A collection of our most memorable “check-in” activities at HopeLab, used to kick off and close staff meetings and retreats. The exercises are simple tools we use to help create quality connections between our staff.

1. Checkin DECK
an invitation for
presence and connection
Chris Marcell Murc hison
arc Murc his
chiso
Vice e s i ent o Sta f e velopme nt
Vi ce P re si d e nt f or Sta ff D evel ment
a
and Cu lt ure
Cult
t
HopeLab
p

2. why this project?
contents
AC T I V I T I E S
getting acquainted
01 – 05
inviting presence
06 – 10
diving deeper
11 – 15
reflecting and closing
16 – 19
about Chris

3. why this project?
Check-ins are powerful catalysts.
They can shift a group’s energy,
deepen relationships, help a team
lean into a difficult issue, spark
creativity, engage individual and
collective purpose, incite joyfulness,
and so much more.
Check-in activities are an invitation
to connect with ourselves, connect
with each other, and settle into the
moment and the task at hand.
They are an essential practice for
culture building.
At HopeLab, we experiment with creating a
culture where the whole person is nurtured.
We believe that under the right conditions –
an environment of purpose, connection, control,
integrity, learning, and joy – the exquisite humans
in our organization have the opportunity to thrive
and, as a result, our business will too. It just might be
that the workplace has the greatest potential to
improve how we relate to each other, transforming
the workplace and, by extension, the world.
What you have before you is a collection of our
most creative and memorable check-in activities at
HopeLab, divided into four categories: Getting
Acquainted, Inviting Presence, Diving Deeper, and
Reflecting and Closing.
We offer this deck as an invitation for you to
transform your own workplace. Check-ins are
a great first step!
Let us know what you learn and how you experiment
with and improve upon our ideas. Enjoy!

4. a note on
facilitation
This is a collection of check-in
activties that we have borrowed,
customized or designed for our
own use. I expect you will want to
do the same.
Every group dynamic is unique,
with different players, needs and
interests. You know your group
best – their personalities, balance
of extraversion / introversion,
openness, willingness to take risks,
etc. So, mold these activities to
your group’s needs.
My advice to facilitators is this:
Ease in. Similar to a social gathering, people often
benefit from some simple structure to help them feel
comfortable and safe, to open up, and to meaningfully
connect with each other.
Innovate. Re-craft or revise the activities to meet the
needs of your group.
Improvise. Experiment and have fun with it! It’s not
world peace, it’s a check-in activity! Take some risks,
make some mistakes, be willing to shift course. Most
importantly, play around with the ideas and have fun.
You’ll be amazed at the energy you’ll unleash!
Engage. Try to engage multiple senses. If an
experience can connect to the head, heart and gut
participants are more likely to experience it in a
deeper way.
Bring it! Bring your whole self to these activities. It is
not about perfection, it is about showing up and
being your most creative self. In this way you and your
activities will be more compelling.

5. AC T I V I T I E S
01
02
03
04
05
i am...
fortune teller
jeffry’s fabrics
a welcoming exercise
concentric circles
Many people are a little bashful in groups, particularly when they are new.
This shyness often translates to hesitance, awkwardness and reticence. When
multiplied, it can make a group experience less collaborative, less productive
and downright painful. Introducing some structured activities to help group
members get acquainted can make all the difference. Creating space for this
connection can open the doorway for greater openness, trust and interest and
allow your group to thrive.
getting acquainted

6. T OOL S
HAN D OU TS
P ENS
PEN
PE S
No.
i am...
getting acquainted
01

7. i am...
getting
acquainted
N o.
01
Many acquaintance exercises stop at
“silly.” Being in a new group can be
uncomfortable and icebreakers experienced
as nerve wracking, so it can be tempting to
hurry through them or to keep them
superficial. However, in our experience,
if you push through discomfort you are
likely to learn so much more about your
peers / colleagues and even yourself.
I have used this exercise a couple of times at HopeLab and
with great success. It’s fun and invites self-reflection, inquiry
and connection through new, shared insights.
1
Create handouts that are 10 sentence completions – all
starting with “I am
.”
2
Distribute the handouts and pens and give participants
3-5 minutes to complete all 10 sentences (typically, as you
progress you get beyond the obvious responses and begin to
reveal more interesting or meaningful things about yourself).
If this is a new group, or one with some new members, the
first “I am
” can be completed with the person’s name.
3
Have participants mingle silently about the room for 3-5
minutes, looking at each other’s lists. Participants can hold up
their lists in front of them as shown in the photo.
4
Then ask participants to find a partner, share his/her list
and allow the listener to ask questions to learn more.
5
After both partners have shared (3 - 5 minutes in total), ask
participants to find a new partner and repeat the exercise.
6
Complete as many rounds as time allows.

