I had a great conversation over lunch with someone about waffles, and how each waffle square represents the pressures of life.
Work, free time, kids, travel, bills, responsibilities, and so on… and all those pressures build up (in the waffle iron, I suppose)!
Life is a like a waffle.
…So I started thinking about culture, too. How can culture be represented in a grid? How can I design an activity around culture and norms, using a grid, like a waffle, to get a better understanding of…?
Culture is (can be) like a waffle.
My culture. Your culture. Our culture.
Fair warning – for those who know me, you know that I love Post-It notes, and going all out when it comes to workshops and things like this.
So here you go… an activity you can do with your team, with yourself, or with a larger organization to better understand your culture (values, emotions, and challenges), and the culture of others – those you work with, associate with, and so on.
Another note – this will generate A LOT of data points if you want it, so prepare accordingly. And you’ll need some materials. Especially Unicorn Sparkle Ice Cream…
If you want me to lead you in this activity, let me know. You and your team will be better off for it and will learn a thing or two about yourselves, and YOUR culture.
The Culture Waffle (GRID) – An Activity
The basic waffle has a 3×3 grid of delicious squares to fill with syrup, ice cream, or some bespoke French strawberry jam. Or data.
Each participant will need a grid of 3×3 Post-It notes in front of them and a pen. Get the real deal – super sticky brand name. Don’t skimp. They won’t stick. Trust me.
Using the prompts below, lead the group in an inventory activity by asking the questions for each culture waffle square – starting at the top left-hand corner, across, then repeating, ending with the ‘control’ prompt in the bottom right-hand corner.
Prompts should be quick, and participants asked to complete each waffle square in 10-15 seconds. No need to dwell on the particulars. Top-of-mind stuff – whatever comes first, jot it down and move on. Get it?
What does culture smell like? What does it feel like? What does it sound like?
When you’re done with the grid, ask participants to share out loud verbally – picking different players for each prompt to go first. Same order, and ask all to share out with the group.
Everyone shares. No exceptions. Even the CEO, Superintendent, or whomever.
The perfect number of participants is 9, but you can host any number… Be sure to participate yourself, especially if you’re from within the team or organization you’re leading this activity with.
As you do this, have each player post their waffle grid on a dry-erase board or similar, building an AGGREGATE culture grid.
This is where it gets fun… (and people have to get up from their seats, too! All kinds of Hattie’s effect sizes here of >.50, right?
As conversations begin to flow, and people share out, you begin to realize YOUR/OUR culture as it builds on the wall in front of you.
Some will have associated the same smell, feeling, or emotion with culture. Connections will form. Similarities will happen. A new whole will form.
If you have 9 players, you now have 81 data points – 9 for each value question. What does it smell like? 9 different (and some the same or similar) value statements.
How can you build on this? What are some effective follow-up questions? How do continue to build?
Start with the control question.
Because…
When you look at the results, there will be many, many points that are the same or very similar, and participants will begin to understand that culture is something that they make. Something they can influence, and maybe… maybe even control.
This is a good place to start a conversation about what matters, what the current culture is, and what could be.
You’ll have to take it from there, now that Pandora’s Box is open.
Oh, and don’t forget to serve waffles with various toppings during the activity. Everyone loves waffles! I’m quite serious on this point. Grab some Eggos, a toaster, and toppings. Fit for any board office.
The Unicorn ice cream is a bonus.
Some will refuse to eat it because they’re afraid of the non-vanilla approach to deliciousness, and “they’re not a kid!” or “it probably has too many calories!” And so begins a very different conversation… Good luck!