The Rose and the Thorn Activity

With the activity the rose and the thorn can share gratifications and a bit of vulnerability to develop feelings of closeness, support and empathy as a team. During this no-fuss icebreaker, everyone simply shares their rose (any positive that makes them feel grateful, happy, etc.) and also their thorn (a challenge or blocker).

The skills this activity develops are the teamwork, the trust, and the communication.

Everyone shares a little gratitude and also a little vulnerability. This little opening-up exercise can make the team feel more tightly bonded.

It’s a shortcut to getting on the same wavelength.

Just gather your group and start sharing those roses and thorns, for example work-related:

• Rose: I got an event partner to give me a refund today!
• Thorn: A different event partner won’t give me a refund.

For example non-work related:

• Rose: I found time to go for a walk today.
• Thorn: There was no time to go for a walk today.

These kinds of activities prepare your group for fruitful collaboration. They make people think and laugh, and more importantly, they get everyone in the mindset to share brilliant ideas.

The topics of this publication: reflection, self