Activities

Virtual Team Building Events

Activity Description

Activity Overview

This leadership competency is explored through brainstorming, working in dyads, and guided visualization.

Objectives

  • To define power.
  • To demonstrate the relationship between power and self–concept.
  • To identify positive and negative views we have of ourselves and how this impacts others.
  • To recognize that personal power comes from within.
  • To identify ways we give away power.
  • To identify ways to enhance personal power.

Training Methods

  • Self-assessment
  • Discussions
  • Dyads
  • Brainstorming
  • Guided Visualization

Materials Needed

  • Attached documents Exploring One’s Personal Power, Sunshine and Clouds
  • Posters or pictures of some well-known people who represent power
  • Flip charts and easels
  • Colorful markers

Room Setup

Chairs and enough space to form dyads and reform for total group discussions.

Leaders have power, want power, use power and, hopefully, find ways to share power, give power and develop power in others. Power should not be viewed as a manipulative or “bad” aspect of leadership. Power and self-concept go hand in hand. Integrity with regard to the use of power is firmly based on a clear understanding of one’s own power.

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Put the word “Power” on the flipchart. Ask, “what is your definition of personal power, as used in a business context?” Write the participants’ answers on the flipchart. Possible answers might include:
    – “Power is the ability to make and carry out decisions over time.”
    – “Power is the ability to meet a need through access to and use of
    resources.”
  2. Ask, “How do you feel about your own power?” Write “Power Means. . . .” on the flipchart. Elicit responses and write key words on the flipchart.
  3. Distribute the Handout 25.1, Exploring My Personal Power, and ask participants to complete it in approximately 10 minutes. Remind them to “be as honest and open as they can be in completing the questions. Also, to try to always think of business examples.”
  4. Form dyads and ask them to share some of the insights from what they wrote on the handout. Allow a few to report back to the group as a whole.
  5. Ask them to look at the posters or pictures of famous leaders you have on the wall and then to stand by the one that represents a powerful person to them. Solicit reasons why they think these people are powerful. Write key responses on the flipchart.
  6. Ask, “Give me examples of a powerless person and explain your choice.” Write key responses on the flipchart. Ask someone to volunteer to stand or sit as a powerless person would. Then, ask her or him to stay in that position and have the others comment.
  7. Then ask a second volunteer to stand or sit like a powerful person. While holding this stance, ask for comments. Some answers might include: The person acts confidently. The body takes up ‘space.’ He or she stands firmly with both feet. The face may have controlled facial expression; alert but not highly emotional. Ask them to share the answer to this question on the same day. “Which type of person do you want to be and why?”
  8. Ask, “Do you know what your power is dependent upon?” Solicit some answers until someone suggests that one connection is self-concept. Distribute attached Handout, Sunshine and Clouds. Silently each person writes one to three beliefs that relate to personal power, beliefs that they hold about themselves for each of the following categories:
    i. Intellectual
    ii. Physical
    iii. Emotional
    iv. Spiritual

    When they are done, ask them to evaluate each belief:
    “Is it positive? And if so, draw a sun next to it.”
    “Is it negative? And if so, draw a cloud next to it.”
    In dyads, ask them to discuss:
    1. Are your beliefs about yourself mostly positive or negative?
    2. How do positive beliefs impact your use of personal power?
    3. How do your negative beliefs impact your use of personal power?
    In the total group, solicit sample answers to those three questions.

  9. Form two groups and have each stand by a piece of chart paper on the wall. Ask one person in each group to be the Recorder. Designate one group as the group that gives away power and the second group as the one that utilizes power appropriately. Ask each group to brainstorm for ten minutes and then offer examples that fit ways they either give away power or the ways they use power appropriately.
  10. Ask the group who identified ways we give away power to share their list and examples. Some ways might include:
    Discount self.
    Don’t take responsibility.
    Personal appearance.
    Ways we stand.
    Talk with a quiet tone.
    Nonassertive language.
    Use of “I can’t,” “I should.”
    Limits one’s options.
    Fails to ask.
    Procrastinates.
    It doesn’t plan carefully.
    Failure to keep commitments.
    Gestures like hand over mouth.
    Cries publicly.
    Yells and other rude behavior.
  11. Ask the group that identified ways we exercise power to share its list and examples. Some ways might include:

    Believe in yourself.
    Say what you want.
    Use knowledge to back up what you say.
    Be consistent.
    Do what you say you’ll do.
    Accept responsibility.
    Accept mistakes.
    Remain open to options and alternative ideas.
    Take risks.
    Be good to yourself.
    Don’t avoid conflicts.
    Plan.
    Strategize before acting.
    Trust your intuition.

  12. Ask participants to think about three ways they will utilize their personal power more. Ask them to write them on the bottom blank part of their Exploring My Personal Power handout.
  13. When they are done writing, lead them in a guided visualization. Do this slowly so they have time to imagine themselves. “Get in a comfortable position and close your eyes. In your mind, see yourself on a stage in a large auditorium filled with people. You are a powerful person so I want you to say silently three times ‘I am a powerful person’.
    – “What are your wearing and how are you standing?
    – “See yourself giving a presentation based on a topic where you have a lot of knowledge. – “How is the audience responding?
    – “How do you feel?
    – “Slowly open your eyes and look at all of the powerful people in this room.”

    Ask them to all stand-up and give each other a “standing ovation!”

Activity Review

Take time shortly after conducting this activity to reflect on how it went, how engaged the participants were, and what questions they raised. Then, make notes that include how much time you actually spent on the activity.

Give Me Some Power

Basic Details
Property Type : Team Building
Listing Type : Placeholder
Activity Type : Team Building
Focus On : Communication, Having Fun, Leadership
Outcome Based : Yes
Facilities : Indoor
Props Required : Minor
Duration : 26+ minutes
Exertion Level : Low
Group Size : 1 - 8, 9 - 16, 17 - 30
Age : Adults
Attachments