# Five Finger Contract Participants review and adopt five core group norms using the fingers of an open hand as a visual framework. The group confirms shared operating standards before starting collective work. **Time:** 15 minutes. Playmeo lists 2 to 5 minutes for small groups. UWT expands this to 15 minutes to include clear practical examples, clarification, consensus checks, and debriefing. **People:** 3 to 24. Whole-group presentation followed by plenary clarification, individual assent, and a short debrief. ## Choose this exercise **Purpose:** Establish five explicit group behavioral agreements using a memorable physical hand model. **Use it when:** Use at the start of a workshop, project kickoff, or team retreat to set shared expectations quickly without prolonged policy drafting. **Skip it when:** Skip when a group already operates under established team charters or when agreements require formal organizational policy review. ## Materials and tools - 1 chart paper pad or whiteboard surface - 1 marker - Optional: printed copy of Five Finger Contract Reference Sheet per person ## Before participants arrive 1. Write the five tenets on the board or chart paper where all participants can read them: Thumb = Agreement, Index = Responsibility, Middle = Awareness, Ring = Commitment, Pinky = Safety. ## Say this to open Before we begin our work together, we need clear rules for how we treat each other. We will use the five fingers on our hands to establish five specific norms. I will explain each finger, show what it looks like in practice, and ask if we can all commit to it. ## How to run it ### 1. Introduce the hand model (2 minutes) Hold up your open hand with all five fingers spread. Deliver the opening script. Point to your hand and explain that each finger stands for one core ground rule. ### 2. Walk through the five tenets (5 minutes) Present each finger with its definition and concrete example: Pinky is Safety (example: speaking up if an exercise feels unsafe). Ring finger is Commitment (example: silencing phones and arriving back from breaks on time). Middle finger is Awareness (example: noticing who has not spoken yet). Index finger is Responsibility (example: admitting a mistake instead of blaming a colleague). Thumb is Agreement (example: giving an explicit thumbs up to abide by these rules). ### 3. Clarify and test understanding (3 minutes) Ask if any definition needs refinement for today's context. Invite up to two questions or suggested wording adjustments. Update terms on the chart paper if the room agrees. ### 4. Confirm consensus (2 minutes) Ask everyone who agrees to abide by these five tenets to show support by holding up an open hand, giving a thumbs-up, or typing 'Agree' in chat. Note that anyone may propose an alternative phrasing or pass without penalty. ### 5. Debrief commitments (3 minutes) Ask the group: 'Which of these five commitments will be most important for our work today?' Take two or three quick verbal responses from volunteers to conclude the agreement. ## Debrief questions - Which of these five commitments will be most important for our work today? - If someone notices a norm slipping during our session, how do we want that person to point it out? **Finished output:** A visible chart of five agreed ground rules endorsed by whole-room verbal or visual assent. ## Remote Display a slide showing the five-finger diagram on screen. Walk through the fingers on video camera. Have remote participants type 'Agree' in chat or use an on-screen reaction icon to confirm their commitment. ## Hybrid Display the hand diagram in the room and screen-share it for remote participants. Call for consensus simultaneously: in-person participants raise a hand, while remote participants raise a physical hand on camera or post 'Agree' in the chat. ## Access and participation choices - Participants can express agreement verbally, by typing in chat, or with a simple head nod instead of raising physical fingers. - Anyone uncomfortable with a specific tenet may offer alternative wording, decline a specific finger, or pass without public explanation. ## If the session gets stuck **Participants giggle or make jokes about the middle finger.** Acknowledge the joke briefly and refocus: state that its height reminds us to stand tall, look around the room, and stay aware of each other's needs. **Someone objects to total commitment during a busy workday.** Clarify the scope immediately: commitment means being transparent about attention, such as letting the team know in advance if you must step away for an urgent issue. ## Terms used here - Full Value Contract: An experiential group agreement model where members commit to physical and emotional safety and mutual respect. ## Participant material: Five Finger Contract Reference Sheet FIVE FINGER CONTRACT 1. Little Finger (Pinky) = SAFETY Take care of your own safety and the physical and emotional safety of others. 2. Ring Finger = COMMITMENT Stay present, honor the agreed timetable, and support the group's common purpose. 3. Middle Finger = AWARENESS Stay mindful of your language, assumptions, and impact on people around you. 4. Index (Pointer) Finger = RESPONSIBILITY Own your actions, focus on solutions, and avoid blaming others. 5. Thumb = AGREEMENT Confirm your voluntary consent to abide by these five standards throughout our session. ## Sources and adaptation Observed in Playmeo Activity Database, credited to Mark Collard. Hand-based group agreement frameworks derive from Project Adventure's Full Value Contract traditions. Retained the five core hand metaphors (safety, commitment, awareness, responsibility, agreement) documented in Playmeo records. UWT extended the sequence to 15 minutes to include concrete facilitator examples for each finger, consensus checks, explicit pass options, and a structured debrief step. [Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/team-building-problem-solving-activities/five-finger-contract/) [Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/team-building-problem-solving-activities/five-finger-contract) Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/visual-group-agreement-tool-for-teams-five-finger-contract/