Introduction: What You’ll Learn
This simulation guides you in facilitating an open discussion about establishing team norms for work-life balance and respecting personal boundaries. You'll learn how to create a supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and contributing to team culture.
You’ll practice:
- Opening the conversation with a welcoming tone
- Encouraging participation and different viewpoints
- Identifying key areas for improvement
- Summarizing agreed-upon norms and planning next steps
Step-by-Step Simulation
Scene 1: Opening the Discussion
Facilitator: "Hey team, thanks for making time for this discussion. Today, we’re going to talk about how we can support each other in maintaining a healthy work-life balance and respecting boundaries. Let's start by sharing what’s working well and where we could improve."
Scene 2: Sharing Experiences and Perspectives
Facilitator: "Who wants to kick things off by sharing something positive about our current work-life balance practices?"
Sara: "I really appreciate how everyone respects each other’s time off. It’s nice to know I can disconnect without worrying about work piling up."
Facilitator: "That's great to hear, Sara. Thanks for sharing. What about areas where we could do better?"
Alex: "I sometimes feel pressured to respond to messages outside of work hours. It might not be intentional, but it makes it hard to fully switch off."
Facilitator: "Thanks for bringing that up, Alex. It’s important to address those feelings. Does anyone else feel the same way, or have suggestions on how we can improve?"
Priya: "I agree with Alex. Maybe we could set clearer guidelines on after-hours communication?"
Leo: "Yeah, like setting expectations for response times or marking messages as non-urgent if they can wait."
Scene 3: Establishing Norms
Facilitator: "Let’s build on those suggestions. How about we draft some initial norms? For instance, we could agree that non-urgent messages sent after 6 PM don’t need an immediate response. What else should we consider?"
Sara: "We could encourage using ‘Do Not Disturb’ settings during personal time to help disconnect."
Alex: "And maybe have regular check-ins during team meetings to discuss workload and any stress levels?"
Facilitator: "Awesome ideas. Here’s what we’ve got so far:"
- After-hours communication: No expectation to respond immediately to non-urgent messages sent after 6 PM.
- Personal time protection: Encouraging the use of ‘Do Not Disturb’ during off-hours.
- Regular check-ins: Discussing workload and stress levels during team meetings to ensure everyone is comfortable with their tasks.
Scene 4: Wrapping Up and Next Steps
Facilitator: "Thanks for a productive discussion, everyone. Let’s try these norms for the next quarter and revisit them in our next retrospective to see how they’re working. I’ll document these and share them in our team channel. Any other thoughts or questions before we wrap up?"
(Team nods in agreement; no further questions.)
Facilitator: "Alright, I appreciate everyone’s input. Let’s keep supporting each other and making this a great place to work. If you think of anything else later, feel free to reach out to me directly. Have a great day!"
Mini Roleplay Challenges
Challenge 1: A team member is hesitant to speak up about their struggles with work-life balance.
- Best Response: “I want to make sure everyone feels comfortable. If you have thoughts you’d prefer to share privately, feel free to message me later.”
Challenge 2: Someone suggests a norm that others find unrealistic.
- Best Response: “That’s an interesting idea. Let’s talk about how it might work in practice and see if there’s a way to adapt it.”
Challenge 3: The conversation starts to veer off-topic.
- Best Response: “These are important points, but let’s stay focused on setting clear norms today. We can revisit other topics later.”
Optional Curveball Mode
- A team member expresses strong resistance to any new norms.
- The discussion reveals a hidden conflict affecting team dynamics.
- A participant suggests a radical change that divides opinion.
Practice handling each scenario while maintaining a positive, inclusive atmosphere.
Reflection Checklist
Discussion Flow
- Did I keep the discussion focused and productive?
- Did everyone have a chance to share their views?
- Were agreed-upon norms clearly documented?
Encouragement and Inclusivity
- Did I encourage quieter team members to participate?
- Was the environment open and supportive?
Outcome and Follow-through
- Did we establish clear, actionable norms?
- Was there a plan to review and adjust these norms later?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not allowing enough time for discussion
- Ignoring dissenting opinions or concerns
- Failing to document agreed-upon actions and follow-ups
- Skipping periodic reviews of established norms to ensure effectiveness