Looking: Ten Times Two
Each person looks at an image quietly for at least thirty seconds, then lists ten words or phrases about anything they notice. They look again and list ten more. The second list is where people get past the obvious and start noticing details, which is the point of the exercise.
Use at the start of a museum visit, nature walk or creative session on an offsite, to shift people out of meeting pace and into paying attention.
Solves: People arrive at an offsite still running at inbox speed and skim everything they are shown.
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Step 1: Show the image or object and ask people to look quietly for at least thirty seconds (1 min).
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Step 2: Each person writes ten words or phrases about anything they notice (3 min).
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Step 3: Look again in silence (1 min).
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Step 4: Each person writes ten more words or phrases (3 min).
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Step 5: In pairs or as a group, share what showed up in the second list that was missing from the first (5-10 min).
- Keep it silent while people look and write. Talking too early anchors everyone on the same details.
- The second ten is meant to be hard. Tell people that before they start.
- Outdoors: use a tree, a view or a street corner instead of an image.