The Leadership Training Activity Book: 50 Exercises

STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE

Step 1: Ask both facilitators (or substitute with one volunteer) to stand by the

circle of yarn. Facilitator 1 holds the largest ball. Facilitator 2 holds the

other balls. Facilitator 2 asks Facilitator 1: “With your career totally

consuming you, how can you integrate it with the other facets of your

life that I know must also bring you joy and fulfillment?”

Facilitator 1 replies, “If the large ball is work, it is impossible.”

Step 2: Invite one person to come up and stand in the circle of yarn. Announce

that he or she is standing in his or her “circle of life”. Pass the biggest

ball to this volunteer asking how it feels.

Now give her or him the second ball identifying it as the “family” ball,

asking if he or she can manage to hold both at once.

Next adds the third ball identifying it as the “health and exercise ball”

Next add the fourth ball identifying it as the “friends” ball

Next add the fifth ball identifying it as the “volunteer activities” ball

The volunteer starts to get creative about the ways that the balls can

be held.

Explain, “When we are totally overwhelmed by all of the facets of our

lives, we are sometimes told to take more baths. Now I ask you, is this

balance? Is having a little time for youthe solution?” The facilitator tries

to put the bath beads into the volunteer’s hands. (They should fall and

tumble about.)

Allow time for laughter and random comments. Explain that most

new leaders face this dilemma at some time or another—sometimes the

first day or week on the job!

Step 3: One facilitator says, “Let’s look at what balance really is, because it is

different for each of us.”

Ask the volunteer to set the balls down in the circle of yarn on the

floor. Say, “Please reflect on how your life is balanced now. Take these

different parts of your life—all the balls in front of you—and put them

into your life.”

TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE^155