A simple, powerful positive feedback activity

Summary

This video script introduces a simple yet powerful exercise for generating positive feedback within teams. The process involves writing one's name at the bottom of a sheet, passing it to the left or right, and having peers note impressive behaviors or personality traits. The aim is to foster stronger relationships and recognize each other's strengths. The exercise, which can be completed in about 15-20 minutes for a group of 10, emphasizes the importance of positive reinforcement in the workplace and has proven effective over 30 years of use.

Takeaways

• 📝 The script introduces a simple and powerful exercise for generating positive feedback within a team.
• 🙌 It emphasizes the importance of positive feedback in the workplace, which is often lacking and can strengthen relationships and performance.
• 📝 The exercise has been used for over 30 years and is believed to lead to long-term improvements in team behavior.
• 👥 The exercise involves getting everyone in a group to write their name at the bottom of a sheet of paper and then pass it to the left or right.
• 🔄 Participants are asked to write either a behavior they've seen that impressed them or a personality characteristic of the person whose name is on the paper.
• 📝 The feedback should be concise, meaningful, and positive, avoiding generic or trivial comments.
• 🔑 The paper is folded after each comment to keep the identity of the writer anonymous until the end.
• ⏳ The process continues until the paper is filled with comments, which can take around 15 to 20 minutes for a group of 10 people.
• 🤔 The exercise encourages reflection on how people perceive each other and can reveal surprising insights about individual contributions and characteristics.
• 📉 It's important to manage the process to ensure that comments are meaningful and to prevent anyone from opting out by claiming they don't know the person well enough.
• 😃 The final step involves each person writing feedback about themselves, which can be a valuable self-reflection exercise.
• 💡 The exercise is efficient, requiring minimal logistics, and can generate a large amount of positive feedback in a short amount of time.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the exercise described in the script?

The main purpose of the exercise is to generate positive feedback within a team, highlighting the lack of positive reinforcement in the workplace and aiming to strengthen relationships and recognize good work.

How long has the presenter been using this exercise?

The presenter has been using this exercise for over 30 years.

What is the recommended group size for this exercise?

The ideal group size for this exercise is around ten people, though it can be stretched to twelve.

Why is it important to write one's name at the bottom of the paper?

Writing one's name at the bottom of the paper is important as it is an unconventional way to start, which sets the stage for the feedback exercise.

What are the two things participants are asked to write at the top of the paper?

Participants are asked to write either a behavior they've seen that impressed them or a personality characteristic of the person that impresses them.

Why is it encouraged to keep the statements visible during the exercise?

Keeping the statements visible helps to ensure that the feedback is driven by those specific prompts and maintains focus on providing meaningful and positive feedback.

How does the paper-passing process work in this exercise?

Participants pass their paper to the person on their left or right, and each person adds a comment about the person whose name is at the bottom of the paper, folding it over after writing to keep the comments anonymous.

What is the expected duration for the exercise with a group of 10 people?

The exercise is expected to take around 15 to 20 minutes for a group of 10 people.

Why is it important not to let anyone 'cop out' during the exercise?

It's important not to let anyone 'cop out' to ensure that everyone engages in providing meaningful feedback, even if they feel they don't know the person well, as this encourages everyone to reflect on their impressions and interactions.

What should participants write about themselves at the end of the exercise?

Participants should write feedback on themselves, acknowledging their own strengths and behaviors that they believe are impressive or positive.

How does the presenter suggest handling the completed feedback sheets?

The presenter suggests pausing before opening the feedback sheets, discussing the experience, and then opening them to reflect on the positive feedback received.