Opinion Continuum

“Opinion Continuum” is a team-building activity designed to promote open communication and provide insights into the diverse perspectives within your team. Debriefing their responses without judgement increases the safety of the participants and builds trust and understanding.

This is a favorite team activity for me because it gets people moving and requires some vulnerability – both of which are energizing.

Materials Needed:

• A spacious room
• Masking tape or a visible line on the floor

Setup:

1. Create the Continuum Line: Use masking tape to create a long line on the floor, representing the spectrum of opinions.  Or, simply point to the walls or spots in the room that represent the ends of the continuum.
2. Gather Your Team: Assemble everyone and explain the rules.

Instructions:

1. Introduce the Activity: Explain that this is a fun, non-judgmental way to explore everyone’s opinions on various topics.
2. Ask a Question: Start with a relevant question, clarifying the extremes of the continuum for each question.
3. Team Members Take a Stand: Participants consider their answer and move to the spot on the line that represents their opinion.
4. Optional Sharing: Encourage team members to share why they chose their spot.
5. Next Question: After discussing, proceed to the next question.

Sample Questions with Scale Markers:

1. Meeting Excitement:
   • “How excited are you about today’s meeting?”
   • 1 (Left Side): “I’d rather be anywhere else.”
   • 10 (Right Side): “There’s no place I’d rather be.”
2. Team Dynamics:
   • “How valuable are our team meetings?”
   • 1: “Waste of time.”
   • 10: “Extremely valuable.”
3. Team Culture and Values:
   • “How well do our team’s values align with your personal values?”
   • 1: “Don’t align at all.”
   • 10: “Perfectly align.”
4. Learning and Development:
   • “How important is [insert training topic] to your career progression?”
   • 1: “Not important to my career.”
   • 10: “Vital for career growth.”

Tips for Success:

• Maintain a light, positive atmosphere.
• Foster honesty and respect for different opinions.
• Include a mix of work-related and fun questions.
• Emphasize that there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ positions.

Conclusion:

“Opinion Continuum” offers a dynamic way for teams to express their opinions visually and physically, enhancing understanding and camaraderie among members.

About the Author

Leigh Ann Rodgers, Founder of Better Teams, Team Consultant Academy, 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.

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