10 Quick IN-PERSON Group Exercises For Engagement

One of the hardest things to keep as you speak or work with a group is how to keep them engaged. How can you keep or increase your team’s engagement? In this video, I will share with you 10 quick in-person group exercises for engagement.
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This kit includes everything you need to make your next in-person or virtual meeting, workshop, or conference a success! You’ll find printable card decks for icebreakers and conversation starters. Directions for team building activities nobody will groan at. Virtual meeting tips and group games to keep your team engaged. Trust and communication strategies from our #1 Amazon Bestselling book.
What To Watch Next:
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3 Group Activities To Keep Virtual Fresh
• 3 Group Activities To ...
CARDS DECKS, BOOKS & TOOLS
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WORK WITH CHAD
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✅ Book Chad Littlefield to speak at your next virtual or in-person event:
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SHOP OUR TOOLS ON AMAZON:
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🧰 We! Connect Cards Icebreaker Question Deck
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🧰 We! Engage Cards Team Building Deck
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✏️ Drop your own tips, tools & ideas in the COMMENTS section in order to build an open library of clever ideas related to this topic.
Key Moments in this Episode
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00:00 Context
01:04 What To Do Before Starting A Meeting
01:32 What Is An Anchor Questions Activity
02:38 What Is An Ideal Unofficial Start
03:18 What Is A Click Quotes Activity
04:11 What Quotes Should You Include In The Activity
04:44 What Idea Is Introduced By The Context Hook Ingredient
05:17 What Is A Collaborative Calculator Exercise
06:34 How Can You Create A Context Hook From Your Experience
07:02 What Is A Contracting Exercise
08:22 What Does Connection Before Content Mean
08:48 What Is A Teacher Mode Exercise
09:18 How To Do Connection Before Content
09:40 What Idea Is In The Teacher Mode Exercise
10:13 What Teacher Mode Exercise Is Doing
10:53 What Is A Questions Swap Exercise
11:58 How Can You Reinterpret The Question Swap Exercise
12:29 What Is The Content Ingredient
12:59 What Kind Of Content Should You Design
13:12 What Is A Reaction Commercial Break
14:16 How To Facilitate The Silence Activity
15:25 How To Use The Silence Activity To Create Something Great
16:18 What Is A Snowball Fight Exercise
17:47 What Is A Quick Ritual Exercise
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Nate Woodbury - KZbin Producer
/ natewoodbury
#Engagement
#GroupExercises
#EngagementExercises

[@chad.littlefield]

💡And if you want 20+ additional no-cringe group exercises to build connections, break the ice, and energize your group, here is a totally free download I prepped for ya: weand.me/tools/

[@chad.littlefield]

Hey y’all, if you LIKE the video, please hit 👍. These are some of my favorite exercises and I’d love to share them with more folks!

[@priyak71]

How do you even come up with these simple yet brilliant ideas! Love the shift that has come in my training with connection before content. Amazing!

[@TatianaTeaches]

Chad, I watched/listened to this one 3 times. GREAT ideas 💡 . Finally ended up taking detailed notes so I won't forget. I plan to combine the Idea Swap & The Snowball Fight into an "Idea Piñata" for my public speaking class. I'll have them write their top 3 tips for boosting confidence on a notecard, fold/crumple it into a "piñata" (still working this out) then they'll get released (along with candy?). Everyone picks up one notecard and some sugar. A follow-up could be discussing ideas, swapping your card 1-3 times, etc. So many possibilities. I'm also going to use Contract/Expand. Im sure I'll use all of them at some point. THANK YOU! ◡̈ 😊

[@chad.littlefield]

@@TatianaTeaches woohooooo!! I absolutely love hearing this. Can't wait to hear how it all goes for you. Based on my past experience, I trust it'll go brilliantly!

[@leadtheteamwithbenfanning8397]

Chad delivers again! Love the Snow Ball Gift exercise! Fun, connected, and helpful. Such a good group of exercises!

[@chad.littlefield]

Thanks, Ben! Always a tall compliment coming from you!

[@majacurcic6810]

great stuff, thank!

[@clintoncountyilceo2803]

AMAZING!!! I couldn't write fast enough to remember more than the first and last so after 3 replays I got it.......love all these activities!

[@speakingfingersnetwork]

Thanks Chad for the simplicity you teach Sir 🙏

[@ftepedino7066]

Chad you are amazing! Thank you! I love the Snow Ball Gift idea! I will be using this one in my upcoming training for sure! What a positive way to end!

[@chad.littlefield]

You-and your group-will definitely enjoy!

[@robinsoncajamarca7241]

Chad! Hope you had a great holiday my friend. Awesome video and right on time for many in-person events. One of my favorites from all of them is the quick ritual. Finding ways to close and event, that leave the event memorable or maybe on a positive note. As you mentioned, so many times we wave on Zoom or just end abruptly. I'll be incorporating this quick ritual in my job, as we have brought back college tours and workshop in-person! Side note, love how you were moving different places when you spoke. Gave a fresh insight every time. Kept me engaged in the video! Also I have to ask... another book in the future?? 🤔 Your other two have been so helpful! Stay well Chad!

