Postcard to a Friend

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Synthesize key takeaways and practical advice from a completed training session into concrete written summaries.

Use it when: Use at the end of a workshop or course when participants need to consolidate what they learned and articulate practical tips before leaving.

Skip it when: Skip when the group has not completed shared content or when there is insufficient time for both individual reflection and small-group synthesis.

Group arrangement: Individual reflection followed by small teams of 3 to 6 people.

Timing: Source indicates 15 to 30 minutes; standard UWT run is set to 20 minutes.

Materials and tools

• Postcard-sized card stock or 4x6 index cards (1 per person)
• Pens or fine markers (1 per person)
• Flipchart paper (1 sheet per subgroup)
• Broad-tipped markers (2 per subgroup)
• Painter's tape for posting flipcharts

Before participants arrive

1. Place one blank index card and one pen at each seat.
2. Set flipchart sheets and markers at small-group tables or side stations.
3. Clear wall space for hanging group posters.

Say this to open

Imagine it is three months ago, and you received a note from a colleague or friend who plans to attend this exact session. They want to know what it was like and how to get the most value out of it. You will write a postcard back to them sharing one or two session highlights and two specific pieces of advice.

How to run it

1. Brief the scenario and write postcards 5 minutes

   Explain the scenario using the opening script. Give everyone five minutes of quiet time to write their highlights and two tips on their card. If anyone finishes early, invite them to sketch a stamp or small doodle on the card. Collect or ask participants to hold their cards when the timer sounds.

2. Compare notes in small groups 5 minutes

   Divide participants into teams of 3 to 6 people. Ask each person to read their postcard highlights and advice aloud to their group. If a group has an uneven count, form groups of 3, 4, or 5 to keep speaking turns balanced.

3. Draft joint giant postcard 5 minutes

   Distribute one horizontal flipchart sheet and markers to each team. Direct teams to combine their strongest insights into a single giant postcard addressed to the imaginary friend, featuring their top highlights and consensus advice.

4. Display and gallery walk 5 minutes

   Have teams tape their flipcharts to the wall. Give everyone three minutes to walk around and read the advice from other tables. Bring the room back together and take 2 or 3 brief observations on common themes across the walls.

Debrief questions

• Which piece of advice appeared most frequently across the posters?
• What is one practical action you advised your friend to take that you plan to apply yourself tomorrow?

Finished output: Individual written postcard cards and group flipchart posters summarizing advice and key session highlights.

Remote

Use a digital whiteboard with a template showing blank postcard shapes. In breakout rooms of 3 to 5, participants add individual sticky notes with their highlights and advice, then use a shared horizontal slide or whiteboard frame to design their group postcard.

Hybrid

In-person teams create physical flipcharts while remote breakout groups create digital slides. Project the digital slides in the physical room and share a photo or screen feed of the physical wall posters in the virtual meeting room.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may type advice on a phone or laptop instead of handwriting if fine-motor writing is difficult.
• Anyone may choose to share only one tip, or pass during small-group reading while contributing to the joint poster discussion.
• Facilitator must request voluntary consent if individual cards will be retained or shared with future cohorts.

If the session gets stuck

Participants write generic feedback about the logistics rather than session content.

Remind the room to focus on practical tips and insights they learned, such as 'Take notes during the role-play' rather than 'The lunch was tasty'.

One team member dominates the poster design.

Ask groups to assign one writer and one presenter, or ensure each member dictates one specific bullet point onto the shared chart.

Terms used here

• Closer: An activity conducted at the conclusion of a training module or workshop to consolidate learning and review takeaways.