Most Memorable Moment
Most Memorable Moment
*This exercise has been adapted from Mark McKergow’s “Sparking Moments” exercise in the book 57 Solution Focused Activities and has been used successfully in various workshops.
At a solution focused train-the-trainer session, Brenda had the privilege of experiencing this activity as a participant since one of the trainees - Domenica Giacomini decided to facilitate this exercise as her assignment. Brenda chose the completion of writing their book (Forever Recognize Others’ Greatness: Solution Focused Strategies for Satisfied Staff, High Performing Teams and Healthy Bottom Lines) as her most memorable moment. After answering all the questions and hearing herself say these things aloud, she was overwhelmed with feelings of accomplishment and pride.” I don’t know if I would have allowed myself these feelings had I not experienced this exercise,” said Brenda during the debriefing.
This exercise is great because it: •
Helps people find and build on many tiny aspects of success
•
Allows people to speak about an accomplishment without feeling conceited
•
Encourages people to build on their success and identify possible next ideas, projects, or goals from a place of success
•
Requires little preparation
•
Can be used with groups that are meeting for the first time to groups that work together every day
Materials:
•
Pen and paper
•
(Optional) Flip chart or whiteboard
Instructions: 1.
In pairs decide who is A and who is B
©Greatness Magnified. Permission for use granted to members. www.greatnessmagnified.com
1
2.
Encourage people to think about a small and yet significant moment - “a most memorable moment”
Part 1 - Most Memorable Moments: 3.
Person A asks person B to describe “a most memorable moment” at work during the past few weeks - when they felt best about being at work (remembering that nothing is too small to consider a memorable moment)
4.
Person A then asks person B (with Person A writing responses down): •
How come that moment was most memorable?
•
What was it about that moment that made it memorable for you?
•
What else? (ask several times)
5.
Provide three minutes to generate as long a list as possible of the reasons that made the moment memorable
6.
After three minutes change roles
Part 2 – Spotting Talents, Passions and Virtues: 7.
Once you both have lists of what made your partner’s moment memorable, think about what you now know about your partner’s talents, passions and virtues.
8.
Provide a minute for everyone to quietly reflect and pick out two compliments they want to share with their partner based on what they just learned.
9.
Share the compliments with each other: “Based on what you just said, it seems to me that perhaps you are a ----------- person.” (This can be written on a flip chart or board for all to see).
10.
Debrief by asking how many were able to come up with the two compliments to share and how did everyone react to hearing the compliment.
Part 3-Small Steps (Building on Strengths): 11.
Now that we know what made our partner’s moment exceptional and have discussed two of their strengths, let’s build on that to find some small steps which might increase the chance of more memorable moments in the future.
12.
Again in pairs, Person A asks Person B: •
If these qualities were to play a more significant role in your work life, what would you notice?
•
What else? (ask several times throughout)
•
What small signs would your colleagues/supervisor/significant other notice?
©Greatness Magnified. Permission for use granted to members. www.greatnessmagnified.com
2
13.
Person A asks person B to suggest a couple of small goals for him or herself to take in the next few days, building on everything that was discussed. Again, write down what your partner says. You have four minutes this time!
14.
After eight minutes total, ask people to switch partners and papers. Begin steps again with roles reversed.
Debriefing Questions: •
What was useful about this exercise?
•
What was interesting?
•
What surprised people about how it all worked?
•
What have you learned about yourself and others?
Translation to the work setting: •
Use in a team meeting when you need to infuse some energy, when the meeting is not going well, or when a new team member starts
•
Incorporate as a fun orientation exercise where people get to know each other from their most resourceful place
•
At the beginning of a project, use as a way to remind people of memorable moments of previous work done well to intentionally carry it forward into the current project
Reference: McVanel & Zalter-Minden. (2015). The FROG Effect Workbook: Tools and Strategies To Forever Recognize Others’ Greatness - page 8.