8. T OOL S
DESI GN ED,
N
PRI NTE D AN D
E
F OL D E D
L
FOR T UNE
OR
T ELL ER S
For a copy of our
template, go to
our blog post at
blog.hopelab.org
(May 31, 2012)
1
2
No.
3
4
fortune teller
5
6
7
8
getting acquainted
9
02

9. fortune teller
getting
acquainted
We created this exercise for the 2012
Wisdom 2.0 Business conference in San
Francisco. The intention was to creatively
help the 400+ participants connect with
each other and experience the value of
check-in exercises.
N o.
02
This exercise is a “riff” off of a childhood game called
Fortune Teller or Cootie Catcher. We crafted this exercise,
full of fun and provocative questions, to help conference
attendees meet and get acquainted. Fortune Teller design
templates and folding instructions are easily available online.
To play:
1
Have one partner (A) hold the Fortune Teller.
2
The other partner (B) chooses one of the outer words.
Our outer words were values.
3
Partner A spells out the word, opening and closing the
Fortune Teller horizontally then vertically with each letter as
they spell out the word.
4
When finished spelling the word, four inner words will be
revealed. Partner B chooses one of them. Our inner words
were emotions.
5
Partner A lifts up that panel and reveals and reads the
question there that relates to the chosen emotion.
6
Partner B responds and thus ensues a fun “get to know
you” conversation!
If time allows, instructing participants to fold their own
Fortune Tellers would be a fun addition to this exercise.

10. T OOL S
ASS O R T ED
FA B RI C
A
S A M PLE S
No.
jeffry’s fabrics
getting acquainted
03

11. jeffry’s fabric
getting
acquainted
N o.
03
We always begin our HopeLab board
meetings with a check-in exercise.
Since we only meet a few times each year,
the check-ins are a nice opportunity to
re-connect with each other. Jeffry, a
businessman and interior designer who
serves on our board, devised this
wonderful exercise.
1
Collect a diverse selection of fabric samples.
Spread them out on your meeting table.
2
Ask participants to choose one they like.
3
In a go-round, have participants share what appealed
to t
them about the particular fabric they chose (its pattern,
texture, etc.) and how this fabric might represent something
text
about them or their role in the group.
abo
Note
Note: When we did this exercise, one participant creatively drew upon
the li of materials and other information (like fire retardance) on the back
list
of the fabric sample label for inspiration. Delightful!

12. getting
acquainted
a welcoming
exercise
N o.
04
In any organization the introduction and orientation
of new team members is an important and highly
leveraged opportunity. Take advantage of it! Doing
this well allows for quick connection, immersion and
productivity. Our Research and Product Development
team came up with a fun way to do this.
After general introductions by all team members, have
each existing staff member introduce themselves and share
the following:
N
No.
No
a welcoming
exercise
getting acquainted
04
1
2
Share 1 or 2 things you have learned at work.
Share 1 or 2 things that you do in your role that you
never expected.
3
Name a “super-power” of one other person in the group,
something they do really well and seemingly effortlessly.
This exercise has been an effective way to introduce
new staff members to the areas of expertise of their new
colleagues. It is also a great way to illuminate for all team
members the amazing talents in the group.

13. T OOL S
CHI ME O R
I
BEL L
This is a fun activity which allows for a
maximum number of introductions in a
short amount of time. I like this exercise
because the questions can be tailored
to the group – focusing on basic
introductions or infused with more
serious questions related to the content
of your meeting or questions designed
to elicit deeper sharing.
No.
concentric
circles
getting acquainted
ing cq int
05

