Gratitude Circle

How to Play

Setup

1. Schedule 5–10 minutes at the start of a meeting or during a transition when morale or focus could use a boost.
2. Arrange seating in a circle for in-person groups, or use gallery view for virtual meetings. Ensure everyone can see and hear one another.
3. Share the prompt in advance: each person offers one thing they are grateful for today, work-related or personal, in one concise sentence.
4. Decide the speaking order: clockwise around the circle, roster order, or facilitator cues. For large groups, consider breakout rooms of 6–8 people.
5. Set a visible timer and a pace guide: 5–15 seconds per person keeps the activity to time.
6. Establish psychological safety: participation is invited, passing is allowed, and the circle is judgment-free and confidential.

How to Play

1. Introduce the purpose in one sentence: gratitude shifts mindsets toward positivity and strengthens connection.
2. State the norms: one voice at a time, brief shares, no cross-talk or advice, attentive listening.
3. Model a share as facilitator to set tone and length. Example: I am grateful that our client praised the demo because the team worked hard.
4. Go around in the chosen order. Each person shares one specific gratitude from today (work or life). Specifics help: say what and why.
5. Allow a pass. If someone prefers to listen, they can pass without explanation. Offer them a chance to share at the end if they wish.
6. Keep it moving. Use gentle cues or a soft signal to transition if someone exceeds time.
7. Close with a brief reflection or acknowledgment. Options: a collective thank-you, a quick round of snaps, or a one-sentence takeaway about what the group noticed.

Rules

1. One sentence per person; aim for 5–15 seconds.
2. Be specific and present-focused (today or this week).
3. No fixing, advising, or judging others’ shares. Listen with curiosity.
4. Confidentiality applies; share your own stories, not others’.
5. Passes are always okay. No pressure to disclose personal details.
6. Virtual etiquette: mute when not speaking; cameras on if comfortable.
7. Inclusive language and respect for different backgrounds and beliefs.

Tips

• Use a visible countdown timer to maintain pace.
• Rotate facilitators to build ownership across the team.
• Offer optional themes: people, progress, learning, health, customer wins.
• Encourage occasional peer gratitude: name a teammate you appreciate and why.
• Hybrid groups: alternate between remote and in-room voices to balance airtime.
• Capture highlights in a shared doc or channel to revisit during tough weeks.

Variations

• Pair then share: partners share first, then each offers one highlight to the circle.
• Chat waterfall (virtual): everyone types their gratitude and hits enter together on cue.
• Talking piece (in-person): gently pass a soft object to indicate who speaks next.
• Breakout circles: for very large groups, use rooms of 6–8, then a plenary recap.
• Theme day: gratitude for small wins, learning moments, or customer impact.
• Sticky wall: write gratitudes on notes, post on a wall, and read a few aloud.