Walk in the Door Big Share

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Collect initial ideas openly across large shared paper surfaces and build on contributions through timed rotations.

Use it when: At the start of an event or transition to collect divergent input and warm up a group through light physical movement.

Skip it when: When physical table space is absent or when the topic involves confidential or sensitive personal disclosures.

Group arrangement: Whole group rotating individually around shared paper-covered tables.

Timing: Source suggested 15 to 30 minutes; standard UWT run sheet uses 15 minutes.

Materials and tools

• 1 roll of butcher paper or large chart paper to cover the tables
• Masking tape to secure paper edges
• Assorted markers and pens (at least 1 per participant)
• 1 digital countdown timer or chime
• 1 room display screen or whiteboard to show the prompt
• Shared digital whiteboard platform (for remote or hybrid sessions)
• 1 camera-enabled tablet or laptop facing the tables (for hybrid sessions)

Before participants arrive

1. Cover rectangular tables end-to-end with butcher paper and tape down the edges securely.
2. Scatter markers and pens evenly across the paper surface.
3. Display the central prompt or focus question clearly on the room display screen or whiteboard.

Say this to open

Welcome. Before we start our core agenda, we will gather our starting ideas directly on paper across these tables. Pick a marker, find an open spot, and write your first response to our focus question. You will rotate to new spots every minute or two to build on what others write.

How to run it

1. Introduce prompt and setup 2 minutes

   Welcome participants, deliver the opening script, point out the central prompt on the display screen, and invite everyone to take a marker at a station.

2. Write initial thoughts 3 minutes

   Ask participants to write their initial responses or questions directly onto the paper at their station. Mention that adding initials or names next to notes is welcome but optional.

3. Rotate and build 5 minutes

   Sound the chime every 90 seconds. Have participants move clockwise to a new spot, read earlier notes, and write additions, questions, or extensions nearby. Complete 3 rotation cycles.

4. Browse the gallery 2 minutes

   Invite participants to walk the full length of the tables and review the full spread of ideas and conversation threads.

5. Debrief observations 3 minutes

   Gather the group and ask 2 or 3 volunteers to highlight an interesting connection or recurring theme they noticed on the paper.

Debrief questions

• What is one idea written by someone else that changed or expanded your own thinking?
• Which theme appeared most frequently across the tables?

Finished output: A paper-covered table surface filled with participant responses, annotations, and peer-to-peer additions.

Remote

Set up a shared digital whiteboard with 4 to 6 designated rectangular canvas zones that simulate table runners. Participants start in one zone, add initial sticky notes for 2 minutes, then rotate clockwise to the next zone on the facilitator's timer cue to annotate or extend peer ideas.

Hybrid

In-person participants write on the butcher paper while an in-room facilitator or designated proxy mirrors their notes onto the shared digital whiteboard. Remote participants add sticky notes directly to the digital board, and the proxy transcribes those digital notes onto the physical paper table runner during rotation rounds.

Access and participation choices

• Participants who prefer not to stand or walk can sit at an assigned station while others rotate past them, or write on smaller paper sheets passed to them.
• Writing names or initials next to comments is optional. Anyone may contribute anonymously or simply read along.

If the session gets stuck

Participants cluster tightly in one section of the table and leave others blank.

Gently steer arriving participants toward open markers and empty table zones before starting the first timer.

People hesitate to write on someone else's area or comment on an existing thought.

Model a neutral example: draw an arrow from a written note and add '+1, this applies to onboarding too'.

Terms used here

• Butcher paper: A continuous roll of thick utility paper used to cover work surfaces for shared drawing or writing.