Curious or Common

This method is one of the most powerful framings to create connections across differences for people.

You can’t lead this exercise from scratch. You’ll want to choose one of the previous methods or exercises. Then layer this exercise you add this one on top of it.

Frame It

“All too often we mistake commonalities as a synonym for connection. In reality, connecting over our differences is often far more engaging, interesting and intriguing. Drew Dudley once said in a TEDx talk that ‘There is no world. There are only six billion different perspectives of it.’ Let’s see if we can uncover one today.”

Objective

Reflect on past conversations to highlight some of the hidden connections that have yet to be discovered.

Guidelines

✓ Draw a T-chart on a piece of paper. On the left column write “Common” and on the left write “Curious”

✓ Reflecting on the connections you’ve made today, write down the commonalities you share with somebody in this group. On the “curious” column list out things that you are curious about from what you heard the group said.

✓ You’ve got five minutes to fill up that list with as many items as you can.

✓ Now, split out into breakouts to debrief your list with your group. Acknowledge commonalities briefly, but then dive into your curiosities.

Leadership Tips

✓ This exercise is a bit of an advanced method. We do not recommend starting this off with a group. It requires a solid foundation of psychological safety to do well.

✓ Give a minimum of 15 minutes for this exercise to really do it well.

✓ Stating the idea that “conversation is exponential” can be a freeing concept to unleash a group’s curiosity. People often learn things about colleagues even if they’ve worked side by side for over a decade.