Clap, Snap, Stomp is a simple activity to demonstrate the challenges associated with change and to start a conversation about how to embed change well.
Materials Required: None
Preparation: No preparation required.
Set-Up Instructions for Participants: “Before we start the next part of this session, I’d love to do an activity with you to get your brains working. In a minute, I’m going to ask you to jump up, find yourself a partner, and stand face-to-face about 50cm apart.”How to
Facilitate the Activity:
1. Give participants the set-up instructions as above and invite them to move to their positions. It can be helpful for participants to find a space away from other pairs.
2. Explain that in a minute, you want each pair to collectively count to 3 (each person taking turns to say the next number). Let them know that they need to continue counting 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 in a cycle.
That means the first person says 1, their partner says 2, and then the first person says 3. The partner then carries on by starting at 1 and so on. You might like to ask for a volunteer and give a demonstration.
3. Once everyone is clear on the first part of the game, explain that at some point you are going to call out CLAP! That means that instead of saying 1, participants must CLAP. You will then introduce SNAP (clicking fingers), to replace number 2; and STOMP (stomping foot) to replace number 3. You might like to demonstrate the changes with your volunteer.
4. Once everyone is clear on how to play, invite them to start counting. Let them count for about 30 seconds before introducing CLAP. Introduce SNAP and STOMP in reasonably quick succession after that. There will be lots of laughter as participants continuously make mistakes with the new pattern.
Debriefing Questions:
- What did you notice about that activity?
- Why do you think it was so difficult to change from 1,2,3 to CLAP, SNAP, STOMP?
- What might have made it easier to make the changes?
- How does this relate to the way you embed changes in your workplace?