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Training Activities
Fear in a Hat
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Set an appropriate
tone, e.g., settled, attentive, caring and serious. |
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The tone could be
set by introducing the topic of fear and explaining how it is normal and
natural at this stage of program that people are experiencing all sorts of
anxieties, worries and fears about what might happen. A good way of
starting to deal with these fears is have them openly acknowledged - lay
them on the table, without being subject to ridicule. Having one's fears
expressed and heard almost immediately cuts them in half. |
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Can be done as the
first activity in a program, during the initial stages or well into the
program. When used early on in particular, it can help to foster group
support and be helpful for alerting the group to issues they may want to
respect . |
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Ask everyone,
including the group leaders, to complete this sentence on a piece of paper
(anonymously):
"In this trip/group/program, I am [most] afraid that..." or "In this
trip/group/program, the worst thing that could happen to me would be..." |
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Collect the pieces
of paper, mix them around, then invite each person to a piece of paper and
read about someone's fear. |
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One by one, each
group member reads out the fear of another group member and elaborates and
what he/she feels that person is most afraid of in this group/situation. No
one is to comment on what the person says, just listen and move on to the
next person. |
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If the reader
doesn't elaborate much on the fear, then ask them one or two questions.
Avoid implying or showing your opinion as to the fear being expressed,
unless the person is disrespecting or completely misunderstanding someone's
fear. If the person doesn't elaborate after one or two questions, leave it
and move on. |
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When all the fears
have been read out and elaborated on, then discuss what people felt and
noticed. |
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Can lead into
other activities, such as developing a Full Group Contract, personal or team
goal settings, course briefings which specifically tackle some of the issues
raised, or into other activities in which participants explore their
feelings and fears |
Variations
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Likes and dislikes
- in two separate hats |
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Worries |
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Complaints/gripes |
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Wishes |
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Favorite moments |
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Favorite foods |
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