14. getting
acquainted
concentric
circles
N o.
05
Some Sample Questions
What vegetable do you most resemble?
Which of the four seasons do you most enjoy?
1
Divide the group into two.
2
Create two circles, with equal numbers of people,
one inner and one outer - the inner circle facing outward
and the outer circle facing inward. Each person should be
opposite and paired with one other.
3
The facilitator poses the first question to the
group. Each person in a pair takes turns answering the
question. The listening partner does so actively,
asking questions for clarification or deeper understanding
where appropriate.
4
After about 5 minutes close the conversations (a
chime or non-offensive bell is handy) and then ask the
inner circle to rotate clockwise by 3-5 people so they are
facing a new partner.
5
Pose the second question and so on.
6
Conduct as many rounds as time allows.
If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month,
which show would you choose?
You can cast any actor alive or dead to play you in a film
about your life. Whom would you cast in the role?
If you could have one superpower, which would
you choose?
What’s the first thing you notice about someone when
you meet them?
If you could be any age again for one week, what age
would you be?
If you could have another occupation for one week, what
occupation would you choose?
What was your favorite toy as a kid?
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
If you could have personally witnessed one event in
history, what would you want to have seen?
What did you want to grow up to be when you were little?

15. AC T I VI T I ES
06 a tea exercise
6
s
07 energy check-i
7
-in
08 seuss
seu
09 pot-shots
o10 pain a postcard
int
in
In our busy worlds of work tasks and projects, email, texting, cell phones,
etc., it is easy to be distracted when entering a meeting. Our minds can
continue to race with distracting thoughts throughout the meeting. Bringing
attention to this, and creating an opportunity for group members to “press
the pause button,” can help them focus their attention and be present
for the task at hand and to the relationships in the room. As a result, your
meeting is likely to be more engaging and yield greater results.
inviting presence

16. T OOL S
TEA BALL S
D ECO RATI VE
B OXES,
AS SOR TED
TEA
Our President, Pat Christen, asked
e i
d
me to create and facilitate a check-in
i
exercise for a Board meeting –
i
something centered around tea or a tea
e
t
e
ceremony. This is what I came up with!
e
y
s
t
PUN
[
ZJ
WP
LL
VY
3VYLT PWZT
KVSV
Y ZP[
HT
ZLK KPHT UVU
L[
TT`
JV
UPIO
UZ
LPZ
LJ
[L[
TV
L
K[
YH
PUJ
KP
PK
U[
[
SH
PRI NT E D T EA
T
QUO TES
O E
No.
a tea exercise
inviting presence
g
06

17. a tea exercise
inviting
presence
N o.
Share a memory your tea inspires –“This tea
reminds me of
.”
06
7
In closing, invite participants to make and enjoy a
cup of “their” tea sometime in the near future and be
reminded of the exercise and their inspired memory.
1
Prepare small boxes that contain tea balls filled with
a variety of fragrant teas. Wrap each tea ball in tissue
paper and place one in each box along with a tea-related
quote (see samples quotes). I like to use a decorative box,
wrapped beautifully, so it looks curious and inviting.
2
Sample Tea-Related Quotes
Start by asking participants to take three deep
breaths – to “press the pause button” on any distracting
thoughts and to bring focus and attention to the exercise.
As a practice, tea can be a source of pleasure for a lifetime. It is a way
to focus, to center. In a world constantly telling you to hurry up, it is the
easiest way to slow down. – Norwood Pratt, New Tea Lovers Treasury
3
Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cozy,
doesn’t try it on. – Billy Connolly (Actor)
Ask participants to notice the box in front of them.
Then invite them to unwrap and open their box.
4
Have participants quietly read the quote inside.
5
Then have participants hold the tea ball to their
nose and take in the aroma of their tea. Ask them to
quietly reflect on what they smell and what memories
are evoked.
6
...She had that brand of pragmatism that would find her the first
brewing tea after Armageddon. – Clive Barker, Weave-World
In a go-round, ask participants to:
Read aloud their quote.
Describe the aroma of their tea.
Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. And whoever this “Earl Grey” fellow is, I’d like
to have a word with him… – Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek
Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of
solitude and the pleasures of company. – Author Unknown
There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished
by a nice cup of tea. – Bernard-Paul Heroux (Philosopher)
May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea
beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you and
all your heart might desire. – Old Irish Blessing

18. T OOL S
QUESTI ONS
S
ON A
HAN DOU T O R
U OR
F LI PCH AR T
CHAR
(OP TI O NAL )
NAL)
Several years ago, we began
e
r
g
experimenting with a wellness program
x
e
at HopeLab called HOGS (health and
e
e
h
other good stuf f ). The program
u
g
focuses on engagement and energy
e
g
n y
management in four dimensions –
a
n n
physical, emotional, mental and
s
m
a
spiritual energy.
i
g
No.
energy
check-in
inviting presence
g
07

