At your next staff meeting, take an opportunity to apply what you have learned from this course. Have everyone engage in “Birthday Line Up.” Instruct them to line up in the order of the months and days of their birthdays. Observe how they go about this task and answer the following questions:

1. Can you identify staff members who fall into the four personality types presented in this lesson?

    

2. Was it easier for veteran staff than new staff?

    

3. What other things did you notice?

    

Afterwards, share your observations. Ask them what the experience was like for them. Activities like this are great teambuilding exercises that also provide you with valuable insights about your team.  Consider printing this activity and asking the following questions with staff to guide their reflection:

1. How did you begin?
2. What strategies did you use to communicate?
3. Did roles emerge? Was there a leader?
4. What did you get stuck on? What was difficult? What was easy?
5. What did you realize about each other’s communication styles or preferences?
6. What connections did you make between this activity and how we work together as a staff team?