Red Light, Yellow Light
Red Light, Yellow Light is a simple reflection routine that prompts participants to identify what's working well (green light), what needs attention (yellow light), and what should stop (red light). It's effective for quickly gathering feedback and identifying areas for improvement.
Use this method at the end of a meeting, workshop, or project to gather quick feedback and identify areas for improvement. It's particularly useful when you need a structured way to solicit constructive criticism.
Solves: Lack of constructive feedback, difficulty identifying areas for improvement, resistance to change.
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Step 1: Introduce the routine. Explain the meaning of each color (Red = Stop, Yellow = Caution/Improve, Green = Keep Going). (2 minutes)
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Step 2: Individual Reflection. Have participants individually reflect on the topic and write down items for each category. (5 minutes)
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Step 3: Small Group Sharing. Divide participants into small groups to share their reflections and identify common themes. (8 minutes)
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Step 4: Whole Group Discussion. Facilitate a brief discussion to summarize the key takeaways and identify action items. (5 minutes)
- Encourage specific and actionable feedback.
- Create a safe space for honest reflection.
- Use different colors or symbols to represent different categories.
- Adapt the routine to focus on specific aspects of a project or process.