Remote Control - Reflect and Build Relationships

The Remote Control

Team working agreements and feedback rituals are great.

And they can be even better when we ask people to go deeper.

And self-knowledge is the key to great collaboration.

This activity helps people to

a) understand their needs, wishes and boundaries

b) express and share them with others and

c) navigate this process playfully and light heartedly

Objective of the activity

• Filling out the “remote control” will lead you through a self-reflection, in which you are the curious explorer of your needs, wishes and boundaries

• Ability to express our needs and boundaries to others so that we can build a healthy and strong foundation for collaboration

• You ultimately have an enhanced feeling of control over influencing and changing the environment you live (and work) in, because you are changing your response

How to play

In pairs, or in groups of 3

Find a nice, comfortable space you feel safe to speak

Step 1: Individually

• Take around 15min to fill out the remote control

• Add additional buttons or inputs, no need to stick to the template. Make it yours.

Step 2: In pairs, groups

• One person starts by picking a “button” and sharing their answer.

• Remember: people love personal stories. Rather than rushing though this, focus on what matters to you at this moment

• The listener gets to ask a clarifying question

Step 3: Same pairs, groups

• Now take turns: the other picks a topic, shares and you are asking Qs

Step 4: Close with the entire team or group

Bring together what people have in common. This is great input for Team Agreements.

• 5min: Every team member selects their 3 most important needs and wishes to collaborate well with the team members

  • Each need/wish is written on a separate post it

  • A self-explanatory sentence

• At the end of the time box participates are asked to cluster the team results into “themes”

• Participants condense and summarise the essence of the collected post its, organised by theme.