Timeline of Tensions

What participants gain

• Participants will be able to identify specific incidents that contributed to team tension.
• Participants will develop a shared understanding of the challenges faced during the past quarter.
• Participants will learn to communicate about difficult topics in a constructive and objective manner.

Materials needed

• A3 paper
• Colored markers
• Post-it notes (various colors)
• Timer app
• Whiteboard or large paper for the collective timeline

How to run Timeline of Tensions, step by step

1. Introduce the activity and its purpose: to create a shared understanding of the past quarter's challenges (5 min).
2. Individually, participants create a timeline highlighting key incidents or moments of tension (15 min).
3. Each participant shares their timeline, explaining the context and impact of each incident (15 min).
4. As a group, combine the individual timelines into a single collective timeline (5 min).
5. Facilitate a discussion to identify patterns, common themes, and areas of disagreement (10 min).
6. Briefly summarize key insights and thank participants for their contributions.
7. Ensure all members are listened to and provide space for all contributions.
8. Encourage active listening during the session.
9. Encourage the team to be as open and honest as possible to make the session as fruitful as possible.
10. Ensure all members have access to the collective timeline after the session.

Facilitator tips

• Emphasize the importance of focusing on factual events rather than personal interpretations to maintain objectivity.
• Encourage participants to be specific and provide context for each incident to facilitate a deeper understanding.
• Create a safe space by reminding participants that the goal is to learn and improve, not to assign blame.
• Use a visual timer to help participants stay within the allocated time for each step.
• Actively listen and summarize key points to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Common challenges

• Participants focus on blame rather than factual events: Remind participants to focus on describing what happened, not assigning fault.
• Participants are hesitant to share negative experiences: Emphasize the importance of honesty and create a safe space for vulnerability.
• The discussion becomes dominated by a few individuals: Use a round-robin approach to ensure everyone has a chance to speak.
• Participants get stuck on minor details: Encourage them to focus on the most impactful events and move on.

Running it virtually

Use a shared online whiteboard like Miro or Mural where participants can create individual timelines and then collaboratively combine them into a single visual representation. Utilize breakout rooms for individual timeline creation and then bring everyone back to the main room for sharing and discussion.

Expected results

A visual timeline highlighting key moments of tension, a shared understanding of the challenges faced, and a foundation for identifying patterns and root causes.

Build a session around Timeline of Tensions

METODIC drops Timeline of Tensions into a complete session plan with timing, materials, worksheets, and a facilitator guide — for any workshop, meeting, or team session.

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