19. inviting
presence
energy
check-in
N o.
07
Periodically, we find it helpful for staff to
check-in on how they are managing and
investing their physical, emotional,
mental and spiritual energy. The following
are some questions we’ve posed for this
purpose, some of them drawn from the
book The Power of Full Engagement, by
wer Full Engagement,
u
g
m t
Jim Loehr and Tony Schwar tz.
d Tony Schwartz.
o
Who am I becoming? Do I feel a sense of purpose today?
Where? How? What rituals might I create that would give me
a greater sense of meaning in my life?
What am I thinking? What is in my head? Is there a pattern to
the thoughts in my busy mind? Am I able to maintain focus
or am I consistently distracted? How might I bring more focus
to my attention?
What am I feeling? What emotion/s am I feeling right now?
How consistent with my personal values are my emotional
responses in any given situation? Are my responses
different at work than at home? If so, how? How much negative energy am I experiencing – defensiveness,
frustration, anger*, fear, resentment, envy? How might I
redirect this energy in a more positive direction?
What am I sensing? How does my body feel right now?
What physical sensations do I notice? How are the choices I
am making – my habits of nutrition, exercise, sleep, and the
balance of stress and recovery – affecting my physical
energy? What choices might help me maximize my physical
energy to fuel my engagement and my goals?
* Note – anger is not necessarily a negative emotion! In fact, the
expression of anger can sometimes be highly creative, supportive
and beneficial for self and others.

20. T OOL S
seuss
inviting
presence
QUO
QU TE
CAR DS
ARDS
inviting presence
08
In our 2012 strategic plan, presented to our Board,
HopeLab’s Management Team got creative and used
Dr. Seuss’s Horton as a muse to tell the story of our
work for the coming year. As a check-in for the board
meeting I collected a variety of Dr. Seuss quotes (there
are hundreds available online!) and created cards out
of them. We spread the cards out on the meeting table
and conducted the following exercise:
No.
seuss
N o.
08
Ask participants to browse the selection and pick two cards:
One to describe how they are feeling at year’s end
and another that reflects their thoughts or feelings
about the year ahead.
In a go-round, have participants read each quote then
describe why they chose it.
For us, this exercise proved to be a creative and meaningful
opportunity for reflection and sharing, perfect for a year-end
planning meeting.
While Seuss quotes worked for us, any collection of funny,
provocative or inspiring quotes would work well. You could
also use this exercise at any time of the year to inspire
thoughtful reflection.

21. T OOL S
pot-shots
inviting
presence
POT-S HOT
CAR DS
N o.
09
Over the course of 40 years, Ashleigh Brilliant has
produced a vast archive of original thoughts, each
one expressed in 17 words or less. He calls his cards
“Pot-Shots” or “Brilliant Thoughts” and they are
designed to “hit” you in your heart, brain or funny
bone - or perhaps all three. He has amassed a
collection of over 10,000 cards to date and they can
be ordered at ashleighbrilliant.com.
No.
09
We have our own box of Pot Shot cards (a very large one) and
use them regularly. They are a creative way to access people’s
thoughts and feelings. Here’s how we use them:
1
pot-shots
inviting presence
Scatter an assortment of cards on your meeting table
and ask participants to pick one that says something about
them, something they are willing to share with the group.
To set more context, the instruction could include how people
are feeling in general today; how they are feeling about work
today; about the week/month/year ahead; about a particular
team dynamic or the status of a project; etc. Allow 3-5
minutes for participants to choose a card.
2
In a go-round, have participants read their card aloud and
then share with the group why they selected it.

