Nothing beats a simple yet powerful exercise to reinforce an important point.
Standing in front of your group, simply ask each person to look to the ceiling directly above them or the sky if you happen to be outside (but not directly into the sun.)
Ask them to imagine a large clock face staring back at them and then extend their pointer finger above their heads to point at the 12 on the clock face. Although it may feel a little awkward, it’s useful if you suggest they face their palm towards themselves.
Then, following your lead, instruct them to slowly move their pointer finger around the clock face in a clockwise direction to form a large circle above their head. That is, the finger moves from 12 to 1 to 2 to 3, etc, all the way back to 12.
But don’t stop there. Keep rotating.
Encourage your group to continue making these slow rotations over and over again. And over the course of 5 to 10 seconds, slowly lower their hands (while also maintaining their rotations in a horizontal plane) until it is situated below the height of one’s shoulders.
If this has confused you, click the Video Tutorial tab to see it in action.
Then ask one simple, profound question: What direction is your finger turning now?
The correct answer will be anti-clockwise. However, many people will think they have made a mistake because it started in a clockwise direction. So, they’ll do it over.
No matter how often you repeat this exercise, you’ll get the same result every time. Once the rotating finger drops below one’s eyes, the direction will appear to turn in the other direction.
Why? Because their perspective changed.
Each person started by looking underneath their hand, finishing by them peering at it from above. The direction switched from clockwise to anti-clockwise because their perspective changed.
Bam!
For many, this is such a powerful illustration of the impact of changing one’s perspective.
So… can you think of a time when your group could benefit from exploring different perspectives about a topic they are struggling with? Relationships, agreements, conflict, project teams, etc.
Take a look at the Reflection Tips tab for some useful starting points that will invite your group to draw some useful lessons from this fun finger exercise.
Be careful in the way you frame this experience. Your group should not feel that they made a mistake, rather, they are surprised that something changed without them noticing. The critical element is that they learn the power that comes from simply changing one’s perspective.
Consider leading this quick exercise before embarking on a conversation about the benefits of expressing empathy and compassion for others’ points of view.
It is suggested that you ask your group to point up with their palm facing towards their face because this helps keep the hand spinning in a constant direction as one lowers their hand below their nose.
To reiterate, be sure to instruct your group to rotate their hands in a continuous rotation on the same horizontal plane as they first started (peering at the ceiling.)
You could integrate Paradigm Shift as part of a well-designed SEL program to develop your group’s ability to understand the perspectives of and empathise with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Specifically, this activity offers opportunities to explore and practice the following social & interpersonal skills:
Social Awareness
- Taking Other’s Perspectives
- Demonstrating Empathy & Compassion
- Understanding & Expressing Gratitude
- Appreciating Diversity
Relationship Skills
- Communicate & Listen Effectively
- Seeking and/or Offering Support
- Build Positive Relationships
- Demonstrate Cultural Competency
- Work Collaboratively
Responsible Decision-Making
- Demonstrating Curiosity & Open-Mindedness
- Anticipating & Evaluating the Consequences of One’s Actions
You can learn more about SEL and how it can support character education here.
Mindfulness & Emotional Intelligence
This exercise quickly teaches a person to take notice of something they may not have considered beforehand, ie that the direction of one’s rotating finger changes when viewed from a different perspective. Mindfulness activities often invite participants to do the same thing, to notice hidden things. To this end, Paradigm Shift could be a useful framing activity to begin a mindful practice.
In the same way, many emotional competencies are often hidden from view until we learn how to take notice. Lessons could also benefit from weaving in a conversation about adaptability or the ability to change one’s perspective to learn how another person may view a particular situation.
I’d like you to follow my lead on this next exercise. It’s so simple, yet I expect some of you will think that you made a mistake because of the results you observe…
Do you often wonder how and why some people view the world so differently to you? Have you ever noticed that it is possible for ten people to witness the same event and yet can end up seeing ten very different results? To see the world through another person’s eyes can be a very powerful skill to learn. Our next activity will allow you to explore an event from two different perspectives…
Many examples come to mind that illustrates a paradigm shift in our thinking. We once thought the world was flat. We once believed it was impossible for humans to fly or break the 4-minute mile, etc. In every case, a shift in perspective changed everything. And that’s what this next exercise is all about…
For those struggling to visualise how this exercise works, check out the Video Tutorial tab for some visual pointers.
I’m just not getting this one. It would be great to see a video as I am sure I am not holding my hand correctly. It is always going clockwise – palm towards me, palm away, up or down. I am keen to try this one for the learning outcomes of perspective but can’t figure it out. is there another activity that will give the same perspective learning outcome as quickly? thanks
I understand Tania. May I suggest we schedule a Zoom call so I can demo the exercise live in front of you? It will take 3 mins and I’m confident you’ll get it. Reach out via the contact form, detailing a few days/times you would be available to connect (don’t forget to add where you’ll be beaming in from, so we can adjust for time zones.)
Small tip that can help… When you ask them to move their hands in that clockwise direction… do so with your palm facing you. When your hand is above you that is not the “natural” way but as you try to lower your hand it is very natural. I think some people who extend their pointer finger above them with the palm away feels natural… then as they lower the hand… it is difficult to maintain the motion so they “switch” accidentally. Just a thought that has helped me in this one.
Great tip, Chris – much appreciated. I’ll update the instructions accordingly 🙂
I am having the same question as Irene. It appears to be going clockwise no matter the perspective: looking up or down.
Susan, thanks for commenting – it is not possible for your finger (hand) to continue in the same (clockwise) direction if you view it from below and then above this movement. Feel free to reach out for a brief Zoom call and I’d be happy to demonstrate exactly how it looks.
Hello Susan,
I had some challenges too. When you look at your finger from below it is going to move clockwise, but if lower your hand enough to see it from above, your finger will move anticlockwise. When you lower your hand you need to see your finger from above for observing the ilusion. Your finger needs to be low enough that you will look at it from above (watching how the fingertip moves – for anti clockwise ilusion). Hope this will help you.
Hi Mark, I have tried myself and do not seem to get it “right”, maybe I am not interpreting well the otherwise easy instructions. Do you maybe have a video of how the activity goes? thanks!
Irene, I do not presently have a video of the full activity at this point, sorry. I know that would make a difference. The key is that your audience will discover that their finger will “appear” to have changed direction because their perspective of how they view their rotating finger has changed. They started by looking up and underneath their rotating finger (spinning clockwise) and then as they lowered it and finally started to view it from above, they should note that their finger is rotating anti-clockwise – again, because their perspective has shifted.