Breakouts and Popcorn

This is the original form of Connection Before Content first spelled out by Peter Block. The mechanics are simple, yet the impact consistently transforms the energy of the group.

Frame It

“Questions are like keys that unlock something inside of the infinitely massive library of our life experience. In order to connect to the purpose of why we are here and to connect to each other, I’ve got a question for you.”

Tip: one of our favorite, flexible questions is: what are you intending to achieve, and what about that is important?

Objective

Warm up our brains with some small group discussions to highlight why we are gathered and to learn something about the people in this room that you didn’t already know.

Guidelines

✓ Once you pose your question to the group, split everybody into breakouts ideally with three people per group.

✓ Let the conversation flow for five to seven minutes.

✓ After bringing people back, give everyone a quiet moment to reflect before inviting them to “popcorn” out answers to this question: what struck you about those conversations? Or another good one to have in your back pocket: what did you notice about that conversation? Both of these questions invite the group to reflect below the surface of what was shared directly. This takes the conversation far beyond a typical, boring “report out.”

Leadership Tips

✓ You can connect to purpose really easily by adding “what about that is important?” to the end of just about any question.

✓ Any question that you use that connects to your purpose and allows people to share their truth is perfect!

✓ The best way to avoid awkward silence is to create productive silence. The “Popcorn Method” gives everyone a chance to reflect before asking for quick, punchy responses. This style of sharing out is both more engaging and less threatening than a typical report out.

✓ This method of Connection Before Content is one of the most simple and profound ways to scale a culture of learning and connection across an organization, team, group or event. It is well worth the five to ten minutes it takes to run.

✓ Lastly, as long as your question is relevant, it is difficult to overuse this exercise. When Chad taught at the university level, nearly every class would begin with this process.