Noticing is about other people, too. The Icebreaker series aims to help with that. There’s a central collection spot for all the icebreakers to date, here. || There’s also an Icebreaker Slack app, here. (Back story on that here.)
This week’s icebreaker is from reader Keith Hester:
If you were alive in [time period X], what do you think your line of work would have been or how would you have earned a living?
Naturally you can change up which time period you’re asking about. “I asked this in a meeting and used the 1870s (aka Wild West),” Keith explained. “I think it provides interesting insight into how people see themselves and their natural gifts/abilities.” (Depending on the period you choose, he adds, you might want to specify ignoring gender/racial restrictions present of that time. Or maybe not.)
As it happens, another reader, Rebecca M., had a similar suggestion some months back that I never got around to using. But consider her variation, too:
Something I like to consider about people, and more specifically those with more technologically deep professions, is: What would (for example) my dentist be doing in the 14th Century? Or a software coder in the Wild West? An avionics engineer in Ancient Egypt? Fish out of temporal waters.
Fascinating that both versions cite the Wild West example! Anyway, you get the gist, so build your own version with whatever time period you find interesting. Thank you Keith and Rebecca!
As usual, I’m still working through the backlog of icebreaker submissions. But as always, I want more:
Send your favorite icebreaker (whether you made it up or found it elsewhere) to consumed@robwalker.net
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