Bus Trip with Positive Feedback
Use Bus Trip as a positive feedback exercise at the end of an activity or meeting to energize and strengthen relationships between people on the team. This exercise is a great place to share feedback and appreciate one another.
Put as many chairs as there are participants in two rows. Place the chairs tightly, facing each other. If there is an odd number of participants, put a single chair in front for the bus driver.
Once you’ve gotten the chairs of the bus set-up, ask participants to speak the person next to them and share: what they like about the other person, what they appreciate and what about the other person makes them happy.
Welcome to the bus
Explain that you have a fantastic bus that does not pollute the air, because it runs on positive energy. On this bus everyone gets to speak with everyone and they are for sure going to have a great trip together.
Ask the participants to go and sit on the chairs, close to each other so the knees are nearly touching each other. If there are odd numbers of participants, one person will play the bus driver and will just listen.
Ask the participants in one row to give as much positive feedback as possible to the participants seated in the opposite row (who will listen quietly).
Give the following types of examples:
- What I like about you is…
- What I appreciate about you is…
- I feel happy whenever you…
Announce a speaking time limit of 45 seconds. For the activity to be effective and agile, it is important that this time be respected.
After 45 seconds, blow a whistle and pause for 10 seconds. Then ask the participants in the other row to take turns speaking.
Once both people’s shifts are over, it’s time to rotate passengers. Ask a row of chairs to move one place, if one person has the role of driver they must also rotate.
This will result in new pairs being formed so that each person uses 45 seconds to give positive feedback.
Continue the positive conversations. Keep rotating the participants depending on the available time.
Moment of Reflection
Conduct a debriefing discussion after several rounds of this activity. Ask the participants to discuss what happens when people give positive and appreciative feedback.
Talk about the energy created in the room. Ask them how they can give more positive feedback within this group, within the organization, and in their families.
The topics of this publication: reflection, interactions, integration, self, empathy, active listening, emotions, motivation, foster relationships
