3 Visual Energizers for In-Person and Online Meetings
Energizers are the glue that keeps your agenda together, especially virtually.
Energizers should always have a purpose, whether building connections, testing technology, or modeling behavior.
Energizers with Purpose
My colleague Brian Tarallo (Lizard Brain) likes to say that facilitated group energizers serve three purposes:
Build connection: Connection is key. When people feel connected to each other, they are more able to focus and engage with the task at hand. Plus it's fun! We all need a little more play right now. Play, or doing things just for the sake of enjoyment, helps us find new perspectives and generate new thinking, skills that are critical for innovation in our work.
Test the technology: Energizers allow participants to test the technology. By un-muting and giving a brief introduction, participants build their confidence in using their video conferencing tool, so that when it's critical to speak up, they can.
Model the behavior: Lastly, energizers model the behavior participants are about to experience. You don't start a workout in a full sprint. It's the same way for meetings. Use an energizer to prepare participants and get in the right mindset for what they are about to experience. For example, if participants need to brainstorm for a new product, they might first practice making virtual post-it notes, because they need that skill in order to do the brainstorming.
For many, drawing, especially in front of others, can be a very vulnerable experience. I’m used to hearing groans and comments like, “but I can only draw a stick figure” when I bring up that we’re going to “draw.” My colleague Brian gets around some of this by not even using the word drawing, but instead saying, “We’re going to make marks on the page.” This language shift gets people out of the mindset that when you draw, it has to look pretty.
For more on helping people reframe their drawing abilities, check out our blog So You Think You Can’t Draw.
When choosing an energizer, consider the group's comfort level, and match appropriately. This means that if the group suffers from a lot of psychological safety issues, it might be better to offer a visual energizer that requires zero or little drawing. As Brian likes to say, “Stretch the rubber band, but don’t break it.”
Introduce with Confidence
How you introduce an energizer can have a big impact on participants' embrace of the activity. Watch the two videos below and decide which you think is more effective.
Most likely, you can recognize that the second introduction is much stronger. Never ask permission or apologize for using an energizer. Jump in without hesitation, and the group will follow you.
Our Favorite Visual Energizers
Choose an Image
OVERVIEW: This energizer involves selecting an image that holds meaning for each individual. There is no drawing.
DURATION: 15-30 minutes
USE THIS WHEN: Introducing a visioning or reflection session or determining the mood or sentiment of participants
MATERIALS: Dynamic images printed on paper, displayed on a screen or online whiteboard OR the Official Visual Explorer Deck
KEY LESSONS:
We add meaning to what we see.
Visuals help us make connections to how we feel in a safe way.
Visuals can unlock our creativity by helping us look at something in a new way.
FLOW:
Display images on a wall, across a table or even on the floor.
Invite participants to take their time and select an image that represents [TOPIC OF YOUR CHOICE].
Topics might include:
How you feel about the past year
A time you felt truly alive in your work
A vision you have for the following year
Have individuals share their stories in pairs or small groups.
Invite others in the group to ask questions if they have them but not to judge or comment on someone's image.
Reflect as a full group.
Draw a Symbol
OVERVIEW: Drawing a symbol takes the fear out of drawing altogether. By inviting the group to create a symbol that represents something related to the topic, they forget they are even drawing in the first place.
DURATION: 5-15 minutes
USE THIS WHEN: Kicking off any session where learning is a goal (i.e. mentoring workshops, leadership development, team retrospectives, etc.)
MATERIALS: A piece of paper, index card or sticky note and something to write with
KEY LESSONS:
Drawing, even simple shapes, can hold so much meaning.
The act of drawing helps capture learning in a unique way.
Drawing a symbol makes it easier to share learning in a quick way.
FLOW:
Invite participants to think about a key concept of [TOPIC OF YOUR CHOICE] and draw a symbol that represents that concept.
Topics might include:
A key lesson learned in your career
A time you felt truly alive in your work
A life lesson you learned from overcoming a challenge
Reassure participants that symbols don't mean drawing; they can use any basic lines and/or shapes that relate to the concept.
Invite volunteers to share their symbols.
Reflect as a full group.
Self Portrait
OVERVIEW: Teams develop trust when they can relate to each other by sharing information about themselves and through sharing experiences. Participants draw themselves and share the self-portrait as a way of helping others get to know them better.
DURATION: 15-30 minutes
USE THIS WHEN: Kicking off a team-building workshop or humanizing teams who have experienced conflict
MATERIALS: A piece of paper, index card or sticky note and something to write with
KEY LESSONS:
Drawing and sharing information about ourselves is vulnerable.
We feel closer and more trust when we know more about each other.
Drawing helps us share a lot of information in a succinct way.
FLOW:
Use the Stick Figure Makeover resource from Dancing with Markers to teach participants how to upgrade their stick figures.
Invite participants to drawn a portrait of themselves doing...
Something they enjoy
A favorite weekend activity
Come up with your own
Individuals share their portraits and what their drawing means to them.
Reflection Questions
In order to make an energizer not “just another icebreaker,” it’s important to reflect on with the group, using questions like these:
What was that like?
What did you notice about yourself? About others?
What surprised you?
What did you learn from that?
How would you like to use this today or in the next activity?
It’s also important to connect the energizer to the topic and/or outcome of the session.
“Thank you for participating in that short energizer. The purpose of that activity was to… When thinking about [TOPIC WE’RE GOING TO DISCUSS TODAY], bring with you [SOMETHING THEY EXPERIENCED IN THE ENERGIZER]. Before we move on, are there any other insights from that experience that you’d like to share?”
TRY THIS: Practice Facilitating an Energizer (30 mins)
Choose a meeting that you have all the time, where you felt comfortable with the participants. If you can’t think of one, schedule a time with a few friends.
Let the group know that you’d like a few minutes to practice facilitating an energizer and to save 5-15 minutes.
Choose an energizer that relates to the meeting.
Prepare any materials that you need.
If you’re nervous, practice alone first. Don’t practice more than three times, as this may actually increase your nerves.
Facilitate! Don’t worry if you forget the instructions or change them in the moment. This will only distract you.
Reflect on the process. How did that go? When was their confusion? How might you improve the next time?
If you’re ready to become a confident visual facilitator, check out our self-paced online course, Introduction to Facilitating with Visuals, hosted by Voltage Control. Part 1 will equip you with basic drawing skills, get you using flipcharts and markers, and show you how to create your own clipart for charts and presentations. Part 2 will teach you how to create your own templates, dive into even more visual energizers, and transform you into a MURAL pro.
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