22. TOO LS
inviting
presence
WAT ERC OLO R
PAI N T S ET S
painting a
postcard
N o.
10
In crafting an exercise, it is often helpful to think about
the use of different senses and imagery, not just words,
to tap into everyone’s creativity.
WAT ERC OLO R
T C
P OS TCA RDS
S
Pat Christen concocted this exercise as a board meeting
check-in with the caveat that “no talent is required.” With this
disclaimer, we all painted away and, not surprisingly, produced
some lovely art! The process was quite joyful. Pat then mailed
the cards to each of us at the address we provided. Receiving
the postcard in the mail several weeks later was a sweet
reminder of the exercise and of our time together.
PEN S
E
No.
POS TAG
PO S TA E
T
TAGE
S TAMP S
paint a postcard
inviting presence
10
1
Gather watercolor postcards and small watercolor sets.
Have these, plus small cups of water and paper towels, at
each participant’s place setting.
2
Pose the following question to the group for inspiration:
Coming into this meeting, how do you intend to “show up” or
be present?
3
Have participants draw/paint their response to this
question. (10-15 minutes)
4
When completed, in a go-round, have participants share
their postcards and describe what they created and its
significance to them.
5
At the end of the exercise, have participants self-address
their postcards. Collect and mail them at a later date of
your choosing.

23. AC T I VI T I ES
11 give an authentic gift
n cg
12 engagi the spirit
ging
p rit
13 busy
14 st
story spine
n
15 finding your genius
5 n
u
s
When a group has been working together for a while and is well
acquainted, there is an opportunity to create even deeper and more
meaningful connections. Taking this opportunity requires greater risk
for group members but offers greater reward.
diving deeper

24. give an
authentic gift
diving deeper
N o.
11
We have been experimenting a lot with the power of
improvisation. I crafted this exercise as an opportunity
for group participants to acknowledge and appreciate
each other.
1
2
Gather participants in a circle.
Have the group take a moment to be still with each
other. A short breathing exercise is useful, e.g., have the
group breathe in and out together, each to the count of five.
No .
o
give an
authentic gift
diving deeper
e
11
3
Have participants consider the person on their left – How
have you experienced this person so far in the group’s time
together? What have you observed? What have you learned?
What seems important to him/her? What have you seen this
person struggle with?
4
With the above in mind, craft an imaginary gift to give to
this person.
5
To demonstrate, start with yourself, and give your
imaginary gift to the person on your left, acting out the
process of giving it and describing the gift and why you chose
it to give.
6
Continue the gift giving around the circle until the last gift
is given to you.

25. T O OL S
D EC ORAT IV E
O R N A M EN T
O R B OX
PA P E R
PE
PEN
No.
12
engaging
the spirit
diving deeper
i
e r
In our health and wellness program at
HopeLab, we pay specific attention to the
ways we invest and use energy physically,
emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. A
long-time friend and organization consultant, Susan Edsall, created this “spirit”
exercise as part of one of our staff retreats.
The personal notes produced in the
exercise were stuffed into handmade
ceramic ornaments for safekeeping. The
ornament could be broken open at some
future point to reveal and remind you
reveal
remind you
future
e
of your reflections. Our beautiful clay
clay
your reflections. Our
e i
ornaments were crafted by our artist friend
ornaments
e
e crafted by our artist friend
s r
Sheri Jarvis (sherimjarvis.com) but any
Jarvis (sherimjarvis.com) but any
r
.
decorative container could be used.
decorative
e a
r could be used.

26. engaging
the spirit
diving deeper
1
Set the context for the exercise. Referencing our
clay ornaments, we made the analogy that these
beautiful objects were once just a lump of wet brown
clay, but were turned into objects of beauty through
the devoted attention of the artist - thinking of the
shape, forming the clay, carving it, firing the ornament,
glazing it and firing it again. It is a detailed and lengthy
process, riddled at various times with error, excitement,
tedium, exploration, discovery, satisfaction,
disappointment, and discipline.
The same is true of the intention we bring to our
own lives.
2
Ask participants to commit to 30 minutes of
continued “free writing” with no editing or criticism
allowed. Assure them that they will not be asked to
share anything that they write unless they want to.
The free writing stem is:
“The purpose of my life is....”
N o.
12
3
Participants should respond to this sentence
stem over and over again with various versions or
possibilities until they start hitting on something that
really rings true. They might feel a surge of energy
or emotion at that moment.
4
At the end of the 30-minute free-write, have
participants choose a piece of origami paper or other
lightweight paper and write their clarified purpose
statement on it. Then they should roll the paper into a
tight scroll and put it in the hole of the ornament or in
the container you have provided.
5
Encourage participants to place their ornament
wherever they can see it daily or in a place that is of
special significance so it reminds them of the exercise
and of their life purpose and the kind of intention that
is necessary to bring it to pass.
Insert purpose here.

