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Exercises/Divergent Ideation/Walking Backwards
Ideation Warm-Up ยท Divergent Ideation

Walking Backwards

Doing things backwards triggers both sides of the brain and different receptors/reactions that helps reset a participant group.

5 to 15 minutesTIME
Small group (4-8)GROUP SIZE
ActiveENERGY
In personSETTING
Low cognitive loadCOGNITIVE LOAD
Strengthens Participation Architecture This divergent ideation exercise strengthens Participation Architecture, one of the eight Gathering Effectiveness pillars.

How to run it

  1. Ask the participants to stand up and walk 5 steps back from where they previously were
  2. Then ask them to turn around and repeat the 5 steps usually finding their seat and sitting down while doing everything backwards
  3. Did anyone sit back down in their chairs backwards?
  4. Walking Backwards Timing <5 minutes Purpose/Objectives Quick Description Doing things backwards triggers both sides of the brain and different receptors/reactions that helps reset a participant group.
  5. Process Ask the participants to stand up and walk 5 steps back from where they previously were.
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 +

Ask the participants to stand up and walk 5 steps back from where they previously were

Then ask them to turn around and repeat the 5 steps usually finding their seat and sitting down while doing everything backwards

Did anyone sit back down in their chairs backwards?

Walking Backwards Timing <5 minutes Purpose/Objectives Quick Description Doing things backwards triggers both sides of the brain and different receptors/reactions that helps reset a participant group.

Process Ask the participants to stand up and walk 5 steps back from where they previously were.

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: Walking Backwards. Readiness: Publishable Draft. Core moves: Ask the participants to stand up and walk 5 steps back from where they previously were; Then ask them to turn around and repeat the 5 steps usually finding their seat and sitting down while doing everything backwards; Did anyone sit back down in their chairs backwards?; Walking Backwards Timing <5 minutes Purpose/Objectives Quick Description Doing things backwards triggers both sides of the brain and different receptors/reactions that helps reset a participant group.. Return a concise facilitator script with timing, wording, safety notes, and remote/in-person adjustments.

Origin unverified

  • Where we observed it: The strongest current observations come from Relationship Makers Handbook; aggregators are listed as additional observations, not origin proof. (1 source observed, including Relationship Makers Handbook.)
  • 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