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5 Alternatives to the Dreaded Go-Around

Writer's picture: Sherry P. JohnsonSherry P. Johnson

30 people in a circle for two hours, with two hours of work to do. HR pro stands in front and sets the tone: “Let’s go around and share your name, your job, and one thing about you.”


I don’t know about you, but in these situations, I have a hard time not getting visibly upset. It’s not that I don’t believe in group cohesion. (I do!) It’s not that I don’t value getting everyone’s voice in the room. (You should!) It’s just that by the time this widespread opener takes its toll, half the room has checked out, and you’ve lost 30-45 minutes of your 120.


There’s a lot you need to do to set the tone and provide context for a successful meeting, but often, the go-around doesn’t have to be your only choice. Be especially careful with introduction time if the meeting is a half-day or less; if people are likely to know one another already; or when the group is over 20 participants. Here are five alternatives to the dreaded go-around:


  1. Walk. Try having participants get up and walk around, making it a goal to share with 5 people about simple question or two, for 1-2 minutes each. This one breaks the ice really well and gets people moving–great for early or mid-afternoon meetings. Post the questions for easy reference. When you’ve brought everyone back, ask for highlights over a simple ORID.


  1. Turn and Share. I also like having them get in pairs or threes and share for five minutes: their name, one hope, and one fear they have for the group’s work together. Again, it’s great to ask for highlights with the large group.


  1. The Framed Go-Around. Have a two-question go-around, with their name, plus one very clear ask. Frame the question in such a way that participants provide a single word or phrase. This can be energizing and fun, too! For example, “First, give your name. Then, tell us: If you could make up your own job title that would best capture what you do here, what would it be?“


  1. The Journal Go-Around. For more gatherings with more experiential aims, give participants five minutes to journal about the task of the meeting. Give them a journal prompt, have them write, and then ask for them to share their name, plus one sentence that best captures their approach to the meeting. For this one, you might allow people to pass, but ask they provide their name at the least.


  1. The Stand-Up. If you really must use the go-around with name/role/task introductions, require participants to stand or take stage in some way. When people have to take stage, they tend to be more brief. If you use this, you’ll want to be vigilant that people of all abilities can participate.

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