9 Dimensions Team Building Activity
How To Practice Mindfulness at Work
February 1, 2017
9 Dimensions Team Building Activity
February 5, 2017
9 Dimensions is a powerful activity designed to build relationships and trust among team members. I just used this with my Mastermind group and everyone raved about it, so I hope you find it helpful too!
[x_icon type=”download”] Download activity instructions guide and worksheets
There are 2 variations of this icebreaker. The first version is for teams who want to get to know each other better. The second version is for teams who want to explore how they are working together as a team.
Purpose: To build relationships by evaluating and sharing about significant life areas.
[step_graphics style=”3″ color=””][step style=”3″ text=”1″ headline=”Give%20each%20participant%20a%20copy%20of%20the%20My%209%20Dimensions%20worksheet%20and%20a%20sheet%20of%20dot%20stickers%20(with%20red%2C%20green%2C%20yellow%20and%20blue%20dots).”]%3Cp%3EThe%209%20dimensions%20for%20this%20variation%20are%3A%20Adventure%2C%20Career%20%2F%20Profession%2C%20Community%20Service%2C%20Creative%20Outlets%2C%20My%20Environment%2C%20Family%20%26%20Friends%2C%20Health%20%26%20Fitness%2C%20Personal%20Growth%2C%20Spirituality.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A[/step][step style=”3″ text=”2″ headline=”Instruct%20participants%20to%20evaluate%20their%20current%20status%20for%20each%20dimension%20in%20the%20grid.”]%3Cp%3EParticipants%20should%20place%20a%20colored%20dot%20(using%20the%20key%20below)%20on%20each%20of%20the%209%20dimensions.%20Only%20give%20them%20two%20minutes%20with%20no%20time%20to%20overthink%20it.%20Tell%20them%2C%20%E2%80%9CJust%20go%20with%20your%20gut.%E2%80%9D%3Cbr%2F%3E%0A%E2%80%A2%09Green%20Dot%20%3D%20I%E2%80%99m%20crushing%20it!%3Cbr%2F%3E%0A%E2%80%A2%09Yellow%20Dot%20%3D%20I%20need%20to%20work%20on%20this%20a%20little.%3Cbr%2F%3E%0A%E2%80%A2%09Red%20Dot%20%3D%20Yikes%2C%20I%20need%20to%20work%20on%20this%20a%20lot!%3Cbr%2F%3E%0A%E2%80%A2%09Blue%20Dot%20%3D%20This%20is%20not%20a%20priority%20right%20now.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A[/step][step style=”3″ text=”3″ headline=”Ask%20participants%20to%20share%20about%20one%20dimension%20they%20put%20a%20green%20dot%2C%20and%20one%20that%20they%20put%20a%20yellow%20or%20a%20red%20dot.”]%3Cp%3EGive%20each%20person%202%20minutes%20to%20share%20(allow%20them%20to%20disclose%20at%20their%20own%20comfort%20level).%3C%2Fp%3E%0A[/step][step style=”3″ text=”4″ headline=”Optional%20debrief%20questions%20below%20(5%20minute%20debrief%20may%20be%20sufficient).”]%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%09What%20did%20you%20learn%20about%20each%20other%20(or%20our%20team)%3F%3Cbr%2F%3E%0A%E2%80%A2%09How%20can%20we%20support%20each%20other%20to%20improve%20our%20red%20and%20yellow%20areas%3F%3C%2Fp%3E%0A[/step][/step_graphics]
Purpose: To build relationships by evaluating and sharing perspectives of how the team is doing in significant areas.
