There’s a really popular improv game that involves a group closing their eyes and counting to 20. It’s the type of exercise that improv groups start out with in order to attune to the present and get everyone on the same page, working towards the same goal; something that every team has in common, yeah?
I modified this exercise slightly for teams that are remote and new to this type of play.
The Rules:
- Everyone turns off their camera and unmutes
- Take turns counting from 1 to 10 in order out loud, unassigned. Anyone can start and anyone can follow.
- If two or more people say the same number at the same time, start over from 1 again
- Keep going until you reach 10!
When I ran this with my own team, at the beginning of a meeting, at first it was a little frustrating. Then it got really silly there and by the end, the team rejoiced!
We had accomplished something challenging together! And we focused on the present moment in order to do it, slowing down to be present with ourselves and the others on the call.
By removing the visual cues that we usually rely on, the team has to tune in to themselves and each other in a new way. Now, we’ve created a bit more team spirit and togetherness before moving into the rest of the meeting.
As your team gets more comfortable with this exercise, increase the number. From 10 to 15 to 20! See how good you can get at it. It’s through these types of playful exercises that teams can start to build more safety and care.
How are you feeling about this one? A little apprehensive? That’s how I felt my first time running this. Feel free to comment below and let's talk about it!
Lissy