27. T OOL S
busy
diving deeper
QUE S TI ONS
UES T NS
E
O
ON A
HAN DOU T O
ANDOU OR
D
DO
F LI PCH AR T
L PC
C
(OP TI O N AL)
I
P EN
No.
diving deeper
13
Over the course of one year, I noticed a pattern of staff
remarking about how “busy” they were, and not always
in a good way. I was curious about this, about the cause
of this busy-ness, how we might be creating these
burdensome conditions ourselves, and how we might
un-busy ourselves to create a more intentional and
satisfying workload and life.
PAP ER
PA PER
A
busy
N o.
13
I crafted the following questions after reflecting upon my own
busy-ness. I posed these questions for individual reflection
and then group discussion in a Management Team meeting
during a strategic planning session. The intent was to be sure
we (individually and collectively) were not creating completely
unattainable goals for the year ahead.
What is your relationship to being busy?
What might you get out of being busy?
How do you know when you are too busy, when you
have slipped from being busy to being overwhelmed?
How might others know or recognize when you are
too busy?
What are the consequences of being too busy?
What typically gets back-burnered when you are busy?
What might be the consequences of that – for you? Your
colleagues? The organization?

28. In the summer of 2011, I took part in
an intensive four-day improvisation
workshop. In it I discovered the
powerful principles of improv and
how they apply not only on the stage
but in life.
T OOL S
story spine
diving deeper
story spine
diving deeper
No.
14
14
We used a version of this exercise in a staff retreat, as
a way to illuminate how easy it is to create unhelpful
stories about situations in the workplace and in life.
The Story Spine exercise can help you uncover the
impact of your stories.
1
2
QUE S TI ONS
U
O
ON
ON A
HAN DOU T O
N
U OR
F LI P CHA R T
A
(OP TI O N AL)
P
N o.
Divide the group into triads.
Have each person share a story following the outline
below. Stories about a conflict or something that “bugs” you
are particularly useful and instructive.
Once upon a time…
It was…
So every day…
And because of that...
And because of that…
And because of that…
Until finally…
And the moral of this story is…
3
After each person has shared a story, the triad can
debrief with the following inquiry:
Is this story a familiar one in your life? How?
How does telling this story help you? How might it not
be helpful?
4
After each triad has completed their storytelling and
debriefing, discuss the exercise in the larger group by asking
for any reflections, ah-ha’s or things learned.

29. T OOL S
AR T
POS TCA R DS ,
OSTCA RDS
S T CA
QU
QUE STI ONS
S
ON A
HANDOU
HAN OU T O R
F LI PCH R T
CHAR
(OP I NA
(O P TI O NAL )
OP
O
NA
PAP ER
AP
A R
PAP R
PAP ER
No
No.
finding your
genius
diving deeper
15
The purpose behind this exercise is to
p
h
s
provide a means for par ticipants to identify
v
s
a
o d
their “genius” through a process of discovery.
h i
s
g
r
We craf ted a series of tasks to help people
d
i
a
o
p
illuminate times and activities when they felt
t
they were in “flow” (a term coined by Mihaly
h y
fl ”
e
o d
l
Csíkszentmihályi). Flow is a state of
í
t
w
t f
concentration or complete absorption with an
n
r o
m l
o
o
n
ac tivity, so much that you might ignore or
y
c
u i
r
forget about time, eating, etc. It is a time
g
b t m
i , c
m
when you are completely involved in an
e
m
e
o d
ac tivit y for its own sake and you’re using your
c vt
r
w a
n o e n
skills to the utmost.
i s
h t o
When you are in flow there is a freedom to
n u e
w e
r
o
express, to just be, without fear of external
s o
t
r
motivation or judgment. In this space you are
a
d
i
a
r
likely to be expressing genius, the natural
x
s g
u h
talents or gifts you have.
s
This exercise is designed to help you discover
r
e
d
u
your genius and how you might create
w
r
oppor tunities to express it even more!
p
e

