One-Minute Accolade

Intentional Close
An intentional close makes space for participants to reflect on their learning and progress, assess their level of confidence, and identify personal next steps. It encourages participants to recognize the contributions they and others have made to the meeting or learning session and highlights the importance of the work.
Description

The facilitator invites a moment of reflection on the current experience with a question or a prompt, then sets a timer for one minute to allow the group to contribute toward seeing how many voices can be added to the room during that time. Participants might be reluctant or doubtful about putting their voice into the room on top of others’ or their comments getting lost in the noise. Amazingly, groups tend to self-organize into a cadence that accommodates all voices.

When and Why

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Quick, meaningful, and informative, this activity is especially useful when it feels like there just isn’t time for an Intentional Close! Can be a high energy way to close out a session with positivity, humor, and gratitude. Especially appropriate when the group will not be meeting regularly in the future. The activity can create a collective kinesthetic experience of belonging and joy even when people do not know one another well.

How to Facilitate

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  1. Reflect on the current context, the demographics of participants, and the purpose of this engagement. 
  2. Inform participants that you are going to set the timer for one minute (or longer if you have more time). During that time, the group will see how many people it can hear from. 
  3. Invite participants to think silently for a minute about ONE reflection question that you provide, such as: Something you appreciated about today, something you learned, something you want to thank someone for, or something that went very well, something you are grateful for, etc. Tell them to raise their hand when they have an idea of what they’d like to share.
  4. Once several hands are raised, select one person who will start off. Explain that when you start the timer, the first person will go. Then anyone can share, whenever they’re ready. 
  5. Encourage participants to listen attentively to each speaker. When one person finishes, someone else begins. It’s okay if there is quiet between people sharing; that is natural.
  6. Repeat the reflection question and start the timer.
  7. When the timer goes off, listen as the person who is already speaking finishes. Then thank the group and move on. It’s okay if not everyone who wanted to share had a turn this time. With repeated opportunities, the group grows more fluent and also more comfortable with silence between sharing. This closing activity can be used over and over without losing its impact! 
  8. Invite participants to reflect on how they are feeling after this activity and share out into the room.

Modification

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  • With larger groups or as a smaller group becomes more comfortable with this strategy, set the time for two minutes instead of one. For very large groups, expand to three minutes.
  • In a virtual environment, this works well in gallery mode. Preview for the group that it is okay for voices to overlap one another. 

How does One-Minute Accolade support SEL?

Self-Awareness/Identity:
Participants have an opportunity to understand their own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts. Facilitators consider their own and participants’ identities in the design of the practice.

Social Awareness/Belonging:
Participants are encouraged to understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and contexts. Facilitators create an experience of acceptance, respect, and inclusion within a group or community.
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