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Exercises/Reflection and Learning/Pros and Cons - The Basics
Team Reflection ยท Reflection and Learning

Pros and Cons - The Basics

Pros and Cons - The Basics is a team reflection exercise for reflection and learning: it helps participants reflect on experience and turn observations into learning.

5 to 15 minutesTIME
PairsGROUP SIZE
BalancedENERGY
In person, RemoteSETTING
High cognitive loadCOGNITIVE LOAD
Strengthens Learning Transfer This reflection and learning exercise strengthens Learning Transfer, one of the eight Gathering Effectiveness pillars.

How to run it

  1. In addition, weighing each argument against criteria also provide evidence to support a choice.
  2. Pros and Cons list also make group members become aware of the consequences of an action, thereby the opportunity to consider each other's perspective before making a decision.
  3. Start by putting down your decision on a sheet of paper and dividing them vertically into the pros and cons.
  4. List the positive consequence of each decision on the pros column and the negative on the cons column.
  5. At this stage, you might know whether to implement the decision or not. However, if it isn't clear yet, simply consider the point you have put down and assign a value to each one.
  6. For example, a score of +5 may be strongly favorable, while -1 may be unfavorable. Try to be as objective as possible.
  7. Add the scores on each column and subtract the total cons from the total pros.
  8. A positive score shows that the decision will yield a positive result, while a negative score indicates that you shouldn't go ahead with the decision.
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 +

In addition, weighing each argument against criteria also provide evidence to support a choice.

Pros and Cons list also make group members become aware of the consequences of an action, thereby the opportunity to consider each other's perspective before making a decision.

Start by putting down your decision on a sheet of paper and dividing them vertically into the pros and cons.

List the positive consequence of each decision on the pros column and the negative on the cons column.

At this stage, you might know whether to implement the decision or not. However, if it isn't clear yet, simply consider the point you have put down and assign a value to each one.

A positive score shows that the decision will yield a positive result, while a negative score indicates that you shouldn't go ahead with the decision.

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: Pros and Cons - The Basics. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: In addition, weighing each argument against criteria also provide evidence to support a choice.; Pros and Cons list also make group members become aware of the consequences of an action, thereby the opportunity to consider each other's perspective before making a decision.; Start by putting down your decision on a sheet of paper and dividing them vertically into the pros and cons.; List the positive consequence of each decision on the pros column and the negative on the cons column.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.

Origin unverified

  • Where we observed it: The current corpus has one observed source organization: EasyRetro. (1 source observed, including EasyRetro.)
  • 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