Overview: Have you ever wondered what Bob from the accounting department spends his entire day doing? Does Sally in sales spend the whole day on the phone? This fun exercise will encourage your group to gain a better understanding of one another’s daily lives. Whether you are coordinating a meeting for folks who rarely work together or for a team that works together every day, this activity is impactful and engaging. “A Day in the Life of Bob” is the perfect way to kick-off your next company-wide meeting!
Equipment Required: Paper and pens for each participant.
Space Required: Small to Medium.
Group Size: 4 to 200 people.
Total Time: 15 minutes to 35 minutes.
- 5 minutes to brief the activity.
- 5-20 minutes for participants to work in pairs or small teams.
- 5-10 minutes to debrief the activity.
Instructions:
- Pair up your participants.
- Brief the group. Have your pairs talk through their typical work day one at a time. The listener may only ask questions while their partner is sharing. The Listener may not share details about their own days or experiences until their partner is finished. Once the first person is done, the pair should reverse roles and it is the Listeners turn to talk.
To expand this activity, you can also have the pairs share details about their home life after work.
- Once the pairs are done sharing, you can have them partner up with someone else and repeat the activity as many times as your time and agenda allow (maximum of 5 times).
- Debrief the activity.
Learning Outcomes
- Team Work
- Communication
- Listening Skills
- Cooperation
Suggested Review Questions
- Was it difficult for you to listen while your colleagues without talking yourself?
- What did you learn from this activity?
- Who’s daily work life surprised you the most?
- What did you enjoy most about this activity?
- Did the activity make you see your colleagues in a new light? If so, how?
- Do you appreciate your colleagues more after learning more about their roles/responsibilities? Do you have any examples?
- What is one thing that you can take away from this activity?
