Terrible Presents
This activity helps participants practice persuasive communication by analyzing what others appreciate and applying that understanding. They will create convincing arguments for gifts that the recipient would not want, revealing assumptions about each other.
How to run it
- 1
Explain the activity and set expectations. Divide participants into pairs or small groups.
- 2
Instruct Participant A to think of a desirable gift for Participant B without sharing it.
- 3
Have both participants brainstorm a terrible present for their partner that they would not want to receive, keeping it secret.
- 4
Give participants 1 to 2 minutes each to persuade their partner to accept the terrible present, aiming for genuine commitment.
Tips
Encourage participants to dig deep into their assumptions about each other to make the activity more effective.
Monitor the discussions to ensure participants are engaging in persuasive techniques and staying on task.
Be ready to prompt participants if they struggle with creativity in thinking about terrible gifts.
Variations
This method can be adapted for larger groups by including observers who can provide feedback on the persuasive techniques used.
Where it fits
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from SessionLab. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.