1. Introduce tailored statements based on the context of your gathering (always starting with “Never have I ever…”).

2. Ask participants to indicate their answer

3. Give space to hear some elaborations of people’s answers

4. Play a few rounds: either the facilitator or the participants presents the next ‘Never have I ever’ statement.

5. Round off with a reflection: how was this? how did it feel? what can we learn from it? what can we take forward?

🌏 IN PERSON:

Let people indicate their answer by standing up vs. staying seated. For a more accessible version you can also use raised hands.

🌐 ONLINE:

At the core, this one works just the same as the in-person version, but you're using the camera to signal your response: indicate whether they have or haven't done the named thing/scenario by turning the camera on or off.

Alternatively raising hands or holding a coloured object into the camera (i.e. red object for ‘I have’ and blue object for ‘I have never’)

Example use case:

As a meeting host or facilitator you can use this exercise to create empathy as well as an understanding of leading as well as participating in meetings and workshops.

• “Never have I ever sent emails during a meeting.”

• “Never have I ever had pyjamas or beach wear on during a meeting.”

• “Never have I ever sent secret DM’s to my colleague.”

Land with some thoughts around building empathy: the exercise shows we've all experienced being disengaged, we're all guilty of being a 'bad participant' and we know what it's like to be in the shoes of a participant.

As facilitators or meeting leaders this should prompt us to bare that feeling in mind and make sessions that aren't boring or disengaging, while also understanding ****where participants are coming from if they drift off. At the same time it is also reminder to be good participants: what goes around comes around- be the participant you'd like to see in your session.

Example use case:

For the 2022 Summit of Creatives 4 Climate, Mischief Makers brought this exercise as temperature check and to start building connections in a large audience of passionate Creatives looking to drive meaningful action towards climate change.

• “Never have I ever left a job because of misalignment with the organisation’s values.”

• “Never have I ever turned down a brief/work because it clashed with my beliefs.”

• “Never have I ever felt lonely in the fight against climate change.”