One of the most popular team activities in all my four years of blogging was about the activity: The Four Quadrants.

In fact, it was so popular that I wrote a follow-up blog that included additional examples of questions people had used in this team building activity.

This activity remains one of my favorite connection activities because it is versatile and powerful. Now that so many meetings are remote, I’ve had to adapt the process so it still works.  Below are instructions for an in-person or virtual team meeting.

IN-PERSON MEETING Instructions:

1. Give each participant a piece of flip chart paper and some markers.
2. Instruct them to divide their flip charts into four quadrants.
3. Ask them to DRAW (not write) their responses to four questions (one for each quadrant).
4. Give them about 5-10 minutes to work individually.
5. Regroup and give each person 4-10 minutes (depending on your time frame) to share their chart and responses with the group.

Here are four questions you might use:

1. What do I bring to the group?
2. What do I need from the group?
3. What is your hobby?
4. What is your vision for this group?

For additional questions or ideas click here.

VIRTUAL MEETING Instructions:

• LOW-TECH VIRTUAL INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Ask each person to bring a piece of blank white paper and some colored markers to your meeting.
2. Say them to divide their paper into four quadrants.
3. Ask them to DRAW (not write) their responses to four questions (one for each quadrant).
4. Give them about 5-10 minutes to work individually.
5. Regroup and give each person 4-10 minutes (depending on your time frame) to share their chart and responses with the group.  Each person can simply hold their artwork up to the camera.

• HIGH-TECH VIRTUAL INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Determine which virtual collaboration tool you will use (i.e., Mural, Miro, Klaxoon, or a shared Google or Teams doc).
2. Prior to the meeting, create a space in the tool for each team member.  Each space will have the person’s name at the top and four quadrants.
3. Assure that everyone knows how to use the drawing tools in the shared workspace.
4. Ask them to DRAW (not write) their responses to four questions (one for each quadrant).
5. Give them about 5-10 minutes to work individually.
6. Regroup and give each person 4-10 minutes (depending on your time frame) to share their quadrant and responses with the group. 

Tips for facilitating the team activity:

• Ensure you have plenty of time for them to draw and explain their drawings.
• If people express anxiety about “not being an artist,” tell them that is good because it will be more fun.  
• Encourage them to use multiple colors.
• If they go through their quadrant very fast, encourage the team to ask follow-up questions.
• Take pictures or snap screen shots of people with their completed charts/pages.

Summary

The Four Quadrants is an interactive team activity that will be sure to get your team involved and learning about each other. Your team will get to know each other while having fun doing it. You can do this activity in person or virtually.

About the Author: Leigh Ann Rodgers, Founder of Better Teams and the Forward, community, 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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