Sit Down If

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Notice shared habits and backgrounds across a room through progressive elimination rounds.

Use it when: Use as a light, quick warm-up or transition to get people moving while highlighting unexpected commonalities.

Skip it when: Skip when frequent sit-to-stand movement causes physical discomfort or when competitive elimination styles do not fit the group setting.

Group arrangement: Whole group standing near chairs or visible on camera

Timing: 10-minute facilitation plan based on the source 5 to 15 minute band

Materials and tools

• One facilitator statement list
• One chair per participant

Before participants arrive

1. Arrange chairs so every participant can stand up and sit down without obstruction.
2. Verify statement list contains neutral, broadly accessible topics.

Say this to open

We will play a short round of Sit Down If. If you are comfortable standing, please stand beside your chair. I will read statements one by one. If a statement is true for you, please sit down and stay seated for the rest of this round. You can pass on any statement quietly. Let us see who stays standing the longest.

How to run it

1. Set up and explain rules 2 minutes

   State the rules using the opening script. Invite participants to stand next to their chairs, or clarify the hand-raising option for anyone remaining seated. Confirm that disclosing any item is voluntary.

2. Run round one 3 minutes

   Read statements from the Round 1 list one at a time. Pause five seconds between statements to allow people to sit down. Continue until only one person remains standing, or until all statements have been read.

3. Run round two 3 minutes

   Invite everyone to stand again. Read statements from the Round 2 list using the same procedure until a final participant or group remains standing.

4. Debrief observations 2 minutes

   Invite everyone to take a seat. Ask the debrief questions and take two or three brief whole-room observations before proceeding.

Debrief questions

• Which statement surprised you by how many or how few people sat down?
• What was an experience you assumed was unusual that turned out to be common here?

Finished output: Completion of one or two elimination rounds revealing commonalities across the group.

Remote

All participants turn webcams on. Read statements aloud. Participants switch their video off when a statement applies to them, continuing until one camera remains on.

Hybrid

In-person participants stand and sit near their chairs while remote participants turn video feeds on and off. Project the remote video grid in the physical room so all participants see who remains active.

Access and participation choices

• Participants who prefer not to stand can hold up a hand or card and lower it when a statement applies.
• Any participant may pass on acknowledging a statement without providing a reason.

If the session gets stuck

Several people remain standing after reading all statements in a round.

Read a spontaneous neutral prompt such as 'Sit down if you woke up before 6:00 AM today' to narrow the group.

Participants feel awkward about sitting down on certain items.

Remind the room immediately that sitting is optional and that participants may stay standing if they prefer not to share.

Terms used here

• Elimination format: A game mechanic where individuals step out of active play when specific criteria apply until a final result is reached.