E. Unfolding Before The Group

E.2. It's Obvious

This is a five-stage unfolding game which requires several leaders and is designed to bring out interactive unfolding between members of the group in a positive manner, in order to help them deepen their acquaintance through mutual respect and trust. The summation is after the first four rounds and the final round is to integrate the information and release tension.

Note: It is important to pay careful attention to the instructions about no personal inferences at the first stage and explain the different provisos carefully in each round.

Break into sub-groups of 4 or 5; each leader sits in a small circle with one of the groups.

Focus on one person (A), have each person in the group look at A and start a sentence with “It’s obvious that you…”. Make sure it is something obvious, like an item of clothing – no inferences allowed here.

Do the same for B, C, D, etc.

Start again, take a closer look, start a sentence with “I see that you…”.

This would be something that you might not notice at first glance, but only on looking more closely.
Go all the way around.

Start again with “I imagine that you…”. Here you are allowed guesses, inferences, wild imaginings.
Check the imaginings with the focal person: “Is that right?”

Discuss the experience in the small groups.

Join the large group for a round of “I discovered…”

Variation:
Do more imaginings about other people in your group.
Write down the imaginings.

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E.3. D.U.E. – Depth Unfolding Experience

This is a non-judgmental activity to allow group members to open up at their own pace in a small grouping, in the initial stages of group life. The feedback session is designed for closure of this process, while allowing the group to touch on the content discovered.

Groups of no more than eight should be formed. Each person has two or three minutes to talk about himself or herself, emphasizing those things he or she would particularly like new people to know about you. (No feedback is given at this time.)

Afterwards, create a group interview, or a feedback session giving first mpressions.

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E.4. I am a Shoe

This is a very comfortable, light-hearted exercise for group unfolding, because it is non-threatening and has a touch of the absurd. Its non-judgmental nature renders it suitable for use by almost any leader who can introduce it enthusiastically. The personalization of the exercise is very understated, but of great help in releasing witholding by group members and generating good feeling with trust.

Note that this exercise requires a reasonably furnished room and that the leader goes first.

Have group members sit silently, looking around the room.
Ask everyone to choose any object in the room and to think what it would be like to be that object.
Ask them to name three qualities it possesses (give your own example as: I am a shoe, I am warm, soft and comfortable.)
Group members now walk around the room introducing themselves that way and shaking hands.
The group now sits down, to think briefly about whether those qualities describe themselves in reality.
Everyone now gives their object their own name, and group members are asked to walk around introducing themselves that way. (Leader example: I am Susan, I am warm, soft and comfortable.)
Make a circle with the group and discuss the experience, doing a round of “I felt…”, or “I discovered…”

Variations:
Have group members write a story, or tell one aloud, as if they were the object.
Have group members find a partner and discuss these qualities, in relation to themselves and their partner.

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E.5. Partner Introductions

In addition to unfolding, this is a simple, but challenging, interpersonal trust exercise for new groups. Unfolding is self-defined and equitable, but the presentation phase can be very much like candid camera and reveal how much latent cooperation and goodwill exists in the group – or otherwise! For this reason, the exercise is most helpful in groups where the leader does not expect fireworks and when guided by facilitators who can navigate the unfolding with skill!

Note:
The existence of strong cliques might prevent members choosing partners from other sub-groups, but the facilitator can overcome this by being very encouraging at the outset.

Group members are asked to choose partners they don’t know very well. Ask the partners to introduce each other, centering on issues, or qualities they would like the other to know, but which they believe people may not know.

After an allotted period of time, have all participants sit in a circle and go around the circle, with partners introducing each other to the rest of the group.

Either at this point, or in a subsequent round, feedback is possible: Each person comments on the introduction on two counts:
- Did my partner present me as I presented myself?
- Were his/her perceptions different from mine?

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E.6. Group Interview

This is one of the feedback exercises mentioned elsewhere in the book, but its purpose here is to encourage volunteer group members to unfold some personal information and some of their ideas, which would not necessarily be shared by other members of the group at this stage. This can be a lengthy process, but all group members should be involved: the exercise is therefore most suitable for medium or long term programming, where it can be used in "instalments" during the earlier stages of group life. Variations on the format are more rapid and can be concluded with a round of "I discovered…".

The purpose of the questions is to get to know the person on a more than superficial level beyond biographical facts, e.g. by asking questions about thought, philosophy, opinions, feelings, etc. Questioners tend to become more skillful with experience. The facilitator should ensure that there is no invasion of privacy and can do so gently by asking the first questions, suggesting, "What about asking …?" or "Let's move on to…"

The group, for their part, is being guided to listen and accept, without arguing or criticizing the volunteers, which enhances their knowledge, quality of interaction and mutual respect.

Have the group sit in a circle and ask one volunteer to be the focus of the group and answer questions. Anyone may ask any questions of the focal person. He or she may answer honestly, or say “I’d rather not answer that.”, but the questioner and other members of the circle may not comment on any answers given.

A possible closing question is: “Is there something else you’d like us to know about you?”

Continue as long as group maintains interest; go around other members of the group at subsequent meetings or sessions.

Variations:
Do rounds of questions.
Do short interviews of several people.
Let everyone be the focus at once, asking each other questions.