Your Personal Motto
Participants craft a brief personal motto or epitaph that captures their core value. The exercise surfaces inner motivations, helps team members understand what drives each person, and builds community through authentic sharing.
How to run it
- 1
Introduce the exercise: each person will write a short motto — a phrase that captures who they are or what they want to be remembered for.
- 2
Give 15–20 minutes for individual reflection or free-writing. Prompt questions: What brief phrase embodies who you are? What do you want people to say about you when you're gone?
- 3
Hand each person a sheet of paper to write their motto clearly.
- 4
Invite each person to share their motto with the group. Allow 1–2 minutes per person for sharing and brief reactions.
- 5
Close with a brief reflection: What patterns or themes do you notice across the group?
Tips
Frame this as exploratory, not permanent — people sometimes feel pressure to 'get it right'.
Share your own motto first to model vulnerability.
Works especially well at the start of a multi-day programme or team offsite.
Variations
Ask participants to draw or illustrate their motto instead of writing it. Or combine with the Logo method to create a visual badge.
Where it fits
Related methods
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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 University of Hawaii.