©Greatness Magnified. Permission for use granted to members. www.greatnessmagnified.com
3
*This exercise has been adapted from Mark McKergow’s “Sparking Moments” exercise in the book 57 Solution Focused Activities and has been used successfully in various workshops.
At a solution focused train-the-trainer session, Brenda had the privilege of experiencing this activity as a participant since one of the trainees - Domenica Giacomini decided to facilitate this exercise as her assignment. Brenda chose the completion of writing their book (Forever Recognize Others’ Greatness: Solution Focused Strategies for Satisfied Staff, High Performing Teams and Healthy Bottom Lines) as her most memorable moment. After answering all the questions and hearing herself say these things aloud, she was overwhelmed with feelings of accomplishment and pride.” I don’t know if I would have allowed myself these feelings had I not experienced this exercise,” said Brenda during the debriefing.
This exercise is great because it: •
Helps people find and build on many tiny aspects of success
•
Allows people to speak about an accomplishment without feeling conceited
•
Encourages people to build on their success and identify possible next ideas, projects, or goals from a place of success
•
Requires little preparation
•
Can be used with groups that are meeting for the first time to groups that work together every day
Materials:
•
Pen and paper
•
(Optional) Flip chart or whiteboard
Instructions: 1.
In pairs decide who is A and who is B
©Greatness Magnified. Permission for use granted to members. www.greatnessmagnified.com
1
2.
Encourage people to think about a small and yet significant moment - “a most memorable moment”
Part 1 - Most Memorable Moments: 3.
Person A asks person B to describe “a most memorable moment” at work during the past few weeks - when they felt best about being at work (remembering that nothing is too small to consider a memorable moment)
4.
Person A then asks person B (with Person A writing responses down): •
How come that moment was most memorable?
•
What was it about that moment that made it memorable for you?
•
What else? (ask several times)
5.
Provide three minutes to generate as long a list as possible of the reasons that made the moment memorable
6.
After three minutes change roles
Part 2 – Spotting Talents, Passions and Virtues: 7.
Once you both have lists of what made your partner’s moment memorable, think about what you now know about your partner’s talents, passions and virtues.
8.
Provide a minute for everyone to quietly reflect and pick out two compliments they want to share with their partner based on what they just learned.
9.
Share the compliments with each other: “Based on what you just said, it seems to me that perhaps you are a ----------- person.” (This can be written on a flip chart or board for all to see).
10.
Debrief by asking how many were able to come up with the two compliments to share and how did everyone react to hearing the compliment.
Part 3-Small Steps (Building on Strengths): 11.
Now that we know what made our partner’s moment exceptional and have discussed two of their strengths, let’s build on that to find some small steps which might increase the chance of more memorable moments in the future.
12.
Again in pairs, Person A asks Person B: •
If these qualities were to play a more significant role in your work life, what would you notice?
•
What else? (ask several times throughout)
•
What small signs would your colleagues/supervisor/significant other notice?
©Greatness Magnified. Permission for use granted to members. www.greatnessmagnified.com
2
13.
Person A asks person B to suggest a couple of small goals for him or herself to take in the next few days, building on everything that was discussed. Again, write down what your partner says. You have four minutes this time!
14.
After eight minutes total, ask people to switch partners and papers. Begin steps again with roles reversed.
Debriefing Questions: •
What was useful about this exercise?
•
What was interesting?
•
What surprised people about how it all worked?
•
What have you learned about yourself and others?
Translation to the work setting: •
Use in a team meeting when you need to infuse some energy, when the meeting is not going well, or when a new team member starts
•
Incorporate as a fun orientation exercise where people get to know each other from their most resourceful place
•
At the beginning of a project, use as a way to remind people of memorable moments of previous work done well to intentionally carry it forward into the current project
Reference: McVanel & Zalter-Minden. (2015). The FROG Effect Workbook: Tools and Strategies To Forever Recognize Others’ Greatness - page 8.
©Greatness Magnified. Permission for use granted to members. www.greatnessmagnified.com
3
