Glad to Be Here

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Establish attention and vocal presence at the start of a session through a quick, low-stakes prompt.

Use it when: Use at the start of a meeting, training, or workshop when you need a fast warm-up that gets every voice into the room without lengthy introductions.

Skip it when: Skip when participants are attending under heavy duress, during crisis meetings, or when time requires moving straight into business without an opening warm-up.

Group arrangement: Whole group for up to 12 participants; parallel subgroups of 4 to 6 for larger groups.

Timing: Relationship Makers Handbook suggests under 5 minutes; UWT establishes 6 minutes to allow structured setup, rapid turns for up to 24 people, and brief wrap-up.

Materials and tools

• Timer or watch

Before participants arrive

1. Write the prompt visibly on a board, slide, or chat box: 'If I were not here today, I would be [activity], and I am glad I do not have to.'

Say this to open

Welcome everyone. To get our voices in the room, we are doing a fast round called Glad to Be Here. I will model it first. The sentence to finish is: 'If I were not here today, I would be [blank], and I am glad I do not have to.' For example: 'If I were not here today, I would be sorting through two hundred backlogged emails, and I am glad I do not have to.' Keep your answer to one quick sentence. You may also pass by simply saying your name and 'Glad to be here.'

How to run it

1. Introduce prompt and give model 1 minutes

   Speak the opening script, state the exact prompt, and give one brief, neutral example. Give participants 15 seconds of silent thought to choose their task.

2. Set sequence and subgrouping 1 minutes

   If the group has 12 or fewer people, establish a visible speaking order around the circle or call sheet. If the group has 13 to 24 people, split them into small clusters of 4 to 6 people to share simultaneously.

3. Share responses in rapid sequence 3 minutes

   Run the sharing round. Keep each turn under 10 seconds. Each person states their name and their one-sentence response. If someone pauses or chooses not to share an errand, accept a simple 'Pass' or 'Glad to be here' without delay.

4. Close the warm-up 1 minutes

   Acknowledge the completion of the round. Transition immediately into the primary agenda topic.

Debrief questions

• What common patterns or chores stood out across the room?
• How does naming what we avoided help set our focus for the work ahead?

Finished output: Every participant has had an opportunity to speak once to the group or their subgroup, establishing shared presence.

Remote

Display the sentence prompt on a shared slide or in the meeting chat. Call names in alphabetical order or based on the attendee list. Participants unmute, speak their single sentence, and mute again. Those who prefer not to speak aloud may type their sentence into the chat.

Hybrid

Display the prompt on the shared digital screen and in the virtual chat. Alternate speaking turns between an in-person room member and a remote participant so both environments move at the same pace.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may pass entirely by saying 'Pass' or 'Glad to be here' without explanation.
• Participants can submit their response in writing via chat or paper card instead of speaking out loud.

If the session gets stuck

A participant begins detailing a long, complicated personal story about why they dislike a chore.

Gently interject with appreciation: 'Thank you. Let us keep these strictly to one sentence each so everyone gets their turn before our start time.'

A participant feels uncomfortable revealing their work backlog or home tasks.

Remind the room that lighthearted or trivial examples like 'folding laundry' or 'sitting in rush-hour traffic' are completely acceptable, or they may simply say 'Glad to be here.'