Better Connections Activity

It is very difficult to form strong relationships with people about whom we know very little. The Better Connections activity helps create a memorable experience where participants value sharing non-work related information.

Great teamwork and collaboration is all about building stronger relationships and connections and this often means taking the time to see each other as more than just our job title. Once we get a fuller picture of who we are outside the office, everyone can feel more seen and understood.

Encourage people who know each other the least to pair up and create space for meaningful reflection too. It’s also a great way to improve communication skills and break down silos.

Instructions

Instruct the participants to pair up with someone in the room whom they know the least well. Ask each participant to write a number that reflects how connected they feel to the other person at that moment.

Give the following examples:

• A “1” would be how connected they feel about a man from whom they bought a newspaper that morning for the first time. They know nothing about him except that he was selling newspapers that morning at that spot.
• A “9” score could be for a spouse of 20 years.
• A “5” score could be a work colleague who I know to be married with children but I do not know the spouse’s name or the children’s names, ages, and genders.

Tell the participants that when you tell them to begin, they should do the following:

1. They will take turns to describe to the other person a close family member whom they love very much: someone who is very special to them, someone who they know intimately (such as a parent, a spouse, or a child). They should give as much detail as they can about this family member.
2. The other person should listen carefully, ask questions if they want to, while their partner shares a description of someone he or she loves very much.
3. After 3 minutes you will blow a whistle. The partners will swap their roles: The other person will take the opportunity to talk about his or her close family member.
4. After 3 minutes, blow the whistle again to end the discussion.

Instruct participants to write a number again to reflect how connected they now feel to the other person.

Ask participants to raise their hands if the number written first is less than the number written next. It is very unlikely that any participant will not raise their hand.

This shows that participants feel more connected to their partner immediately after a 6-minute conversation.

You can repeat the exercise exchanging partners.

Finally consult with the group: what is the benefit of the activity? Are relationships strengthened?

The topics of this publication: integration, interactions, disinhibition, distension, foster relationships