11 Effective 10 Minute Leadership Activities
Are you looking for some 10 minute leadership activities?
Leadership development doesn’t have to require hours of training or complicated programs. Sometimes, the most impactful growth comes from small, actionable activities woven seamlessly into your day.
In this article, let’s see 11 leadership activities that can be done in just 10 minutes. They can help your teams strengthen their skills while fostering growth and connection.
What Should You Consider Before Conducting a 10 Minute Leadership Activity?
Before conducting a 10 minute leadership activity, it’s essential to set the right context and ensure it aligns with your team’s needs. These brief activities work best when they are intentional, inclusive, and designed to inspire growth.
Define the Objective
Understand the specific leadership skill or behavior you want to develop. Clear goals help ensure the activity remains focused and impactful.
Know Your Team
Consider the personalities, strengths, and areas for improvement within your team. Tailor activities to be relevant and engaging for all participants.
Create a Safe Environment
Foster an atmosphere where team members feel comfortable participating. Psychological safety is crucial for honest discussions and meaningful interactions.
Keep It Simple
Choose an activity that is straightforward and easy to facilitate. Overly complex exercises may waste time and miss the point of being concise.
Incorporate Reflection
Allow time for participants to connect the activity to real-world applications. Reflection reinforces learning and encourages practical application beyond the session.
Adapt as Needed
Be flexible and ready to adjust if something isn’t resonating. The ability to pivot ensures the activity remains effective and beneficial.
11 Effective 10 Minute Leadership Activities
Here are some effective leadership activities that you can conduct in around 10 minutes.
#1. Morning Check-In
This activity encourages team members to connect first thing in the morning by sharing personal or work-related goals. It sets a positive tone for the day and promotes alignment.
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Ask each participant to share a goal or priority for the day in one sentence.
- Encourage others to ask one follow-up question to clarify or support the goal.
- Rotate until each person has shared.
- Remind the participants to actively listen for shared goals or opportunities for collaboration.
Debrief
Reflect on whether the team members identified shared goals or areas where they can collaborate. Discuss how starting the day with alignment impacts productivity and morale.
#2. Recognition Boost
This activity fosters team morale by encouraging participants to share positive recognition and celebrate successes. It is quick, interactive, and builds an environment of appreciation.
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Ask each participant to recall a recent achievement or positive action by a team member.
- Share examples aloud by stating the recognition and why it mattered.
- Encourage others to briefly express their support or add their perspective.
- Rotate until everyone has shared at least one recognition.
Debrief
Discuss how recognizing achievements impacts positivity and trust within the group. Identify whether the team members feel more appreciated and motivated as a result of the activity.
#3. Two-Minute Listening
This activity focuses on enhancing listening skills by allowing participants to experience active listening and understand its value in effective communication. Each participant will share thoughts uninterrupted while others practice listening without responding.
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Ask each participant to speak for two minutes about a chosen topic while others listen silently.
- Ensure listeners maintain eye contact and focus on the speaker without interrupting.
- Rotate until all the participants have had their turn to speak.
- Conclude by asking the participants to share how it felt to be listened to attentively.
Debrief
Reflect on how active listening fosters trust, understanding, and deeper connections within the group. Determine whether participants felt valued as a result of being fully heard during the activity.
#4. Quick SWOT Analysis
This activity helps teams assess a project or issue quickly, analyzing its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in a collaborative manner. It fosters critical thinking and teamwork in a time-efficient manner.
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: Paper, pens, and optional whiteboard or digital tools
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Ask each team to write down one strength, one weakness, one opportunity, and one threat related to a project or issue.
- Encourage discussions within each team to clarify their choices.
- Have each team share their analysis briefly with the rest of the participants.
- Conclude by identifying the common patterns or ideas that emerge from the shared analyses.
Debrief
Determine whether the team uncovered actionable insights for the project or issue through their analysis. Reflect on their ability to collaborate effectively while highlighting diverse perspectives.
#5. Impactful Storytelling
This activity helps participants practice storytelling skills by crafting impactful narratives in a group setting. It encourages creativity and teaches how to convey ideas effectively.
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: Index cards or paper, and pens
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Ask each team to create a short story that conveys a powerful message using the materials provided.
- Provide prompts or themes, such as “a lesson learned” or “overcoming a challenge,” to guide their storytelling.
- Allow the teams to present their stories to others in under two minutes.
