I learned this powerful exercise from the movie Freedom Writers and successfully applied it in my trainings. Now, I invite you to discover how you can incorporate the same exercise in your workplace.
Here's a step-by-step process you can follow:
Gather your team in a comfortable and open space.
Explain the purpose of the Line Game: to foster empathy, promote understanding, and discover shared experiences.
Form a line with enough space for individuals to step forward or backward.
Provide a series of prompts or statements related to work experiences, personal beliefs, or challenges. For example: " Step forward if you have received words of appreciation in the workplace." or "Step back if you have ever faced a major professional setback.
As each prompt is read aloud, participants can choose to step forward or backward based on their own experiences.
Encourage individuals to reflect on their positions in the line and the insights gained from seeing their colleagues' positions.
Facilitate a discussion afterwards, allowing team members to share their thoughts, feelings, and newfound understandings.
Emphasize the importance of empathy and finding similarities in building a supportive and inclusive work environment.
The Line Game is a brilliant tool to enhance emotional intelligence and promote understanding within the workplace. Give it a try and let me know if you need any assistance with implementation.