The Circle of Trust Activity box:
how to use

STEP ONE • Setting the stage

1. Decide whether participants will play as a single group or split into smaller subgroups/teams (with a maximum of 8 people per team).

2. Need more game boards? You can print extras or get creative and make your own by hand!
   Download our last version of the Game Board.

Materials 

1. Diamond (or a key question/challenge)

2. Dashboards (1 per participant)

3. Post-it

4. Pens

The Team Focus Diamond

The Team Focus Diamond is a question, expected benefit, or challenge that the team decides to focus on during the Circle of Trust.

1. To define the Team Focus Diamond, discuss and agree on a single, shared competency that your team's climate of trust is—or should be—built upon. If trust is currently lacking or the environment doesn’t feel supportive, choose the competency you believe should become the foundation for strengthening your team’s dynamic. This will help create the conditions for trust to grow. Make sure everyone has a chance to share their thoughts and feelings.

2. Once the Focus is selected, please write it down on a Post-it and stick it on the Diamond, then put the Diamond in the center.

STEP TWO • Trust Competencies

Time

Rules intro: 10 minutes

Activity: 5-10 minutes 

Share: 10-20 minutes (depending on the number of people and the depth of the conversation)

Materials 

Trust Competencies Cards

Count on me for...

This phase focuses on your competencies and strengths and how they can contribute to building trust within the team.

1. The facilitator distributes at least 4/5 Trust Competencies cards among the participants and explains the rules.

2. Choose the card that best answers the question: “Which of my competencies can the team rely on to build trust (or to reach our common goal)?” and set it aside. If none of the cards you receive seem to suit your needs best, keep the least unsuitable card and wait to replace it with the cards you receive in the next round.

3. Pass the remaining cards to the person on your right.

4. Continue this process until everyone has chosen their card.

5. Once the card is chosen, place it face down in the first block labeled “MY KEY COMPETENCY”.

6. Sharing time! Taking turns, flip the card face up and share the one selected.
   → The facilitator indicates how much time each person has.
   
   

STEP THREE • Trust Competencies 

Time

Rules intro: 5 minutes

Activity: 5-10 minutes 

Share: 10-20 minutes (depending on the number of people and the depth of the conversation)

Materials 

Trust Competencies Cards (use the remaining ones from the Step Two).

I need some help for...

This phase focuses on one's learning area, personal needs, and how the team can take action to help develop a competency that is currently lacking or weak.

1. The facilitator collects the leftover Trust Competencies Cards from the previous round and redistributes them evenly among the participants, then explains the rules.

2. Choose the card that best answers the question: “Which competency can I develop or improve to foster trust in the team  (or to reach our common goal)?” and set it aside.

3. Pass the remaining cards to the person on your right.

4. Continue this process until everyone has chosen their card.

5. Once the card is chosen, place it face down in the second block labeled “MY LEARNING OPPORTUNITY”.

6. Sharing time! Taking turns, flip the card face up and share the one selected.
   → The facilitator indicates how much time each person has.

7. Extra step: You can write the name of the person you think could help you develop the competency chosen on a sticky note. Choosing a person among the participants is recommended, but you can also think of someone among your friends or family members.

STEP FOUR • The Trust Shadows Impact

Materials 

Trust Shadows cards

Time

Rules intro: 5 minutes

Activity: 5-10 minutes 

Share: 10-20 minutes (depending on the number of people and the depth of the conversation)

My Shadow

This step focuses on the barriers that hinder contribution to building trust within the team.

1. The facilitator distributes at least 3/5 Trust Shadows cards among the participants and explains the rules.

2. Choose the card that best answers the question: “Which Trust Shadow should you contain or which could you turn into a strength?” and set it aside.  If none of the cards you receive seem to suit your needs best, keep the least unsuitable card and wait to replace it with the cards you receive in the next round.

3. Pass the remaining cards to the person on your right.

4. Continue this process until everyone has chosen their card.

5. Once the card is chosen, place it face down close to the arrow. 

6. Sharing time! Taking turns, flip the card face up and share the one you selected.
   → The facilitator indicates how much time each person has.

STEP FIVE • Enhancing the Circle of Trust

Materials 

Trust Reflection cards

Time

Rules intro: 5 minutes

Activity: 5-10 minutes 

Share: 10-20 minutes (depending on the number of people and the depth of the conversation)

The Inner Savvy Voice

This step focuses on improving the Circle of Trust. 

1. The facilitator distributes at least 4/5 cards from the deck of Trust Reflection among the participants and explains the rules.

2. Choose the card that best answers the question: “Which Trust Reflection Card inspires me to better apply my strengths and address my trust building limitations?” and set it aside.

3. Pass the remaining cards to the person on your right.

4. Continue this process until everyone has chosen their card.

5. Once the card is chosen, place it face down in the block labeled “ENHANCING MY TRUST STYLE”.

6. Sharing time! Taking turns, flip the card face up and share the one you selected.