This document provides instructions for an activity on communication. Participants are asked to discuss communication with their neighbors, noting how much time they spent talking versus listening. They then brainstorm aspects of communication in small groups, categorizing them as positive or negative, and matching barriers to potential solutions. Any remaining barriers without solutions are identified to generate additional solutions. The goal is to reflect on communication and generate ideas to address challenges.

1. Communication
Nathan Loynes

2. Before we start…
Spend five minutes
talking with your
neighbours

3. Reflect upon what has just happened
• Having communicated with your neighbours
over the last few minutes:
• Estimate the percentage of the time you did
the talking?
• Estimate the percentage of the time you did
the listening?
• Which is the most valuable aspect of
communication and why?

4. In Small Groups
On the post-its, come up
with as many aspects of
communication that you can
think of…. Which group can
come up with the most?

5. Decide amongst yourselves:
• Is each post-it a ‘positive’ aspect of
communication or a ‘negative’
aspect?
• Put the positives on one pile and the
negatives on another. (Create
another small pile for any ‘not sures’
if there are any).

6. On the flip chart paper
1. Draw a vertical line down the centre dividing
the sheet in half.
2. Write ‘barrier’ on the top of one half and
‘solution’ on the top of the other half.
3. Put all the negative post-its on your barrier
side and all the positive post-its on your
solution side.
4. Can you match any barriers with solutions
from your two piles of post-its?

7. The left overs
• Are there any ‘left over’
barrier post-its that are not
paired with a solution?
• What are they?

8. In your groups
• On unused post-its, try and
come up with a
communication solution for
left over barrier/negative
post-its.