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Walk & Stop

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Four people moving about an area with one person saying Stop as part of active listening exercise Walk & Stop

Walk & Stop

Active listening exercise for attention & cognitive flexibility.

  • Simple, but not easy
  • Develops communication
  • Sharpens listening skills
  • Focus on integrity
  • No props

Active Listening Exercise

This fun, interactive energiser is a great way to get your group moving and thinking on their feet. It boosts energy levels, sharpens focus, and enhances group dynamics, making it the perfect warm-up before any meeting or session. Walk & Stop is an active listening exercise that encourages quick thinking and adaptability, and is ideal if you’re looking to lift the energy of your group instantly (without props.)

Step-by-Step Instructions

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Original post March 2018, last updated November 2025.

BY Mark Collard - Experiential Trainer, Author & Speaker

Comments (11)

  1. Iris

    Can I do this activity in small groups? I’m looking for activities that work well with small groups of 5-10 people, especially also with an odd number of participants. If yes, are there any special considerations? Can you recommend other activities suitable for small groups with odd numbers?

    Reply
    1. Mark Collard

      Yes, absolutely, Walk & Stop will work with small groups of 5 to 10 people, and it won’t matter if there are odd or even numbers. That said, the activity is unlikely to generate as much energy and enthusiasm as a much larger group would. This is not a bad thing, but there’s something pretty special when a large group of people come together to play, and laugh and try stuff that is hard to accomplish. Have fun. In regards other activities suitable for small groups, look to the search engine and select the appropriate ‘People’ (or group size) filter that you’re looking for.

  2. ducky

    I use this as a short middle game with one of Mark’s zoom games that I’ve slightly tweaked.
    Game 1: group forms circle with eyes closed, I tap someone on shoulder to simulate sending zoom message ‘you rock’, then eyes open and group has 30 seconds to try to determine who I sent the msg to. The selected person then revel themselves.
    Then okay Walk/Stop game.
    Then game 2: like game one except I tap everyone on the shoulder. Group has 15 seconds in silence to work out who the ‘you rock’ msg was sent to. On reveal everyone is delighted that everyone was selected.
    Then I start the normal outdoor activity (e.g. archery, climbing, etc).
    Unofficial Start or Connection Before Content tactic that works for me.

    Reply
    1. Mark Collard

      Thanks Ducky for sharing. Your first activity sounds a bit like The Rock – did I get that right? If not, please email me your more detailed instructions of how to play 🙂

  3. Amy Beaulieu

    question – when you get to the step to add in Name, and Clap – do you keep the Stop and Walk in the reverse form still?

    or do you resume Stop means Stop. Walk means walk. And then add in Name and Clap?

    At any point are all four labels mixed up in one round of 30 seconds . . . as in Stop = Walk. Walk = Stop. Name = Clap. Clap = Name. ?

    Reply
    1. Mark Collard

      Amy, in short, yes. Yes, I keep building on the earlier commands (in whatever form) each time I add new commands. And Yes, by the time I have introduced all six commands, everything is in reverse.

  4. Silvio Berlfein

    I have done this activity many times and I frame it as an activity talking about adapting to change and how something so simple can be complex, but even though it is difficult at first we slowly get better as we go. For advanced groups I add Jump and Spin to the other 4.
    Great activity.. THanks Mark

    Reply
    1. Mark Collard

      Thanks for sharing Silvio. And I love your adaptation. Keep up the fun.

  5. David Piang-Nee

    great activity to look in the light of assumption of knowledge and relearning new skills or environments and playing with meanings.. When meanings are changed or we enter a new environment or learn a new skill, it takes time to adjust and this activity can demonstrate this quite well. lots of fun and super confusing as you add more layers..

    Reply
  6. Sean de Morton

    This is such an awesome session particularly for concentration and the importance of decision making in sport.

    Reply
  7. rajeshramkumar

    Mark, I tried this, this is an excellent activity , especially as an ‘in betweener’… would need a PA system though for a larger group….

    Reply

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