The Post It Note Activity

In the past 10 years I’ve facilitated quite a few workshops and trainings. This is consistently a group favorite and it’s one of my favorites too. You make the room colorful, exciting and full of wisdom. You can start a retreat this way or end a workshop with it. You really can’t go wrong. The beauty is that it can be done in 5 minutes. I call it the Post It Note Activity.

Requirements:

  • A package of multiple colors of Post Its

  • A Sharpie marker for each person

  • Space to put them up on the wall

Facilitator Process:

  • Choose your questions for the group

  • Share questions with your group, one at a time

  • Allow time for people to write their responses on Post Its

  • Choose a different color for each question

  • Give them about 1 minute per question

  • Tell everyone that at the end they will post them up

  • Allow time to look at the answers or take pictures

  • If you have extra time, allow for group discussion

Instructions for the Group:

  • Focus on 1-5 words per Post It

  • Write big, don’t write a novel

  • Feel free to use more than one Post It

  • Save your Post Its and we’ll put them up all at once

  • Post them up together in a group by question

The Questions

The key to this activity is asking good questions. Begin with the end in mind. Think about what you want to end up covering the wall. The best movies ever? Favorite books from the group? Everyone’s life values? Their favorite hobbies? Here are some examples of questions you can ask, but you know your group best. Trust your instincts.

Values Questions

  1. What do you love about your life?

  2. If you could spend all day in a gigantic bookstore, what section would you spend all day in?

  3. What is one of the qualities you admire most about your partner or best friend?

  4. What do you love about your work or workplace?

Vision Questions

  1. Warren Buffett shows up at your doorstep and says he will fully fund your ideal job, what will you do day to day?

  2. It’s Saturday morning, there’s nothing on the schedule, what would you love to do?

  3. How do you like to be appreciated or thanked?

  4. What would you like to accomplish this upcoming year?

Favorites Questions

  1. What is one of the greatest books you’ve ever read?

  2. What advice would your 110-year old self give you right now?

  3. What movie or TED Talk do you absolutely love watching?

  4. What are your favorite hobbies?

I hope you enjoy facilitating this activity with your group! If you have any feedback, or maybe came across a great question in your session, send me a note. I’d love to hear from you.