Objectives

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Surface participant priorities and align expectations with the facilitator target objective for the session.

Use it when: At the start of a structured workshop or training course where participants benefit from testing their assumptions against the stated focus.

Skip it when: Open discovery or unguided brainstorming sessions that lack predetermined facilitator targets.

Group arrangement: Pairs or trios (up to 8 subgroups of 2 to 3 people)

Timing: Includes the source 5-minute subgroup discussion alongside structured 2-minute setup, 4-minute room share, and 4-minute reveal debrief.

Materials and tools

• 1 flipchart easel or whiteboard
• Flipchart paper (including 1 cover sheet)
• 1 marker pen per subgroup plus 1 for the facilitator
• Index cards or blank scrap paper (1 per subgroup)

Before participants arrive

1. Pick one target word or short phrase representing the core objective of the course (for example: Compliance, Safety, or Application).
2. Write this word on a lower flipchart page and cover it completely with a blank top sheet so it stays hidden from view.

Say this to open

Welcome. Under this cover sheet on the flipchart, I have written one word that captures what I see as our central objective for today. Before I reveal it, work in your small groups to decide what you think the main objective of this session should be. Write your single word or short phrase on your card.

How to run it

1. Introduce challenge and form subgroups 2 minutes

   Speak the opening script. Form participants into pairs or trios (maximum 8 subgroups). Give each subgroup one index card and one marker pen.

2. Confer and write group objective 5 minutes

   Groups confer to pick their top objective for the training. Each group writes its single word or short phrase clearly on its card. Call time at 5 minutes.

3. Hear subgroup choices 4 minutes

   Ask all groups to hold up their cards at once. Call on 4 to 6 groups to read their word and give a 15-second reason for choosing it. Ensure no group exceeds 20 seconds.

4. Reveal hidden objective and debrief 4 minutes

   Lift the cover sheet to reveal the facilitator word. Explain your rationale. Connect the participant suggestions to the agenda using the debrief questions.

Debrief questions

• How does your group's focus overlap with or differ from this target objective?
• Which parts of your own objectives can we incorporate into today's work?

Finished output: Subgroup index cards displaying proposed objectives compared against the revealed facilitator objective.

Remote

Conceal the target word on a digital slide or whiteboard behind an opaque shape. Form breakout rooms of 2 or 3 participants for 5 minutes. On return, each group pastes its objective into the chat and one nominated speaker shares a 15-second rationale via microphone. The facilitator deletes the shape to reveal the hidden word and discusses the comparison.

Hybrid

Form in-person pairs and separate remote breakout pairs. Remote participants write their objective on a shared digital board or in the main chat. In-person pairs hold up physical index cards. Use the room camera to broadcast the physical flipchart reveal to remote screens so all participants see it at the same moment.

Access and participation choices

• Subgroups can present verbally or rely purely on their written card display.
• Any participant may contribute ideas during subgroup talk without acting as the room spokesperson.

If the session gets stuck

Groups write long descriptive sentences instead of a concise target.

Remind participants before writing that cards must feature only a single word or two-word phrase.

No group matches the facilitator word and participants feel misled.

Explain immediately that the exercise is not a trick test, but a way to compare personal priorities with the planned agenda.

Terms used here

• Cover sheet: A blank sheet placed over prepared flipchart writing to keep it hidden until revealed.