Discovering Styles Thumball

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The Discovering Styles Thumball takes players through an activity that explores their work and management styles. It's a creative way to get to know each other a bit better. Thumba lls look like soccer balls but are soft and safe for indoor use at work, school, and home. Catch the ball, look under your thumb, and share your reaction to the prompt. ADAPTABLE FOR YOUR FAVORITE STYLE ASSESSMENT With so many personality-type tools out there (DiSC, DISC, Meyers Briggs, Real Colors, True Colors, What’s your Style, etc.), this tool focuses on personality characteristics in general. It can be used with any of these common frameworks, to deepen learning while having some fun. Help players understand different styles, grow familiar with new terminology, practice categorizing qualities and characteristics as personality types, and consider how to draw out the benefits of each. In fact, the ball was made silver and white so that it can align with ANY COLOR-TYPE FRAMEWORK! EXPLORE A RANGE OF QUALITIES You'll find personality qualities that correlate with a variety of "types" DECISIVE, COMPETITIVE, PERSISTENT, ASSERTIVE, GOAL-ORIENTED, EXTRAVERTED CHARISMATIC, OPTIMISTIC, PURSUASIVE, AFFABLE, INVENTIVE, TALKATIVE RELIABLE, STEADY, EMPATHETIC, COOPERATIVE, FRIENDLY, INTROVERTED DATA-DRIVEN, ANALYTICAL, FUTURISTIC, ORGANIZED, OBJECTIVE, THOROUGH CREATIVE, RESILIENT, SWIFT, VISIONARY, JUGGLER FACILITATION SUGGESTIONS Download a slide deck from our recent Show and Share event for more facilitation notes Set up the experience by explaining that “similarity bias” is an unconscious bias that causes us to show preference for people who are like us. However, teams with a broad spectrum of perspectives and characteristics have been shown to outperform more homogeneous groups. By using the Profiles and Styles Thumball, you hope to expand the group’s understanding of different personality characteristics and types. Together you’ll explore how individuals with different qualities can intersect, balance each other, and improve team performance. GAME 1: FOCUS ON ONE SINGLE QUESTION Choose one question for players to answer when they catch the ball and look at the quality under their thumb. For instance, you might have them answer: How could you use this quality in a positive way? How can you support or encourage this quality? How can you best work with someone with this quality? Why is this quality important to our organization? Which of our personality type(s)/styles encompasses this quality? In what situations might this quality/characteristic be most effective? What happens if this quality is exaggerated… How might someone with this quality manage conflict? GAME 2: ROUND ROBIN In each round of play, answer a different question regarding the qualities on the Thumball. i.e. Round 1: “Catch the ball, look under your thumb, read the prompt aloud and answer: How could this quality be used in a positive way?” Round 2: “Catch the ball, look under your thumb, read the prompt aloud and answer: What happens if this quality is exaggerated…” GAME 3: TEAM PLAY Line up 2 teams opposite each other. The receiving team will catch the ball, read the QUALITY (the word in all caps) and quiz the other team on any one of these: A description or example of what that quality might look like at work. With which style “type(s)” might the quality be associated (i.e. “dominant”; “intuitive”; “spirited,” etc.) NOTE: the “type” should correspond with the specific assessment tool the facilitator has introduced. A colleague/teammate or famous person who is strong in this style GAME 4: STYLE PAIRS Look under both thumbs and consider how those two qualities might interact. Answer: How might those characteristics balance or complement each other? What challenges might arise when these two qualities merge? FACILITATOR SUGGESTIONS Our customer, CPTD-certified Kimberly Robinson, shared these facilitation notes: For the first activity, I gave these instructions: Person #1 (Person holding the ball): Looks at where their thumb is placed. Shares the quality and description on the ball. Person #2 (to the right): Gives an example of what that quality might look like at work. Person #3 (next person): Identifies with which style type this quality might be associated (Drive, Influence, Support, Clarity). Person #4 (final person): Identifies a colleague/teammate (or famous person) who is strong in this style. Bonus: If someone else is strong in this style, speak up, so others know about another one of your gifts! For the Style Pairs activity, after each person caught the ball and shared the qualities, the answered both questions: How might those characteristics balance or complement each other? What challenges might arise when these two qualities merge? ©Trainers Warehouse – Trainers Warehouse holds the copyright for this set of questions. Reproductions cannot be made without express approval. This ball is part of our exclusive Silver Series Thumballs. MORE RESOURCES All about Silver Series Thumballs Tips & Suggestion on Facilitating Thumball Experiences How Deep to Discuss 7 Tips to formulate great questions More tools for great conversations Discover Your Thumball Style How Deep to Discuss Infographic Show more