60 minutes (30 minutes for small-group work; 10 minutes for group reports; 20 minutes for debriefing)
Work L–M P, T, D, M
1. To encourage people to think and talk about their own values and life histories as related to work, including culturally embodied patterns
2. To explore possible team conflicts that occur when an individual’s values are not consistent with the group values
3. To explore possible conflicts that can occur between individuals based on value differences
• Flipchart and marking pens
• Masking tape to hang paper on walls
Note: This activity will get off to a good start if you begin with a story from your personal life to demonstrate what is expected and to help participants feel some safety in the request to share personal information.
1. Divide participants into small groups of 4–7 and give them approximately 30 minutes to discuss the following questions:
• What messages or lessons did you learn from your family about work? Who taught you? How?
• At what age did you first start paid employment? Describe what you did.
• What was positive about this first work experience?
• What work-related values do you hold today based on any of the above?
2. Ask each group to write on newsprint the values identified, potential value conflicts within the group, and strategies or behaviors that could help the group avoid or resolve value differences.
3. Ask a representative from each small group to report on one potential value issue and the group’s suggestions for ways to avoid or resolve the conflict.
1. What happened during your group discussions? What similarities or differences did you identify in childhood messages?
2. How did you feel during the small-group discussion? Were there people whose values you identified with? Didn’t feel comfortable with? Why?
3. What personal values were touched on during your discussion? Did any of your values make this discussion easier or more difficult?
4. What have you learned? What potential conflicts did you identify?
5. How can you use what you learned in your everyday work life? What specific tools or strategies were you able to identify to avoid or reduce conflicts?
1. Early lessons from our family and our earliest work experiences help to shape our work values.
2. We each bring our values to work. When our values differ from the values of others at work, conflicts may result.
3. A group has the ability to identify ways to avoid or reduce value-based conflicts. The most important step is a willingness to discuss the differences in nonjudgmental ways.
Adapted from an activity by Carol Wolf in Experiential Activities for Intercultural Learning, edited by H. Ned Seelye.