Intended for:
This free energiser has been designed to help you re-energise a group of participants, but also to get them to establish how frustrating miscommunication can be when we don’t have all the facts and what this can mean in the workplace. There is also an element of creative thinking.
Training course contents:
A set of instructions for the free energiser, ‘Crossed or Uncrossed’ can be downloaded for free from the link at the bottom of this page. You can also see the full energiser instructions below.
Resources
Two marker pens. This energiser works better with larger groups.
Instructions
- Place participants into a circle group with chairs facing the middle.
- Give the first person in the group two marker pens.
- Announce for the first person ‘crossed’ or ‘uncrossed’ and ask them to pass the pens slowly to the next person.
- Announce ‘crossed’ or ‘uncrossed’ for the next person and ask them to pass the pens slowly to the next person.
- Continue this while people are trying to work out what you mean by ‘crossed’ or ‘uncrossed’.
- Stop when someone works out the meaning and discuss the frustrations this created.
- In review, link the energiser to any learning points about communication and the frustrations that can occur.
So, what is the answer to ‘crossed’ or ‘uncrossed’? Rather than being related in any way to the pens, this refers to the individual’s body language. If their arms or legs are crossed when the pens are passed, you will announce it accordingly. This can become surprisingly frustrating until the riddle is discovered.
Objectives:
Use this free energiser to help participants explore communication and the danger of not sharing all information.