[@chad.littlefield]

I do have another book brewing. Tentative title: Lack: What Happens Just Before Blame Still very, very tentative. Thanks for asking! I'd also like to put a mini book together specifically for conference and event organizers to help walk them through thinking about designing for contribution-not just consumption.

[@cindytaylor7424]

Amazing Chad! Thanks for great ideas. the WE connect cards have always worked so well!

[@chad.littlefield]

Such a powerful tool hidden in a tiny, simple box :-) Thanks, Cindy!

[@sarahjanehenry2257]

Love this - Thank you Chad you are an absolute 🌟

[@chad.littlefield]

Haha! Thanks, Sarah. It's a joy to be connected here. Always feel welcome to fire follow-up questions into the comments section. I try to be as diligent as possible in giving useful, relevant and practical responses 👍👍

[@NatalieCurrieEnterprises]

Thank you. I've used a number of these ideas in my own way for more than a decade. Thanks for adding richness!!

[@chad.littlefield]

A mentor of mine once said that "the wisdom is in the nuance of things." This is deeply true. I love taking something I've been doing for years and applying a slightly improved lens/framing to it. Thanks for connecting here, Natalie! I'd say "great minds think alike" ... except I also think great minds think really differently too haha.

[@94VandalFavorites]

I may rename the snowball idea: Great balls of fire! ☄️ Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic ideas and giving permission to not just use them but make them our own!!

[@chad.littlefield]

Absolutely! Love the name. And I regularly frame or name these exercises something that fits in line with the overarching intention or purpose of the gathering. Helps it stick better. And depending on the group, shifting the framing can greatly increase buy-in for an out-of-the-norm kind of activity 👍👍

[@leadyourindustry]

Brilliant Chad thank you - short - sharp - practical !!

[@chad.littlefield]

So glad you think so! Thanks for sharing. I'm constantly working to make my videos 90%+ purely useful/valuable/practical content that can make a difference and aiming to keep context and other details to 10% or less. I probably don't always succeed, but I'd like to think this one was packed to the gills with good nuggets.

[@OutdoorGoyo]

This is great stuff man! Thank you for sharing

[@chad.littlefield]

So glad you enjoyed! Lots more where this came from across the channel. Glad to connect here.

[@wendi3038]

Thanks for your tips Chad! I plan on using the snowball activity in a different way, as I am leading it for a church group. I am doing this in the beginning of the event and having them write down something nice, encouraging, and uplifting on their papers. Or having them write something that they would want to hear someone say to them! I will have them toss it to each other but we wont be opening it up until the end of the night! That gives them something to look forward to and something heartwarming to go home with :)

[@chad.littlefield]

Perfect!! Thanks for taking a moment to share. Love hearing how folks go from "video to real life" with these exercises and strategies! 👍👍

[@funwithavril]

Fantastic ideas for activities, as always! I'm going to propose the snowball activity at my meeting tomorrow! LoveLoveLove.

[@chad.littlefield]

👍👍 Awesome Avril. How was the idea received? Or did you actually do the snowball fight idea exchange exercise?

[@funwithavril]

@@chad.littlefield My colleague that I was working with LOVED the idea! Unfortunately everything went longer than expected and he didn't feel we had time at the end for more than a one-word check-out - and he's the one who called the shots at this meeting. But I'm totally keeping this activity in my back pocket for future use. Can't wait to use it!

[@hondutel1]

You are absolutely phenomenal. Whoever is recording you is either intentionally avoiding recording your whole face or needs to work on not just focusing on below the forehead as it is distracting. Your delivery is so engaging. I suppose that is why it is what you do. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@chad.littlefield]

Ha! That my be a editing issue beyond a filming issue. I'll have a chat with the team about this one. Thanks for the compliment and the feedback. Both are gifts.

[@silvioberlfein5194]

Chad I have been wanting to see this since it came out.. Just go the time.. Amazing as always.. Have you ever done the Snowball where you pick it up and read and then throw again so people are walking around reading maybe even sharing with someone then they throw it and then after 3 or 4 or 5 they keep the last one.. I have a program with 170 people and I would love to do something like that.. .. wow so much great stuff.. thanks again for your generosity

[@chad.littlefield]

Yes, Silvio! This is a great, simple add on to exchange 4x to 5x the amount of ideas or takeaways! Also...more of a true snowball fight as well haha. Thanks for taking the time to share with me-and everyone else reading.

[@gregkettnerworkhappy]

Great content. Thank you Chad.

[@chad.littlefield]

You're welcome! Heaps more where this came from across the channel 👍👍

[@lisamckenzie-region10]

Oh my goodness! I paused, rewound and replayed so much of this video! Like a goldmine of great and usefulness. Can't wait to try this out! As always thank you for the valuable information. My coordinators have begun to comment about my meetings so THANK YOU!!!

