Purpose:
This PET is a way to promote mutual understanding between the people – not agreement. It helps people look at the world through another’s eyes. This helps them suspend their own point of view and gain new insights.
Objectives:
- To promote mutual understanding between people.
- To help people see another's point of view.
Process:
Do the following:
- Have the attendees choose a statement beginning with, “If I were you…” such as, “If I were you, my main goals would be…”
- Write each person's name on 2 slips of paper and put all the slips of paper into a bag, box, etc.
- Have each person draw out 2 slips of paper (not his or her own) so that each person has the names of 2 different people.
- Give everyone a turn being the focus person. Note: When someone is the focus person, the 2 people who have that person’s name will take 3 minutes each to say to him or her, “If I were you…”
- After listening, the focus person has 3 minutes to respond.
- When everyone has had a turn, ask the people to share any insights they gained from the statements or from the responses.
Debriefing Questions:
- "How did you feel when you were the focus person?”
- "How did you feel when you were speaking to the focus person?”
- "What insights did you gain from the statements? From the responses?”