Activity to Address Competitiveness in Discussions + Free Resource
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Dear collaborative discussion friends,
This week we are sharing an activity that can be helpful when discussions become too competitive or zero sum. This activity helps participants learn how to discuss in a more collaborative way by acknowledging the ideas of others and building on them. We are also including a free resource that can be used as a reminder of which activity can serve as a responsive intervention to help when discussions become too competitive.
Register now for our July or September 2025 Collaborative Discussion Coach Training to become better equipped to use activities like this one from the Collaborative Discussion Toolkit in your work. After successfully completing the training, you will also be able to offer your own certificate programs in classrooms, communities, and workplaces as a certified Collaborative Discussion Coach.
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Free resource with an activity to help address competitive or zero sum discussions
When the goal is collaboration, it can be an issue when discussions become too much like a competition or a debate. Participants can get too focused on defending their own ideas or arguing, instead of first listening to what others are saying.
The following activity can be used to intervene. This activity helps participants actively listen to what the other person is saying in order to truly acknowledge and understand the idea being shared. It then helps participants to either find a part of the idea they can agree with and build on it or after acknowledging what is said, disagree in a more productive way, by using “and” instead of “but”. Changing this one word can help create a sense of collaboration and safety, instead of competition and defensiveness. This helps everyone in the discussion be more open to listening to and receiving the ideas of each other, while also feeling comfortable to express their own ideas, even when they disagree.
Activity 2.6 Building on the Ideas of Others
Activity 2.6 Building on the Ideas of Others. Improvisational comedy has developed a rule of thinking which is called “Yes, and ….” The idea is that you accept what is said and then you add to it. The “yes” confirms the other speaker while the “and” builds on the idea. This process can create an environment of collaboration rather than competition.
Printable PDF of an activity to address competitiveness in discussions
Download and print out copies of this PDF to use as a reminder of which activity can act as a responsive intervention when a discussion is becoming too competitive. Share this with fellow educators, facilitators, or team leaders.
Shareable image of an activity to address competitiveness in discussions
Share this image online with fellow educators, facilitators, or team leaders as a reminder of which activity can act as a responsive intervention when a discussion is becoming too competitive.
Become a Collaborative Discussion Coach
Join our growing community of 150+ coaches. Register now for our July or September Collaborative Discussion Coach Training.
July 2025 Coach Training
When: 12 pm – 3 pm (eastern) on July 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25
Where: Online via Zoom, with small group breakout sessions
How much does it cost? $495
When is the deadline to register? Sunday, June 22, 2025
September 2025 Coach Training
When: 6 pm – 8 pm (eastern) on September 4, 11, 18, 25, and October 2
Where: Online via Zoom, with small group breakout sessions
How much does it cost? $495
When is the deadline to register? Sunday, August 3, 2025
We are able to offer a discounted price due to the generous support of the Interactivity Foundation. Our programming should never be cost prohibitive. Please contact us if a scholarship is needed.
If you are interested but these dates don’t work for you, don’t worry. We will keep you posted as future trainings are scheduled. We are also open to offering cohort trainings. Please reach out and we can explore possibilities.
Want to learn more? Sign up for a free webinar
Join us for an Introduction to the CDP Toolkit Webinar, where you will learn more about:
Our free toolkit of activities designed to build and support collaborative discussion skills and mindsets
Collaborative Discussion Coach Trainings and becoming a CDP Coach
How our current CDP Coaches use the toolkit in their classrooms, communities, and workplaces
All are welcome! Register for an upcoming webinar:
Looking forward to collaborating,
Ritu, Shannon, & the Collaborative Discussion Team