GAME #52: Putting Things in Perspective
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Game Categories:
Opener Energizer Communication
Team-building Review Topical
❖ Purpose: To help participants see the importance of putting things in proper perspective when dealing with other people and sharing ideas.
❖ Time Required: 10 to 15 minutes.
❖ Size of Group: Unlimited.
❖ Materials Required: A poster-sized color montage; a flashlight; a piece of cardboard with a small hole cut in it; a widely focused strobe light. ❖ The Exercise in Action: Karen Moody, a senior analyst/meeting facilitator for Information Systems at Conoco, Houston, uses this exercise in sessions where people will be expected to share ideas and, therefore, look for new perspectives. Moody turns out the room lights and asks participants to close their eyes. While they have their eyes closed, she hangs a large picture on a classroom wall (she uses a color montage). She then shines a flashlight through a cardboard cutout that lets only a narrow band of light hit the picture. She asks everyone to open their eyes and write down what they see. Moody has them close their eyes again, while she shines a widely focused strobe light on the picture. She asks them to open their eyes and write down what they see. Once again, participants are asked to close their eyes. Moody turns on the room lights this time and has them open their eyes and write down what they see. Moody asks participants to share their ideas about what they saw in each case, and records that on a flipchart. She builds that input into a discussion about the importance of perspective: • If we are too narrowly focused in how we look at things (flashlight), we can’t see the big picture. • If we have our attention placed on too many things at one time (strobe light), we become very confused. • If we view things from the proper perspective (room lights), we can easily focus our attention on each area, as well as see the big picture.
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