Here's an opening activity that takes very little time, requires no props, gets participants off their chairs, delivers powerful insights, and provides a metaphor for the impact of different perspectives among different people in a meeting.

Synopsis

Ask the participants to raise their hand, point to the ceiling, and rotate their index finger in a clockwise direction. Ask them to lower their finger (still pointing towards the ceiling) below their shoulder level. Like magic, their fingers are now rotating in a counterclockwise direction.

Purpose

To explore how your point of view determines what you see

Participants

Minimum: 1

Maximum: Any number

Best: 5–20

Time

3–10 minutes

Preparation

In order to get a feel for the impact of this activity, ask a friend to read these instructions as you follow them one step at a time. Alternatively, record these instructions in your smartphone, play them back, and follow them:

1. Please stand up.
2. Extend your right arm and point your index finger towards the ceiling.
3. Lower your hand by bending the elbow, still pointing to the ceiling with your right index finger. Lower your hand until it is below your shoulder level.
4. Raise your hand above your head and rotate your index finger in a large circle in a clockwise direction. Make sure that your right index finger is always pointing to the ceiling.
5. Bend your elbow and lower your hand. Keep your right index finger pointing towards the ceiling and rotating in a clockwise direction.
6. Continue lowering your hand until your index finger (still rotating) is below your shoulder level.
7. Ask, “What direction is your finger rotating now: clockwise or counterclockwise?”

If you followed the instructions correctly, you will see your index finger rotating in the counterclockwise direction. Hopefully, this surprises you.

Flow

Brief the participants. Get the attention of all the participants and invite them to follow your instructions carefully. Read the instructions (listed above) or give the instructions in your own words.

Conclude the activity. Act surprised when the direction of rotation has changed mysteriously. Tell the participants that you are going to give the instructions again to see if they can maintain a clockwise rotation.

Repeat the activity. Ask the participants to raise their hand above their head and rotate their index finger in a clockwise direction. Ask them to lower their hand (still pointing to the ceiling) to see if the same thing happens again.

Debrief the participants. Ask the participants for an explanation of the change in the direction of rotation. Steer the discussion to this conclusion: the finger continues rotating in the same direction, but our point of view changes. Initially we were looking at the rotating finger from the bottom. Later, we are looking at it from the top.

How does this relate? Continue the debriefing discussion by asking the participants to identify situations in which a change of perspective results in a radical change in perception.

Link to the Meeting

Increase your empathy. Ask the participants to remember the importance of changes in one's perspective. During the ensuing meeting, encourage the participants to frequently remind themselves of other people's perspectives.