 Group size |
Minimum 2 participants, no upper limit |
 Time |
30 minutes |
 Overview |
The primary goal of this activity is to help participants explore and address self-confidence challenges by engaging in a dynamic and supportive collaborative storytelling process. Through improvisational storytelling, individuals are encouraged to build upon each other’s ideas, fostering creativity and boosting self-confidence. By accepting and building upon what is given to them, participants learn to let go of their fears of judgment and failure and feel more confident in their abilities to think on their feet and contribute to a group. |
 Learning Objectives |
- To help boost self-confidence by encouraging participants to take risks and trust their instincts
- To teach the value of accepting each other’s ideas and cooperating with one another
|
 Materials |
|
 Preparation |
Arrange the seating with ample distance between pairs, ensuring participants can comfortably engage in the activity without disruption from neighboring conversations. This setup promotes a focused and immersive experience for each pair. |
 Implementation |
The facilitator begins the activity by pairing participants and assigning roles. One person initiates a scenario related to self-confidence difficulties (e.g., “Feeling insecure before a big presentation”). The second person responds with “Yes, and…” and adds to the scenario (e.g., “Yes, and we’re in a room full of people waiting for us to speak”). The dialogue continues, each response building on the previous one using “Yes, and…”. After a few minutes, roles switch, and a new scenario begins. The facilitator enhances the experience by incorporating various music genres for each round—classical, pop, rock, jazz, etc. The changing musical backdrop adds a creative dimension, influencing the tone and atmosphere of the scenarios. |
 Debriefing and evaluation |
Questions to ask participants at the end of the activity:
- How did it feel to say “yes, and” to your partner’s statement? Did you find it challenging or liberating?
- How did it feel to have your own statement built upon by your partner? Did you enjoy the collaborative aspect of the activity?
- Did you notice any patterns or themes emerging in your mini-story with your partner? How did that make you feel?
- Did you find it easier or more difficult to be creative and take risks with your partner as you continued the exchange?
- How do you think this activity could help you build self-confidence in group settings?
- Can you imagine applying the “yes, and” mindset in other areas of your life?
- Did you feel like your stories were influenced by the kind of music you were listening to?
|
 Other useful resources |
– |
