Wouldn’t it be great to find out what the strengths and weaknesses in your group were? What hidden skills you had at our disposal, but had never thought to ask? One way – very relaxed – to do this would be simply to get everyone to write down on a white piece of paper a thing they are good at and on a coloured piece of paper something they would like to be good at. Hold them up, walk around, and voila, there may be a direct ‘match’ across the colours, in which case those people could figure out how to help each other. At the worst, it brightens a meeting, and makes people realise how many skills there are, even in a ‘small’ group.
More info – askfortheworld.wordpress.com
Here below is examples from one a few years back. I have forgotten the context.
White paper (things people are good at)
I know how to be a productive part of a team
I’m open to new ideas. I want to challenge and improve my point ov view
I love to speak with people, to hear their stories, to encourage them
Football
Watching TV
Swimming
Writing
Tolerant
Smiling
International relations
Street performances
Driving Having new ideas for projects
analysing an area
youth involving at area developing
outdoor activities (camping, cycling, hiring)
drumming
always eager to share what’s on my mind, to speak up my mind
teaching
listening
organization
tolerant
smiling
good connection skills (and beard)
good listener
be patient with others
fire dancing
good hair
presence and strength
playing bass
new ideas
cooking soup
target groups organising community environment
good in organising. I have [shown] that ability many times
drawing
sport activities
play guitar
smiling
enjoying the taste of food
dolce vita expert
empathic, good listener
getting along with others
making friends
English
concentrating
being patient
repairing bicycles
fund-raising
writing articles
Green paper (things people would like to be good at)
to be patient with myself
singing
getting more support by setting up new projects
finishing French
cooking
not the best organiser
piano
the drums
bad dancer
swimming
languages
more active really, do and make projects alive
I don’t know as much as I would like about project management and how to do something in my country/community engagement
marketing
finishing projects
French
painting
playing the saxophone
higher level impact
tolerance and calm influencing
being on time
playing the guitar
to make friends if I’m not in the mood
writing political lobbying reports
taking care of my problems (concentrate too much on others)
starting things alone
dancing
I am the worst football player. Football is my passion. I like it a lot and I’m going usually at games.
Public presentations
Speaking to many people (I get nervous)
wish I was better at organising
any other language than [own language] and English
walking
counting
manchester climate monthly 