Personal Presentations

A simple exercise in which each participant prepares a personal presentation of him/herself sharing several important experiences, events, people or stories that contributed to shaping him or her as an individual. The purpose of personal presentations is to support each participant in getting to know each other as individuals, and to build trust and openness in a group by enlarging the social arena.

Time frame
60-240min
Group size
2-40+
Facilitiation lvl
medium
How experience one should have to lead this exercise
Comfort zone
medium
How stressful or challenging this exercise can be for the group
Materials
Flip chart paper Markers

Step 1:
Each participant prepares their personal presentation: a short presentation about “3 things (experiences, events, people, stories) that have contributed to shaping the person I am today.”

The presentation should be visualized using words and symbols on a single flip-chart paper. Give participants about 15-20 minutes to prepare this.

Facilitator notes
It can be effective for one facilitator to do his/her presentation before participants be their own. This helps role model personal storytelling and supports participants to select their own things to share.
Step 2:
Presentations: Each participant gets 3 minutes (or more depending on time and group size) to present his/her presentation to the whole group. Encourage focus and active listening.

Facilitator notes
It is very important to create a safe and inviting space since individuals will share personal stories. In some cases, individuals may share experiences that generate emotion in themselves and/or within the group. As a facilitator, remind participants that this is normal and welcome. If individuals become very emotional, follow-up with them individually after the session.
Step 3:
If you are a smaller group, where time is not limited, facilitators can invite members of the group to ask questions to each person immediately after his/her presentation.

Staff picks

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Apple-Drawing Ideation

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IDOARRT Meeting Design

IDOARRT is a simple tool to support you to lead an effective meeting or group process by setting out clear purpose, structure and goals at the very beginning. It aims to enable all participants to understand every aspect of the meeting or process, which creates the security of a common ground to start from. The acronym stands for Intention, Desired Outcome, Agenda, Rules, Roles and Responsibilities and Time.

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Stinky Fish

A short activity to run early in a program, focused on sharing fears, anxieties and uncertainties related to the program theme. The purpose is to create openness within a group. The stinky fish is a metaphor for "that thing that you carry around but don’t like to talk about; but the longer you hide it, the stinkier it gets." By putting stinky fish (fears and anxieties) on the table, participants begin relate to each other, become more comfortable sharing, and identify a clear area for development and learning.

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Crocodile River

A team-building activity in which a group is challenged to physically support one another in an endeavor to move from one end of a space to another. It requires working together creatively and strategically in order to solve a practical, physical problem. It tends to emphasize group communication, cooperation, leadership and membership, patience and problem-solving.

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Action Plan Workshop: The Arrow

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Appreciation Train

This exercise is useful for bringing groups together, to create interpersonal bonds, and to build trust. Participants stand opposite each other and have 30 seconds to give appreciative feedback to the other person. The group rotates until everyone has given feedback to everyone else. It is often used as part of wrap-up activities, to create an energized feeling to leave with.

Methods & Tools curated by Hyper Island

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Personal Presentations

Step 1:

Facilitator notes

Step 2:

Facilitator notes

Step 3:

Staff picks

Apple-Drawing Ideation

IDOARRT Meeting Design

Stinky Fish

Crocodile River

Action Plan Workshop: The Arrow

Appreciation Train

I want to know more about using these tools and the Hyper Island methods.

Personal Presentations

Step 1:

Facilitator notes

Step 2:

Facilitator notes

Step 3:

Sources and Related

Share

Staff picks

Apple-Drawing Ideation

IDOARRT Meeting Design

Stinky Fish

Crocodile River

Action Plan Workshop: The Arrow

Appreciation Train

I want to know more about using these tools and the Hyper Island methods.