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engagement

Step Inside

Step Inside encourages participants to actively consider a topic, situation, or person from multiple perspectives. It fosters empathy and deeper understanding by prompting individuals to imagine the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of others.

20-35 min3-30 peopleMedium
When to Use

Use this method when you need to foster empathy, explore diverse viewpoints on a complex issue, or help a team understand the needs and motivations of a specific user group or stakeholder.

How It Works

Solves: Lack of empathy or understanding between team members or towards a target audience; superficial analysis of complex situations.

Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these steps to facilitate this method
  1. 1

    Step 1: Introduce the topic or subject to be explored. (2 minutes)

  2. 2

    Step 2: Individually, participants choose a specific perspective related to the topic and imagine themselves 'stepping inside' that role. (5 minutes)

  3. 3

    Step 3: In small groups, participants share their imagined thoughts, feelings, and motivations from their chosen perspective. (10 minutes)

  4. 4

    Step 4: As a whole group, debrief the experience, discussing insights gained and any shifts in understanding. (10 minutes)

Facilitator Tips
  • Encourage participants to fully immerse themselves in their chosen perspective, even if it differs from their own.
  • Create a safe space for sharing diverse viewpoints without judgment.
Variations
  • Assign specific perspectives to participants to ensure a diverse range of viewpoints are considered.
  • Use visual prompts, such as images or videos, to stimulate imagination and empathy.
Source: Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of EducationLearn more