Back-to-Back Rise

an ice-breaking activity that also reflects on collaboration

What is it for?

It is a physical exercise that asks participants to find the center of their relationship with another person literally and metaphorically, and name what it means to collaborate.

Impact

Back-to-Back Rise helps develop non-verbal communication, cooperation, and strategic thinking.

What does this look like?

The researcher or facilitator asks the group to pair off. Pairs sit back-to-back on the floor and cooperatively lean into each other to stand up from a seated position. As a variation to build up the difficulty, the facilitator may have people try the same exercise in a group of three or four people.

This exercise is limited in that it requires balance and mobility of the legs and back. Like, any other activity, it requires critical and careful consideration before planning and facilitating.

Participants’ State of Mind

playful, strategic, collaborative

Level of Complexity (1–5)

2

Time for Participation

15 to 20 mins

Use Cases

Workplace design project for NEW INC: Cultural Incubator

Image Description: A photograph in an open room. A fun environment. In the foreground, two people back to back and in motion nearly standing up straight and one person is linking arms with someone back to back. They are in motion with a smile on their face. In the background are two people watching, one pointing and smiling at the other couple standing back to back. Image by Matter-Mind Studio

Source

Adapted to Matter-Mind Studio from Happy Hour, a film from the Japanese director, Ryusuke Hamaguchi.

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