30. finding your
genius
diving deeper
N o.
15
1
Ask participants to reflect on times in their lives when
they were in a state of “flow.”
To help, think about specific periods of life –
First decade - Birth to 10 years
Second decade - 11 to 20 years
Third decade - 21 to 30 years
Fourth decade - 31 to 40 years
Fifth decade - 41 to 50 years
4
On the back of the art card, participants
should write down what they see as the
thread between their flow experiences?
These might be:
A common activity
Common kind of companion
Certain skills or talents being used
A certain kind of motivation
A shared emotion
5
What is the genius being expressed?
6
In small groups (no more than 4 people):
Share the common characteristics you discovered
about your “flow” experiences (share as much/little as
you like)
For each decade, write down things you did that were
a “flow” experience. Write down as many as you can
think of.
What does this imply about your genius?
2
In what ways might you use your genius more?
Scatter a variety of art postcards on the floor.
For postcards, go for the greatest diversity you can find –
art genres, subject matter, etc.
Note - others in the group should listen attentively and
then respond to what they have heard – Does what you
have heard make sense to you, given how you know
this person? What might you add?
3
Ask participants to
choose an art card from
the floor that seems to
represent all that they
just wrote down.
7
In the large group, have participants share what struck
them as interesting or helpful in this exercise.

31. AC T I VI T I ES
16 letter t se f
6
er to self
17 o
17 you are.
e...
18 i
18 in a box
19 one19 on -word-a a-time wisdom
d-at-a- m
s
Providing space at the end of a meeting or retreat for reflection allows for
learning and creates an opportunity for participants to think about how
they can apply and sustain what they have learned. It is a powerful pause
that supports impact.
reflecting and closing

32. T OOL S
E NEVE L OPES
E
PAPER S
Sometimes in meetings or retreats, the
m n
day ends with some learning to practice
i
or some goal to achieve. A check-out
c
ko t
exercise can remind and encourage
e
a
par ticipants of these intentions.
a
PEN
No.
letter to self
reflecting and closing
fl
g
o g
16

33. letter to self
reflecting and
closing
N o.
16
In one particular staff retreat, our group
spent time discovering our “genius,”
our individual core talents, and reflecting
on how we can express this more in our
personal lives and work. We ended the day
with this exercise:
1
Imagine you see yourself as a child standing
before you.
2
Given our work today, and what you have learned
about your self and your genius, what advice would you
give to unleash this child’s (your) genius?
3
Write down what you’d say on the provided card.
When done, insert the card in an envelope and address it
to yourself.
4
Facilitator – collect the envelopes from everyone and
mail them at a future date of your choosing.
Below is a reaction from one of our staff members to
receiving her card to herself months later:
“On my refrigerator door hangs the note I wrote to my child
self at the retreat. I wrote that note at a time in my life when
I was struggling with a major life decision, and I knew I was in
for a challenging road ahead, no matter the decision I made.
Writing that note was a powerful exercise in the moment –
it helped me to ground myself in love and let the decisions
I was struggling with flow from this space. And then to read it
a few weeks ago, wow. What a blessing and a reminder that
despite how painful a situation can be, when rooted in love,
it’s all worth it. ”

34. T OOL S
you are...
reflecting and
closing
ONE PO STE R
NE POSTE
PER PE RSO N
E
N o.
17
This exercise is a nice follow-up to the “I am” check-in
activity. At the end of a meeting or retreat, this exercise
is a nice way for participants to affirm each other.
1
Create posters, one for each participant, with their name
at the top.
PE N/ M ARK ER
MARK
2
Tape the posters around the room, allowing ample space
between posters.
No.
you are...
reflecting and closing
fl ci
17
3
Distribute pens or markers and instruct participants to
make their way around the room, writing an affirmation
for each team member. Depending upon the content of your
meeting, this exercise could be framed in different ways:
A skill, strength or competency observed
A contribution this person has made to the team
Something you appreciate about the person
4
The length of the exercise will depend upon the number
of participants. A helpful formula might be 30 seconds
multiplied by the total number of participants.
5
At the end of the exercise, have participants take down
their poster and review the comments their peers have made.
6
The exercise might be debriefed as a large group,
asking participants to share what it was like to write the
comments and to receive them.

35. T OOL S
in a box
reflecting and
closing
BOX, RANDOM
O BJ E CT S
(MORE THAN
NUMBER OF
PAR TI C I PA N TS )
N o.
18
I love this exercise. It is so random and so interesting
to see what people come up with!
1
Collect a variety of random, varied objects and place
them in a box.
2
At the close of your meeting, have each participant
blindly select an item from the box.
No.
18
3
Instruct participants to reflect on how their chosen object
might represent what they learned in the meeting or how they
will use the meeting’s content in the future.
4
In a go-round, have participants share what their object is
and their answers to the questions.
in a box
reflecting and closing
e
5
You can let folks keep their object if you like, as a fun
reminder of the day.
My craziest box object was a fart machine with a remote
control. When the lucky person who drew this object was
about to report out, I made it “fart” which greatly amused
our group!

