Your
Progress |
1A |
1B |
1C |
1D |
1E |
1F |
|
|
Lesson 1: Awareness of Ourselves, Our Rights
and Communication Issues
F.
The Workplace Game
The Workplace Game is
an exercise I learned from a colleague
who learned it from another colleague. It
only takes about 10 minutes to play, although
you can feel free to take more time if
you find it helpful. It's a good idea to
first ask someone that you know well to
play the game and
allow them to place their pieces on the
board. You
be the one explaining to them where to place the pieces on the board
based on the instructions below. After they've completed the
exercise, you can switch and put your pieces on the board and make
sure they read the directions for how to play the game precisely as
written in the instructions. That's the most important thing about
this game. You can do this game out of sequence at your convenience,
but I think you'll find that it's very enlightening. Have fun, enjoy
it and notice what you've learned about yourself and person you're
playing with. And then pass it on to someone else.
IMPORTANT: You will need any size standard
chess board to play this game.
Throughout this entire process, your job
is to NOTICE pieces and placements, NOT
to judge, evaluate or analyze. Let the person
tell you how things appear to feel to them.
STEPS TO PLACING PIECES ON THE BOARD
Ask the person, using this exact wording,
to:
- Select a piece to represent yourself. Place
it where you feel like being.
(WAIT FOR
RESPONSE AND JUST LISTEN)
- Select pieces to represent
the people in your work environment and
place them on the board at what you consider
your "comfort distance" in relation to
yourself. State their names and relations
to you.
(WAIT FOR RESPONSE AND JUST LISTEN)
- Is there anyone else,
not necessarily present. who has a strong
impact on the staff?
- If so, place them on the board on their
sides.
(WAIT FOR RESPONSE AND JUST LISTEN)
 USE
THE "NOTICING" PROCESS:
Verbalize your noticing of the most distant
pieces first. Notice where the person places
herself on the board. Example of noticing
would be to comment, "I noticed you put
yourself in the middle" (or near the
comer, or off-center, or on the edge,
etc.). And then just listen to their
response.
WHEN THIS IS COMPLETED: If a member seems isolated, have the person
place another chess piece between their
piece and that person and then ask:
- How does this barrier seem?
(WAIT FOR RESPONSE AND
JUST LISTEN)
- then ask, "If this barrier
was made of something, what would that
something be?" Examples: hurt, anger,
confusion, misunderstanding, steel, honey,
fog, etc.
(AGAIN. WAIT AND JUST LISTEN)
- ASK: What would you like to do with
that barrier? (If it's something they
can physically do now, tell them, Just
go ahead and do that now, please.) Examples
would be: remove it, ignore it, change
it, wait, let it be, etc.
- Tell me anything more
that comes to mind as you see your board
now.
(WAIT FOR RESPONSE & JUST
LISTEN)
- If you had the power to change your
whole board - how would it be different?
- Have them physically rearrange anything
they would like to on their board and
just watch.
If all pieces appear close together,
ask, "Who would you turn to first for
support or advice?"
Ask at the end, "Is there anything else
you would like to say in closing the
exercise?" Thank the person for participating with
you in the game.
Next
Page | Return to Top |
