Activity 5: Sharing in Triads (8 minutes)
Materials for Activity
- Bell
- Clock, watch, or timer that shows seconds
Preparation for Activity
- Think in advance about how to form triads in your group. Determine whether you will have participants number off or form their own triads.
Description of Activity
Tell the group that now they will have a structured opportunity to share what they choose to share about their hopes, dreams, and wished-for unfurlings.Invite participants to form groups of three, preferably with people whom they do not yet know well. Or, form the triads yourself. If the number of participants in your group is indivisible by three, form pairs as needed.
Ask participants to arrange their seats so that each triad can converse easily. Then, offer these instructions:
For this exercise, each person in your group will have a turn at each of three roles: speaker, listener, and holder of the space.
When you are the speaker, it takes courage to speak from your depths to another person. You choose what, and how much, you want to share. True, honest speaking creates community and strengthens you in being true to who you are.
Listening is a way of showing respect and care for another. Listening is a way to learn and grow. Listening creates community. Listening without interruption and with attention takes concentration and effort. It is particularly important in this activity for the listener to carefully take note of what is said, because s/he will use this information in the activity that follows.
When you are holding the space, you hold the good intentions for the group and provide sacred witness to the sharing between speaker and listener. As you hold the space, you want the best for the time. You want safety and compassion. You want truth to be spoken, and heard. When you are holding the space, you give your attention and support to the speaker, to the listener, to the process, and to the relationships it creates.
Initially, each person will have one minute to speak. When it is your turn to speak, you might begin by taking a deep breath. Speak the essence of what you have to say. Take all the time given to you. Not less, so as not to show up. Not more, so as to take away from someone else's presence in the group. You might think you've said all you have to say, but if your minute is not up, you can pause quietly, breathe, and perhaps get in touch with something more to share.
Invite each triad to determine the order in which they will rotate the three roles. Participants who are paired will each take a turn as speaker and listener.
Tell the group you will ring the bell to begin the exercise and at one-minute intervals so they can switch roles. Ring the bell, and watch the clock. Ring the bell again at one minute, at two minutes, and finally at three minutes to end the exercise.
Including All Participants
If you notice participants struggling to hear one another in
their triads, allow some groups to leave the room and find a quieter space. If
you have two to three participants requiring ASL interpretation, and only one
interpreter, put those participants in the same group. If you have more than
three participants needing ASL interpretation, find a second interpreter to
help.
Last updated on Saturday, April 19, 2008.
