Challenge Axis

Description

Individuals plot their personal challenges onto a shared X/Y axis to rate each challenge as simple, complicated, complex, or chaotic. Group results allow the facilitator to understand participants better as well as match specific participants for other discussions or activities.

Why we like it

Allows individual and group expression without words or discussion.  Discussion can be added after drawing and use of shapes and shared means can be made more or less flexible. 

Process

1. Ask participants to think of their challenges related to the program topic. For example, in a presentation program, keeping eye contact with the audience is a common challenge. Note: Some of these challenges may have arisen in pre-work surveys.

2. Show participants the shared whiteboard containing the X/Y Challenge Axis labeled with simple, complicated, complex, or chaotic. Explain the meanings of each quadrant:
Simple: easy to resolve and results are predictable
Complicated: harder to resolve and may require expert advice or practice, yet results are predictable
Complex: many possible ways to resolve but results not predictable
Chaotic: when the situation is too turbulent to create a path forward

3. Ask participants to plot their challenges on the X/Y Challenge Axis.

4. Discuss challenges and why participants positioned challenges. Consider pairing participants with similar challenges in future activities and discussions.

An example X/Y Challenge Axis on Miro.com

Daisy chain options

a) Save the finished X/Y axis for comparison over time.
b) Modify your X/Y axis to measure other variables or use one quadrant to measure 2 variables (ex. speed vs. conflict in negotiations).
c) Use a 2nd camera to show a physical whiteboard or sticky note board. See the activity “2nd Camera Display” for details.

Tech tip

You could create your own X/Y axis in your platform’s built-in whiteboard, but Miro and Mural whiteboards have more functions, better arrangement quality, and better zoom options for content quantity.

External links

Digital whiteboards: Board, Limnu, Miro, and Mural

Attribution

See Liberating Structures for the original activity and examples made in-person.

Share using the icons below or direct link to this activity: https://knowmium.com/tools/2020/4/15/challenge-axis-7fnk9