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. Thumballs 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
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?
©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.
