Free Trainer Activities: Find the Ball FeedBack Exercise

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What Others Are Saying

The sessions were well planned yet flexible enough to allow group dynamics to flow towards areas of need. Our facilitator made himself aware of the Department’s functions and issues prior to the retreats in order to custom the events to target our problems. I was informed of potential benefits and risks inherent in this process. Following each session, he called to give a synopsis and recommendations about the group on which to build the next retreat.

Department Director

Find the Ball: An Exercise in FeedBack

As part of Absolute Safety, 365^SM training, we teach participants the very crucial responsibility of taking accountability for one another, to the point that he or she will provide impromptu feedback whenever they notice either safe or at-risk behavior, to anyone in the organization. For the trainees to experience success, we then teach them how to give feedback, and we often start off with this activity to set the stage.

OBJECTIVE: To experience different feedback "styles" and get a feel for the effects that they have upon the receiver. The lesson that you're trying to drive is how specific feedback that is delivered in a positive way really does impact someone's performance.

TIME FRAME: 15 Minutes

PROPS: one golf ball

INSTRUCTIONS:

Ask for 4 volunteers from the group. Copy their names onto a flipchart or white board, then inform them that they will be called back into the room one at a time to search for a golf ball. Ask them to leave the room.
Coach the remaining participants about the process and their roles at each stage:
1. Silent Feedback: when volunteer #1 enters the room, the participants are to remain completely silent and motionless.
2. Negative Feedback: when volunteer #2 enters the room, all participants should give negative feedback, no matter how close or far away the searcher is from the ball. Be sensitive to your group, but instruct them to give the kind of negative feedback that they might hear back in the workplace when someone is dissatisfied with their performance (and with certain audiences - rig hands, for example - this gets kind of raw ... make sure you know your group). Participants should NOT respond to any requests for direction or assistance (except with derision).
3. Positive Feedback: when volunteer #3 enters the room, all participants should give positive but non-specific feedback (e.g., "attaboy," "way to go," "I really like how you get after it," etc.), no matter how close or far away the searcher is from the ball. Participants should NOT respond to any requests for direction or assistance (except with further exclamations of "you can do it" or "we have faith in you").
4. Specific Feedback: when volunteer #4 enters the room, participants should provide specific hints and suggestions for finding the ball, without giving it away. They should respond to yes/no questions.
Ask the group to help you choose which of the volunteers will receive the different types of feedback. Note that some individuals get upset with the negative feedback, even though it is a simulation. Ask your group which of the volunteers would have the least difficulty with the ribbing involved.
Hide the golf ball. Invite the participants in one at a time. Each volunteer receives the prescribed feedback noted above.
1. Silent: Hide the golf ball in a not-too-difficult location within the room. Allow 2-3 minutes for the search.
2. Negative: choose a more difficult spot. Allow 2-3 minutes for the search.
3. Positive but General: choose a more difficult spot. Allow 2-3 minutes for the search.
4. Specific: choose a more difficult spot. Allow 2-3 minutes for the search.
Debrief. Suggested process: ask the volunteers, one person at a time, in the order in which they came into the room ...
1. How did you feel while looking for the ball?
2. What did you think/feel as a result of the feedback you received?
3. How did the feedback you received affect your performance?
4. What did the feedback you received prompt you to think/feel about the other folk in the room who were giving it?
5. If this was the type of feedback that you received every day, how do you think it would impact your desire and/or ability to keep yourself and your teammates safe.

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SIGN UP for our December 2009 Experiential Train-the-Trainer! Disclaimers: Please Read Why Use Activities in Team or Leadership Training? Why Use Icebreakers? New to Experiential Facilitation? Read These Principles Tips for Getting Started Facilitator Tool: Process Leadership Grid - Archive Index - What Others Are Saying The sessions were well planned yet flexible enough to allow group dynamics to flow towards areas of need. Our facilitator made himself aware of the Department’s functions and issues prior to the retreats in order to custom the events to target our problems. I was informed of potential benefits and risks inherent in this process. Following each session, he called to give a synopsis and recommendations about the group on which to build the next retreat. Department Director read more... Find the Ball: An Exercise in FeedBack As part of Absolute Safety, 365^SM training, we teach participants the very crucial responsibility of taking accountability for one another, to the point that he or she will provide impromptu feedback whenever they notice either safe or at-risk behavior, to anyone in the organization. For the trainees to experience success, we then teach them how to give feedback, and we often start off with this activity to set the stage. OBJECTIVE: To experience different feedback "styles" and get a feel for the effects that they have upon the receiver. The lesson that you're trying to drive is how specific feedback that is delivered in a positive way really does impact someone's performance. TIME FRAME: 15 Minutes PROPS: one golf ball INSTRUCTIONS: Ask for 4 volunteers from the group. Copy their names onto a flipchart or white board, then inform them that they will be called back into the room one at a time to search for a golf ball. Ask them to leave the room. Coach the remaining participants about the process and their roles at each stage: Silent Feedback: when volunteer #1 enters the room, the participants are to remain completely silent and motionless. Negative Feedback: when volunteer #2 enters the room, all participants should give negative feedback, no matter how close or far away the searcher is from the ball. Be sensitive to your group, but instruct them to give the kind of negative feedback that they might hear back in the workplace when someone is dissatisfied with their performance (and with certain audiences - rig hands, for example - this gets kind of raw ... make sure you know your group). Participants should NOT respond to any requests for direction or assistance (except with derision). Positive Feedback: when volunteer #3 enters the room, all participants should give positive but non-specific feedback (e.g., "attaboy," "way to go," "I really like how you get after it," etc.), no matter how close or far away the searcher is from the ball. Participants should NOT respond to any requests for direction or assistance (except with further exclamations of "you can do it" or "we have faith in you"). Specific Feedback: when volunteer #4 enters the room, participants should provide specific hints and suggestions for finding the ball, without giving it away. They should respond to yes/no questions. Ask the group to help you choose which of the volunteers will receive the different types of feedback. Note that some individuals get upset with the negative feedback, even though it is a simulation. Ask your group which of the volunteers would have the least difficulty with the ribbing involved. Hide the golf ball. Invite the participants in one at a time. Each volunteer receives the prescribed feedback noted above. Silent: Hide the golf ball in a not-too-difficult location within the room. Allow 2-3 minutes for the search. Negative: choose a more difficult spot. Allow 2-3 minutes for the search. Positive but General: choose a more difficult spot. Allow 2-3 minutes for the search. Specific: choose a more difficult spot. Allow 2-3 minutes for the search. Debrief. Suggested process: ask the volunteers, one person at a time, in the order in which they came into the room ... How did you feel while looking for the ball? What did you think/feel as a result of the feedback you received? How did the feedback you received affect your performance? What did the feedback you received prompt you to think/feel about the other folk in the room who were giving it? If this was the type of feedback that you received every day, how do you think it would impact your desire and/or ability to keep yourself and your teammates safe. Train-the-Trainer Learn how to facilitate activities in ways that promote real learning and long-term behavior change Enhance your facilitation skills - learn from leading practitioners Experience the activities yourself! Click here to learn about our next Open Enrollment Train-the-Trainer course

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