Leave and Bring is a simply activity that gives participants a chance to be intentional about the energy and attitudes they bring into the room.
Materials Required: Post-it Notes or Note Pad, Place Cards or Name Plates, Box or Basket, Felt Pens
Preparation: No preparation required.
Set-Up Instructions for Participants:
“As your facilitator, I can only take some responsibility for the success of today’s session. For this workshop to be useful for you, you need to be intentional about the energy and attitudes that you are bringing to the room. So, in a minute, I’m going to ask you to reflect on two things:
The first is one thing you are prepared to leave at the door so that you can positively contribute to the conversation. The second is one thing you will be intentional about bringing to the room so that the workshop has the best chance of success.”
How to Facilitate the Activity:
1. Give participants the set-up instructions as above and check that everyone has access to post-it notes or a note pad and felt pens.
2. Invite people to write on their post-it note one thing they are prepared to leave at the door. You might want to give them some examples such as the fight they had with their partner this morning, their pre-conceived ideas about the project, or a habit they know hinders conversation. Let participants know they won’t need to share what’s on their paper unless they choose to.
3. Once everyone has jotted down what they will leave at the door, ask if there is someone who would be happy to share what they have written. After that person has shared, invite them to place their note in a box or basket.
4. Repeat Step 3 until everyone who is happy to share has shared. Invite the remaining participants to put their note in the box without reading it aloud.
5. Seal the box and place it outside the door.
6. Invite participants to think about one thing they will intentionally bring to the room and write it on their place card or name plate in big, bold letters. You might want to give some examples such as an open mind, curious questions, or a willingness to explore new ideas before saying “but”. Let participants know that these things will be shared with the whole group so that you can keep each other accountable.
7. Once everyone has completed their place card, give everyone a chance to share what they have written and any context that they would like to add.
8. Invite participants to put their place cards on their table, facing outward, so that participants can keep each other accountable for their promises.
Debriefing Questions:
Once the activity is complete, it can be helpful to talk about what will happen if someone is not behaving as they promised. In most cases, participants catch themselves before anyone needs to say anything—but it’s important to discuss a ‘what then’ agreement, just in case.
You can now use these intentions to help draw people into the session. For example, if someone has stated that they will bring Curious Questions, then regularly ask them what curious questions they have.