MONEY EXCHANGE

This exercise is designed to encourage participants to share ideas within a group. It is quick and easy to run and it physically demonstrates the value of sharing an idea as opposed to saying nothing.

WHEN TO USE THIS EXERCISE
This exercise can be used in a variety of situations, in any kind of safety meeting, training session or group discussion, when people are quiet and not contributing to discussions, or ideas are not forthcoming from participants.

This exercise works best when conducted with small to medium sized groups (six to twenty five participants).

DURATION
Allow approximately 5 minutes.

MATERIALS REQUIRED
None.

HOW TO RUN THIS EXERCISE

STEP 1 Ask one of the participants in the group if you could borrow a dollar.  After you get one dollar ask another person if you could borrow a dollar.

Once you get the second dollar, hold it up so all the other participants can see it then go back to the first participant and repay them the dollar you borrowed.

Go to a third person and ask to borrow a dollar and repeat the process.

STEP 2 Ask the participants this question: “Are any of these people richer for this exchange?”

Get responses from the participants e.g. of course not.

STEP 3 Point out to the group that if these individuals had been exchanging ideas, then not only would they have been richer for the experience, but many of us who were not directly involved could have also benefited.

GUIDANCE NOTES FOR GROUP DISCUSSION
Examples of discussion questions include:

• What factors prevent us from sharing ideas with the group?
• What factors assist us to share ideas with the group?
• How can we use this information to encourage participation within this group?
• Is there anything else we can do to improve group discussions and interaction?

ATTACHMENTS
None.