9
Activity 9
The Surprise Question
5–8 minutesDiscussion & reflectionIcebreakers & connectionWhole groupIn personVirtualHybrid
What is this activity?
Spark curiosity by asking a question that challenges assumptions.
Preparation
Choose a surprising question or thought experiment linked to the topic.
How to run it
- 1Ask participants to predict the answer.
- 2Gather a few explanations.
- 3Reveal the key insight.
- 4Connect it to the skill or principle being taught.
Example in Action
Open a workshop on decision-making by asking: Would you rather have 10 options or just 3? Most participants may assume more choice is better. Invite them to explain their reasoning, then introduce the idea that too many options can sometimes make decisions harder. Discuss where this happens in their work.
Make it your own
Adapt the topic, scenario or materials to suit your audience.
Found in collections