Aim of the exercise:
• safe start to group work,
• training in self-presentation,
• reducing tension associated with first contact,
• encouraging participation from the beginning of the workshop,
• building familiarity and trust within the group.
Procedure:
Participants sit in a circle so that everyone can see and hear each other.
The facilitator briefly explains that the activity is designed to help participants get to know one another in a simple, structured, and low-pressure way.
The facilitator starts by introducing themselves and modelling the task with a short example. For instance:
- "My name is John. I enjoy cycling and listening to podcasts."
- "My name is John. I hope to learn new communication skills during this workshop."
Going around the circle, each participant states their name.
After introducing themselves, participants choose one of the following options:
- share two sentences about themselves,
- share one sentence about their expectations for the workshop.
Participants are encouraged to keep their statements brief and focus on information they feel comfortable sharing. Examples may include:
- hobbies or interests,
- favourite activities,
- personal strengths,
- reasons for attending the workshop,
- expectations or goals.
The activity continues until all participants have had an opportunity to contribute.
At the end of the round, the facilitator thanks the group and briefly acknowledges the diversity of experiences, interests, and expectations that have been shared.
Methodological tips:
• make it clear that a shorter statement is perfectly sufficient,
• remind participants that they may share only what they feel comfortable sharing,
• it is acceptable to read from a piece of paper or use a substitute statement (e.g. a symbol, drawing, or gesture),
• avoid commenting on or evaluating participants’ contributions,
• encourage attentive listening and respect while others are speaking,
• allow participants to pass if they do not wish to speak at that moment,
• model a simple, specific, and concise statement.
Possible adaptations:
• Participants can complete sentence starters such as:
- "One thing I enjoy is..."
- "One thing I am looking forward to is..."
• In pairs, participants can first share their statements with a partner before introducing themselves to the whole group.
• In online workshops, participants may write their sentence in the chat before sharing it aloud.
• For younger participants, drawings, objects, or gestures can be used instead of spoken sentences.