[step_graphics style=”3″ color=””][step style=”3″ text=”1″ headline=”Give%20each%20participant%20a%20copy%20of%20the%20My%20Team’s%209%20Dimensions%20worksheet%20and%20a%20sheet%20of%20dot%20stickers%20(with%20red%2C%20green%2C%20yellow%20and%20blue%20dots).”]%3Cp%3EThe%209%20dimensions%20for%20this%20variation%20are%3A%20Communication%2C%20Attitude%2C%20Trust%2C%20Role%20Clarity%2C%20Alignment%20about%20Processes%2C%20Accountability%2C%20Supportive%20Relationships%2C%20Meeting%20Deadlines%2C%20Quality%20of%20Work.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A[/step][step style=”3″ text=”2″ headline=”Instruct%20participants%20to%20evaluate%20their%20perception%20of%20the%20team’s%20current%20status%20for%20each%20dimension%20in%20the%20grid.”]%3Cp%3EParticipants%20should%20place%20a%20colored%20dot%20(using%20the%20key%20below)%20on%20each%20of%20the%209%20dimensions.%20Only%20give%20them%20two%20minutes%20with%20no%20time%20to%20overthink%20it.%20Tell%20them%2C%20%E2%80%9CJust%20go%20with%20your%20gut.%E2%80%9D%3Cbr%2F%3E%0A%E2%80%A2%09Green%20Dot%20%3D%20We%20are%20crushing%20it!%3Cbr%2F%3E%0A%E2%80%A2%09Yellow%20Dot%20%3D%20We%20need%20to%20work%20on%20this%20a%20little.%3Cbr%2F%3E%0A%E2%80%A2%09Red%20Dot%20%3D%20Yikes%2C%20we%20need%20to%20work%20on%20this%20a%20lot!%3Cbr%2F%3E%0A%E2%80%A2%09Blue%20Dot%20%3D%20This%20is%20not%20a%20priority%20right%20now.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A[/step][step style=”3″ text=”3″ headline=”Ask%20participants%20to%20share%20about%20one%20dimension%20they%20put%20a%20green%20dot%2C%20and%20one%20that%20they%20put%20a%20yellow%20or%20a%20red%20dot.”]%3Cp%3EGive%20each%20person%202%20minutes%20to%20share%20(allow%20them%20to%20disclose%20at%20their%20own%20comfort%20level).%3C%2Fp%3E%0A[/step][step style=”3″ text=”4″ headline=”Optional%20debrief%20questions%20below%20(10-30%20minute%20debrief).”]%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%09Where%20are%20we%20all%20in%20agreement%20about%20our%20team%3F%3Cbr%2F%3E%0A%E2%80%A2%09In%20which%20dimensions%20do%20we%20have%20the%20most%20variation%20in%20our%20perspectives%3F%3Cbr%2F%3E%0A%E2%80%A2%09Which%20yellow%20and%2For%20red%20area(s)%20do%20we%20want%20to%20improve%20the%20most%3F%3Cbr%2F%3E%0A%E2%80%A2%09What%20can%20we%20do%20to%20improve%20our%20yellow%20and%2For%20red%20areas%3F%3C%2Fp%3E%0A[/step][/step_graphics]
The beauty of this activity is people can choose how much they want to disclose. Regardless of how open each participant is, the team will learn more about each other and/or how the team is doing.
Also, this is totally flexible because you can change the 9 dimensions to work for your specific group.
Please share any additional ideas you have in the comments section below.
[x_icon type=”download”] Download activity instruction guide and worksheets
Happy team building!
About the Author: Leigh Ann Rodgers, Founder of Better Teams and Forward, is an IAF Certified Professional Facilitator with 20 years of experience in the human development field. Leigh Ann is a skilled meeting facilitator, trainer, and coach working across the globe to help leaders cultivate teams that are happy and high-performing.
Join Forward, our online community!
Forward is a networking and learning membership for facilitators, coaches, and trainers who want to stay on the leading edge. Get a sneak peek here.
Team Consultants... sign up for more FREE team activities, tools & resources!
You'll get 5 videos with team activities PLUS a new exercise or resource every week!
10 Comments
Thanks for sharing! Looks like a great way to really get people engaged.
Thank you for sharing your game tool.
Great tool!
Great info. Lucky me I reach on your own website by accident, I bookmarked it.
This is a matter close to my heart cheers. Thanks
Its really a good blog on teamwork development. I appreciate your article. Its really important to choose the best teamwork development site. This blog is really helpful to give a light in this issue. So thanks for sharing all that important information.
Thank you Andrew!
Hi there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok.
I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
Yes – Twitter is @betterteams_co
Thanks for the blog post.Much thanks again. Great.