
Ask each student to walk from point A to point
B, keeping in mind how they typically get from
point "A" to "B" in their
lives. In other words, to be thinking about how
they typically approach their goals, solve problems.
do their job, or reach a goal in their lives.
The participants can add anything or anyone from
the group to represent their process. It is helpful
if one or two facilitators model the exercise
by sharing their path from A to B, to show the
uniqueness and possibilities of the exercise.
In some cases, repetition of the exercise is
important for an individual particularly when
they weren't successful the first time. As a Facilitator,
in this second try, you may sense that a person
needs coaching to get to Point B, even if they
don't request help. This may be a great opportunity
to coach people on their behavior patterns while
they're physically feeling their inner barriers,
confusion, etc.
As a variation, you can ask the entire group
to move from Point A to Point B together. This
will give you fuel for discussion about teamwork,
project management, and group dynamics.
Another variation or addition is to allow participants
to draw their paths. This is especially helpful
for people with mobility issues due to disabilities,
or where there is inadequate space.
Debrief/Facilitator
Notes: The facilitator may choose to
process each person's journey, pattern, and path
briefly at it's completion. Then, process again,
with the class as a whole, when everyone is finished.
In discussing a participant's process, several
questions and/or comments can help them analyze
their thinking, feeling and behavior during the
exercise. For example:
-
This exercise is a metaphor for how you
approach life. How accurately do you think
this exercise revealed your life patterns?
-
What did you discover about these patterns?
-
Did you go from A to B alone or choose to
take someone with you?
-
If you never reached Point B, tell us how
you feel about that.
-
Are there any judgements you have about yourself
after doing this exercise? If so, how are
they serving you?
-
Is there anything you want to do differently
as a result of what you learned here?
-
Differences in journeys are symbolic of life
patterns. Every time we do the exercise, we'll
probably do it differently.
Learning Points:
How we do anything is usually how we do everything.
If you watch the processes you use throughout
your life even in the most mundane areas, you
may uncover keys to patterns you're running in
less tangible and more complex areas of your life.
Questions
to Draw Out Learning Points
-
What aspect of your trip from Point A to
Point B is most important? (Time, distance,
fun along the way, who went with you, ect.)
-
How does this compare with your life to date?
-
If you could change one thing about your
path, what would it be?
Whatever path we are now on, the path can be
changed or altered immediately. If you need support
in changing your path or the way you're pursuing
your goals, seek help from trusted friends, associates,
life coaches, etc.
Application:
Journal about what the exercise revealed to you.
Share what you discovered with a partner. Ask
participants to analyze what didn't work for them,
and what they want to do about it. Have them commit
to specific actions that support desired behavior
changes.
Resources:
How You Do Anything is How You Do Everything,
by Cheri Huber
Attribution:
Steve Davis, M.A., M.S., is an Facilitator's Coach,
Infoprenuer, and free-lance human, helping facilitators,
organizational leaders, educators, trainers, coaches
and consultants present themselves confidently,
access their creativity, empower their under-performing
groups, enhance their facilitation skills, and
build their business online and offline. Subscribe
to his free weekly ezine at www.MasterFacilitatorJournal.com
or visit www.livingmastery.com
to learn more about him and his offerings.
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