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Team BuildingBeginner

I used to think...But now I think...

This activity encourages participants to reflect on their changing perspectives after a learning experience. It helps identify key insights and growth in opinions or attitudes related to the subject matter.

Duration
5m–15m
Group size
4+ people
Origin
Teampedia
CCBY-SA 4.0

How to run it

  1. 1

    Arrange chairs in a circle or set up tables for smaller groups depending on the total number of participants.

  2. 2

    Ask participants to reflect on two prompts: 'I used to think...' and 'But now I think...' Write their thoughts down quietly.

  3. 3

    Give participants 2 to 5 minutes to complete their reflections, allowing more time for more extensive activities.

  4. 4

    After the reflection period, invite participants to share their thoughts with the group or smaller groups.

  5. 5

    Collect their insights on a flip chart or digitally to share later if desired.

Tips

  • Encourage honest and open sharing; remind participants that all opinions are valid.

  • Consider using anonymous sharing methods for larger groups to help facilitate openness.

  • Create a safe environment by setting ground rules for respectful listening and sharing.

Variations

You can adapt this method by focusing on different topics or using it as a check-in at the beginning of a session.

Where it fits

team kickoffretrospective closingreflection after a training sessionpost-event debriefdiscussion of a new initiative

Frequently asked questions

When should I use I used to think...But now I think...?â–¾

Use I used to think...But now I think... when you want to: team kickoff; retrospective closing; reflection after a training session; post-event debrief; discussion of a new initiative.

How long does I used to think...But now I think... take?â–¾

I used to think...But now I think... typically takes 5–15 minutes.

How many participants does I used to think...But now I think... work for?â–¾

I used to think...But now I think... works best for groups of 4 or more.

What materials do I need for I used to think...But now I think...?â–¾

I used to think...But now I think... requires no special materials — just participants and a space.

How difficult is I used to think...But now I think... to facilitate?â–¾

I used to think...But now I think... is rated beginner — straightforward to facilitate even without prior experience.

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Method descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Teampedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

I used to think...But now I think... — Facilitation Method | Workshop Weaver