[@chad.littlefield]

Fantastic, Lisa! Would love to know what struck you most about the video. Thanks for connecting here 👍👍

[@lisamckenzie-region10]

@@chad.littlefield Do you have a notebook handy :) I am definitely implementing the Unofficial Start Anchor Question, Reaction Commercial Break and Snowball Gift but the most priceless gem for me was the Collaborative Calculator. My coordinators are extremely knowledgeable and great at their jobs. I acknowledge that in our work all the time, but to actually put a number and value to it is BRILLIANT!

[@chad.littlefield]

@@lisamckenzie-region10 FANTASTIC summary list. Yes, the Collaborative Calculator is gold with a smart group 👍👍 I'll be using this in a few days with 1600 superintendents, principals, and educators actually!

[@speakingfingersnetwork]

Same here 🤗

[@angelinaarrington8516]

Great content!

[@chad.littlefield]

Thanks! And welcome. Always feel welcome to ask questions in the comments of my videos as well. I'm pretty deliberate about answering with useful, practical nuggets that anyone can benefit from 👍👍

[@texasteambuilder942]

I have ruthlessly stolen and reinterpretted! Anchor Question - I used index cards and invited attendees to answer one or both then drop into appropriate bucket. I asked what they hope to get from their day and how they could contribute to their day. My group was largely introverted: I think this created a small safe space to be heard, I liked it alot! Thank you Also, ended this group with snowball (great balls of fire) I was SO unsure about using it. AND you are 100% correct. they laughed so much and kept picking up the snowballs and throwing them! Then, each person ended up with a snowball and read the notes to the group. (small group). What I additionally loved was that my quietest people had their voices heard. Thank you!!! (3 !'s means super thankful)

[@chad.littlefield]

I didn't fully consider that the snowball exercise allows somebody else to elevate and uplift a quieter person's idea. I love it! Thanks for taking the time to thoughtfully share.

[@ramanacv2935]

Wonderful. Useful

[@chad.littlefield]

That is exactly the combo I aim for whenever I plan my videos and sit down to hit "record." Welcome to the channel! Lots more where this one came from indeed.

[@jeWElleOfTheTable]

thnaks mucho for this, sir. looooove the energy of this video, chad! wow. and the way you walked while you said "this video is sponsored by......" - priceless. (",)

[@chad.littlefield]

Thanks for the feedback! Very helpful. Love continuing to be connected here, friend!

[@speakingfingersnetwork]

👌Pricelessly awesome 👍 and Contagious Energy💃🎉...Big Up Chad 🏆 Greetings from Nigeria 🇳🇬🤟

[@jennifercoffey7903]

These are fantastic, ready-to-go strategies. You may want to modify the title a bit as I can plan to use these strategies virtually.

[@chad.littlefield]

For sure! They can definitely be adapted to a virtual context. I have heaps and heaps of content on virtual strategies packed into How to Make Virtual Engagement Easy. I wanted to focus specifically on ideas for all the folks running things mainly and mostly in person now. I do always love borrowing ideas and switching contexts though!

[@braxtongilbert]

Chad, new subscriber here - thanks for your awesome content. I have a weekly meeting with my 10 trainers at my fitness studio. My goal is to have them leave each week inspired and reminded that the work they do is SO meaningful to their clients. Is it better to do the boring reminders and important dates BEFORE or AFTER the meeting?

[@chad.littlefield]

Welcome, welcome! Hmm...I'd say those regular things are a part of the content/meeting. And I'm wondering if you'd enjoy this video on how to make them LESS boring: weand.me/2021/11/02/how-to-make-a-powerpoint-presentation-interactive/ That said, I typically advocate for making the "content" item #4 on your agenda. This video outlines #'s 1, 2, 3, and 5 as well.

[@braxtongilbert]

@@chad.littlefield Thanks so much, I will check it out today!

[@GodsGPS]

Chad, I wrote a book back in 2009 that highlights what you shared in this short video. If you are interested check out God Space by Doug Pollock.

[@DAClub-uf3br]

Even if the activity has purpose i don't want to do it. Performing for an audience no matter how small is undesirable.

[@chad.littlefield]

Jobs with minimal human interaction sound like the ideal path then perhaps?

[@DAClub-uf3br]

@@chad.littlefield As i hate being under the spotlight interviewing is exceptionally difficult. I anm not even sure if it is possible.

[@chad.littlefield]

@@DAClub-uf3br it is certainly a tough dynamic. I researched and wrote about social anxiety quite a bit before starting the work I'm doing now. I wonder what you think about the concept of "positive social risks" that I unpack here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqq6o42Zmsp-hKc

[@Bibaby2599]

No offense but this did not work for me cause I was looking for actual like physical exercises not whatever this was lol

[@chad.littlefield]

Hahah, no offense taken...sounds like you were hoping for a group workout video 🤣