An exercise created by Thomas Kuryura
- The number of values chosen by each person should equal the number of team members present. (We each chose 7).
- Display a list of suggested values on a large screen monitor - we used 249 from Managing for Happiness (p 82-83).
- Have team members choose and claim values by sticking a post-it tab over them on the screen.
- No duplicates - if someone else already claimed a desired value, find another.
- Each person writes their values down on separate post-it notes and marks their initials.
- Each person stacks theirs up in a pile and passes the bundle to the colleague on their right (or left- just pick a direction of travel).
- Each team member will REMOVE one value from the 7 post-its they were given - removing the one they consider least important.
- Pass the 6 remaining to the next colleague around the table.
- REPEAT. Each colleague will review the values in the bundle, remove a value and then pass the bundle along, until one value remains from each person’s value set.
- Give this back to the person whose initials are on it.
- Have each team member (take turns) share their remaining value and explain why they chose it.
- Discuss as you go - what do others think of the value? Do they agree, do they have questions? Do this process for all team members and their value.
- Post them on the wall and see if you want to reduce further. (We decided 7 was way too many - first we distilled it down to 5, then with a bit more work, to three core values.)
- Done! Collaboration, consensus and clarity.
