The key to a good plan is a solid foundation

This exercise is useful when making the groundwork for a future change. It is helpful to be two coordinators for the exercise: One to facilitate and one to document the process and outcome.

  1. Spread out a Magnum Set on the floor in one end of the room.
  2. Ask each participant to choose two picture cards. The first one should illustrate a positive thing about the current status that they would like more of in the future. The second card should illustrate WHY this thing is working well for them. Make sure they go into detail. You can ask helpful questions such as:Why do you think that makes you calm?

    What is it about this that gives you motivation?

    What is it that helps you focus in this particular situation?

    What is it about this that creates a good atmosphere?

    What do you think you work well together on these particular circumstances?

    What is it that creates this good vibe in the group?

    Let each participant talk about their experiences and opinions taking inspiration from the cards they have chosen. After each presentation, the topic is acknowledged and discussed in the whole group. Then the participant places their cards on the floor in the other end of room which you will call “the Experience Pool”.

  3. Now that the group is warmed up, you ask them to repeat the process to add more good insights to the Experience Pool. This may be new experiences or thoughts that add to the ones already discussed. End this part when the energy begins to dwindle.
  4. When the Pool is full, the experiences should be divided into “islands” of different categories (max. 5). You discuss with the group which names the categories should have, e.g. calmness, energy, dynamics, motivation, comfort. Write each name on a piece of paper and put them on the floor as the centre of an island. Ask the participants to pair up and place their cards on one of the islands. Some cards will fit into several categories; it is up to the participants to prioritise.
  5. Have a quick round in which the participants place a new, untested idea on an island. Ask them to choose a card quickly, present their idea and place it on an island of their choosing. Keep doing this until the energy dwindles again.
  6. Now you have a chain of islands full of good ideas for sustainable change – big as well as small. You end the exercise by asking the participants to stand by the island that they find most important. This way you as facilitators will know which areas to give the highest priority to. Then it is up to you to develop a plan for implementation of these sustainable changes with support and understanding from the participants, caused by the exercise itself.

Take photographs of the islands, so you can remember all the good ideas and experiences for future evaluations. Once the changes have been implemented, you can use other Dialoogle exercises to ensure that everyone takes responsibility and contributes to making them successful.








