D. Dissolving Group Tensions

D.2. Resent and Appreciate

This is not a run of the mill game, but a highly crucial tool to address specific experiences and draw the threads together again in a positive manner.
When used to dissolve tension, the emphasis should be on checking the group pulse after the second round and using it to encourage the group.

The exercise can also be used for evaluation purposes throughout any course, or group work, when the facilitator may also wish to review the outcomes by noting them down and analysing them with the group.

Have the group sit in a circle and explain the procedure in a light-hearted manner:
- Ensure that everyone understands the meaning of both words – resent, appreciate – and that the purpose is to relate to the activity just completed, or an experience in the group.
- During someone else's statement, no one is allowed to comment.
- Anyone is allowed to say “I pass,” which means “No comment.”
- Anyone can say “I resent nothing,” or “I appreciate nothing.”

Each person makes a statement beginning with. I resent…
Repeat the round, beginning with. I appreciate…

Top

D.3. Gripes Auction

This is a good non-specific ventilation exercise for tension, but the trick is to keep it light-hearted, encourage a fair amount of noisy competition - and not to let it get tedious: not all the gripes need to be sold.

Cards or pieces of paper should be prepared in advance with each gripe (listed below) written as a separate card.
Pencils and paper should be distributed to all the participants.
All the gripes are read out first, so that participants can decide on what to bid.
The leader then holds a series of these cards, each featuring a different gripe, and begins putting them up for auction, in a light-hearted manner.
Each person has 100 points to spend. A sheet of paper should be reserved to note "buyers" and the "sale price" for each gripe, so that no-one spends more points than he or she has. Buyers, of course, receive the gripe cards they have purchased.
When the auction is over, those who hold cards explain why their particular gripe is important and how it affects their lives.

List of Gripes

Variation:
Brainstorm the group's own list of gripes and work with that, instead of the above. No personality types from the group, please…