36. reflecting and
closing
one-word-at
a-time wisdom
N o.
19
Here’s another improv activity inspired by a game
called Proverbs in which participants invent a new
proverb by speaking it one person and one word at
a time.
I have adapted the exercise to be a group reflection on the
outcomes or learning from a meeting or retreat.
No.
one-word-ata-time wisdom
reflecting and closing
19
1
2
Have participants stand or sit in a circle.
Ask the group to reflect quietly for a moment on the day
and what they learned.
3
Then have one person start by saying one word. The next
person in the circle (going clockwise or counter-clockwise)
adds the next logical word to what was just said.
4
Continue around the circle until a “wisdom” has been
completed. At that point, the whole group claps, supporting
the wisdom, and then the next person in the circle starts a
new wisdom. Note – like a proverb, wisdoms are intended to
be short and wise (or pithy!). Some examples from our team:
Beware of mysterious objects in a box
Check-ins are good for the soul
5
Continue making wisdoms for as long as it makes sense.
The activity will move along more smoothly as the group gets
the hang of it.

37. Why is this work important to me?
about
Chris
I grew up in a military family. We moved many times during
my childhood – between various countries, between rural and
urban centers, between ethnically diverse and homogenous
communities. This nomadic life left a mark on me and
being “new” was a challenge I learned to navigate. Along the
way, I developed a keen sense of the actions groups and
communities can take that can leave one feeling either
welcomed or sidelined.
From my life experience, I developed a personal mission to
support people feeling welcomed. Check-in activities are
one of the tools I use to accomplish this.
Facilitating these activities has been a tremendous
experience for me. I have explored the limits of what works
(and doesn’t) and have experimented with many ways of
creating positive “energy” in groups. I am proud to be the
gardener of the HopeLab community and culture and I give
great thanks to my colleagues for their encouragement and
openness to grow and create with me.
For more information please contact me at
cmurchison@hopelab.org.
Chris

38. This project is inspired from 30 years of experience with
check-in activities – from the many workshops, ropes courses,
orientation sessions, retreats and other group experiences I
have had the privilege to participate in. These experiences
have informed my philosophy and practice and I am grateful.
Acknowledgments
Many people have helped me learn this craft. I particularly
want to acknowledge the following:
My student affairs professors, mentors and colleagues
The hundreds of students, employees and friends that have
engaged in these exercises with me over the years
All the facilitators, trainers and OD professionals that I have
observed and learned from
The staff at Bay Area Theater Sports (BATS) in
San Francisco
The staff at HopeLab for being the most awesome
co-learners and co-creators
This project would not have been successful without the
contributions of:
Diana Chapman for the inspiration to start this project
Sheri Jarvis for her artistic gifts and inspiration
Liz Song for her gift of photography and for capturing so
many of our cultural events at HopeLab
Kian Kuan for his well honed design skills
Pat Christen, Susan Edsall and Richard Tate for being the
best co-conspirators
Many thanks to you all!

39. about
t
In the late 1980s, HopeLab founder Pam Omidyar spent
her days as a research assistant in an immunology lab.
At night, after hours watching malignant cancer cells multiply
under a microscope, she unwound by playing video games
with her husband, Pierre Omidyar, the software engineer
who went on to found eBay. As a scientist and game
enthusiast, Pam began to wonder if giving young cancer
patients a chance to blast their cancer in a video game might
actually improve their health. In 2001, Pam founded HopeLab
to develop and test this concept, which led to our first
product, Re-Mission.
Today we continue to harness the power and appeal of
technology to improve kids’ health. Our most recent product,
Zamzee, is a kid-friendly activity meter designed to get kids
moving and ultimately help battle the childhood obesity
epidemic. Our future work will explore ways to nurture
resilience in young people facing adversity, supporting their
sense of purpose, connection and control.
The energy and innovation we use in our product
development is equally applied to the tending of our
organization culture.
Read more about HopeLab’s story at www.hopelab.org.