Phase 02 – Communication & Active Listening
Make The Person Do is a verbal communication exercise where one participant follows only literal spoken instructions. The group must become precise, coordinated, and clear if they want the task to succeed.
How to run Make The Person Do Verbal Communication Exercise
- Divide participants into two groups and choose one timekeeper.
- Choose one person, X, to perform the task.
- Give X simple tasks, such as sitting on a specific chair or putting on a hat.
- X may follow only clear spoken instructions and must not interpret gestures or unclear language.
- Each group has 30 seconds to guide X before the other group takes a turn.
- After several rounds, reflect on how clarity, listening, and coordination affected the result.
What it develops
- precise verbal communication
- active listening
- clear instruction-giving
- team coordination
- responsibility in communication
- movement from competition to cooperation
Facilitator notes
The first rounds may feel competitive, but the deeper value appears when the group notices that success depends on shared clarity rather than speed or volume.
Reflection questions
- Which instructions were easy to follow and why?
- Where did ambiguity appear?
- How did the group coordinate under time pressure?
- When did competition begin to shift toward collaboration?
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