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Exercises/Relationship Mapping/Interaction map
Relationship Mapping

Interaction map

Interaction map is a relationship mapping exercise that helps participants build useful connections and understand how people, roles, or ideas relate.

5 to 15 minutesTIME
Medium group (9-25)GROUP SIZE
ActiveENERGY
In person, RemoteSETTING
High cognitive loadCOGNITIVE LOAD
Strengthens Network Design This relationship mapping exercise strengthens Network Design, one of the eight Gathering Effectiveness pillars.

How to run it

  1. Optional: digital tools like Miro or MURAL for online mapping.
  2. Explain what an interaction map is and how it helps understand complex systems.
  3. Introduce the context or topic to be analyzed (e.g., “How do the different actors interact in a community project?”).
  4. Facilitate a brainstorming session for participants to identify relevant actors in the system.
  5. Write each actor on a sticky note or card and place it in the workspace.
  6. Guiding question: “Who is directly or indirectly involved in this system?”
Live facilitator

Run this exercise live

The facilitator console stays in this browser. Its QR handoff is a short-lived participant snapshot containing only public exercise instructions, phase, prompt, and timer state.

Prompts to use +

Explain what an interaction map is and how it helps understand complex systems.

Facilitate a brainstorming session for participants to identify relevant actors in the system.

Write each actor on a sticky note or card and place it in the workspace.

Run this with your AI assistant +

Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.

Adapt this exercise for my exact room. Exercise: Interaction map. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Explain what an interaction map is and how it helps understand complex systems.; Facilitate a brainstorming session for participants to identify relevant actors in the system.; Write each actor on a sticky note or card and place it in the workspace.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.

Origin unverified

  • Where we observed it: The strongest current observations come from Participatory Methods; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (1 source observed, including Participatory Methods.)
  • What that means: we track where an exercise has been observed in public sources. We do not claim to know who created it, or how popular it is.
  • No efficacy claims: appearing in this library is not a claim that the exercise is proven effective. Facilitator judgment and context decide whether it works for a given room.
  • Corrections: if you have evidence of an earlier or more accurate source, read our methodology and trust boundary and tell us.

Pairs well with