This activity is innovative for helping the team to form a way of working with each other that is consistent with the way clients/patients/customers are treated by their organization. Use
this activity with 8 to 10 people. The exercise requires 10 to 15 minutes.
Start with a space large enough for each team member to see the others and the easel. You will need the following materials:
- Easel chart or whiteboard
- Marking pens
Ask the group to describe how someone seeking services or care should expect to be treated when coming to its organization. If the size of the group is twenty or less, it can be done together. If the group is larger than twenty, form groups of eight to ten and ask someone to record. If there are break-out groups, come together and report. Record the group comments on easel chart.
Ask the team how someone who joins the team should expect to be treated. Write the answers on an easel chart.
When finished brainstorming, discuss differences between the ways a customer/client/patient is treated and how the team is treating one another.
Debrief and Summarize
Discuss how the team can better “walk its talk” by agreeing to work out ways to treat each other as a client/customer/patient would be treated.
Contributed by Carol Weisman
If you like this activity, check out my book, Team Energizers, for 49 other team activities!
KRISTIN ARNOLD, MBA, CPF, CSP is a high stakes meeting facilitator and professional panel moderator. She’s been facilitating teams of executives and managers in making better decisions and achieving greater results for over 20 years. She is the author of the award-winning book, Boring to Bravo: Proven Presentation Techniques to Engage, Involve and Inspire Audiences to Action.
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