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What's My Line ?
Purpose
- To gain clarity about team members' expectations of one another.
- To decrease the potential for role conflicts among team members.
- To increase the possibilities for collaboration among team members.
- To minimize misconceptions about team members' roles.
Group Size
Most useful as an exercise for an intact team of to eight members. However, if the team consists of more than eight, consider doing the activity in two segments with a break or other activity between the segments.
Time
2 to 4 hours depending upon the number of team members. There will be many members and much discussion about some roles that are not clear and little discussion about others that are clear and well known to all members.
Physical Setting
Comfortable chairs set in a circle or around a table.
Materials
A copy of the "What's My Line?" handout for each team member.
Process
- Before the session, distribute a copy of the handout to each team member with the following instructions: "please complete the attached from by clearly printing or typing your responses. Then make enough photocopies of the completed form for each of your teammates and bring those copies to our session on ___________________ (date & time). At the session please be prepared to present and discuss the form with your teammates. Our goal for the session is to walk away with a clear understanding of everyone's role."
- Begin the session by reviewing the purpose and format.
- Ask for a volunteer to be the first person to present his or her form. Continue to ask for volunteers or simply go around the group. Each person should begin by distributing a copy of his or her completed form to their teammates and then presenting the information.
- Facilitate a discussion by asking "what questions do you have about any of the items or clarifications do you need about any of the terms from ______________(name of person). Probe for understanding and agreement from the people identified in question 3 regarding their willingness to provide the help needed.
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Take several stretch breaks between the presentations to keep people alert and focused.
Debriefing
- Conclude this activity by asking for generalizations about the value of the activity. A useful follow-up is to print and distribute a copy of the role forms to everyone.
- What did you learn about your teammates?
- What was the value of this activity for you?
- What specifically will you do differently as a result of this information?
- Who else should have access to this information (e.g., customers, senior management)?
Variations
- Do not distribute the completed forms as indicated in step 3. First, ask other team members how they would answer the questions on the form for this person. If there is lack of clarity about this person's role, this variation will bring it out. Then go on to have the person distribute his or her form and present the information as indicated in step 3.
- If you are not able to distribute the form in advance, run the session as an open discussion in which each person presents his or her responses to the questions and teammates ask questions.
Handout
What's My Line?
Directions: Please answer each question as specifically as possible.
- What is your role on this team? What are the three things you are expected to do?
2. What do you think other members do not understand about your role?
3. What are the three most important things you need from others on the team in
order to do your job in the way you would like? Be specific about what you need and, if appropriate, from whom you need it.
Reprinted from Sivasaliam "Thiagi" Thiagarajan and Glenn Parker Teamwork and Teamplay: Games and Activities for Building and Training Teams, Pfeiffer, 1999.