Duration: 30 minutes
Intended for:
This free energiser is useful to demonstrate the importance of giving, as well as asking for, feedback.
Training course contents:
A set of instructions for the free energiser, ‘Happy Face’ can be downloaded for free from the link at the bottom of this page. You can also see the full energiser instructions below.
Resources
A4 paper and pen for everyone.
Instructions
- Place participants into pairs (it’s best if they don’t know each other too well) and ask them to choose who is person A and who is person B.
- Explain that person A is the Manager and their role is to ensure that person B follows instructions.
- Ask person B to take the pen and paper and close their eyes. Person A should make sure they do not open them during the entire activity.
- Explain that person B should draw a happy face on the paper. At this stage, the face should have two eyes and a happy mouth. They have 30 seconds to do this.
- Next, ask person B to put the pen in their other hand. Now they should draw the happy face’s nose and ears. They have 30 seconds to do this.
- Ask the B’s to open their eyes and look at their drawing.
- Ask how many B’s asked their Manager for advice and feedback while they were doing their drawing. Next, ask how many A’s offered advice and feedback while the A’s did their drawing.
- Ask the people who did NOT get feedback to hold up their drawings. Usually, the drawings are not great.
- Next, ask the people who DID get feedback to hold up their drawings. In theory, they should be better.
In Review
Hold a general discussion about the importance of getting advice and feedback during tasks. You should emphasise that there is a responsibility on managers to offer advice, but also on employees to ask for advice.
Objectives:
This free energiser helps to demonstrate that it is important to both give and request feedback.