- Encourage the participants to articulate why they chose their narrative and the intended impact of their story.
Debrief
Examine whether the participants successfully crafted clear and compelling narratives that align with the prompts. Reflect on how effectively they expressed their ideas while collaborating within their groups.
#6. Walk-and-Talk Meetings
This activity encourages participants to discuss topics while walking to foster creativity and collaboration. It provides a relaxed setup to share ideas and improve communication.
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Pair the participants or group them into small teams and assign a simple topic to discuss, such as “ways to improve team collaboration.”
- Ask each team to walk a designated path while talking about their assigned topic.
- Encourage the participants to share concise thoughts, ensuring everyone has a chance to speak.
- Conclude by having each team share one key insight or idea they discussed.
Debrief
Evaluate how effectively the participants engaged with one another and stayed on topic during the walking discussion. Reflect on whether the activity helped foster meaningful conversations and generated valuable ideas.
#7. Skill Sharing Spotlight
This activity allows participants to share a skill or knowledge in a structured and engaging way while learning from others. It encourages creativity and concise communication.
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Ask each participant to prepare a 1-minute explanation or demonstration of a specific skill or knowledge they want to share.
- Encourage the participants to use simple language and, if possible, include a brief example or application.
- Have each person in the group take turns sharing, ensuring that the 1-minute time limit is respected.
- Conclude when all the participants have shared, then briefly discuss what was most memorable or useful in their group.
Debrief
Assess whether the participants remained engaged, shared their knowledge within the time limit, and expressed their ideas clearly. Reflect on whether the activity successfully fostered an exchange of practical or thought-provoking insights.
#8. Values Alignment Exercise
This exercise helps participants identify core values and reflect on their alignment with personal or professional goals. It encourages meaningful discussions in small groups.
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: Paper, pens, and pre-made list of values
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Provide each group member with the values list.
- Ask them to circle their top three values. Next, have them choose one value
- Then, each group member can share their chosen value and briefly explain why it is important to them within one minute.
- Encourage brief group discussion on how these values influence their decisions or actions.
Debrief
Analyze whether the participants identified the values that resonate personally and whether they expressed them effectively. Recognize how shared insights reflect group priorities or alignments.
#9. Industry Trend Quiz
This activity tests participants’ knowledge of current industry trends in an interactive and engaging way. It encourages quick thinking and group collaboration within a set time frame.
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: Pre-prepared quiz questions, paper, and pens
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Provide each group with a set of quiz questions related to recent industry trends.
- Ask them to answer as many questions as possible within five minutes.
- Review the answers and award points to the groups for correct responses.
- Share a brief explanation for critical trends after scoring is completed.
Debrief
Determine how well the participants understood key trends and whether the quiz encouraged meaningful discussions. Highlight how their knowledge could impact real-world decisions or strategies.
#10. Gratitude Practice
This activity fosters mindfulness and builds a sense of appreciation among participants. It encourages meaningful reflections through a structured gratitude exercise.
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: Paper and pens
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Ask each participant to write down three things they are grateful for.
- Encourage them to share one item from their list with their group.
- Discuss briefly why these items are important and how they impact their lives.
- Conclude by summarizing the most common themes shared within the group.
Debrief
Determine if the participants found the exercise uplifting and reflective. Identify whether it helped them realize the positive aspects of their personal or professional lives.
#11. Expert Speaker Series
This activity highlights insights from an expert speaker, fostering learning and inspiration through group discussion. Participants engage in a targeted Q&A or discussion to connect the talk with their lives.
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- The facilitator (or anyone in the organization) can do an expert talk on a topic for 3-5 minutes.
- Ask each group to discuss one key takeaway from the talk that resonates with them.
- Encourage them to share how this takeaway could apply to personal or professional growth.
- Summarize the most impactful or common feedback shared during discussions.
Debrief
Examine if the participants found value in the expert’s insights. Determine if the shared ideas encouraged practical applications or sparked inspiration.
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Final Words
Leadership development is an ongoing process, but meaningful progress can be achieved in small increments. Consistently practicing these activities will not only sharpen your leadership skills but also nurture stronger teams and relationships. Most importantly, they remind your team that leadership is an everyday act of engagement and inspiration. So, next time you have a few minutes to spare, remember that it’s not just downtime – it’s an opportunity to create a positive change in your workplace!
FAQ: 10 Minute Leadership Activities
You might have these questions in mind.
How often should I conduct these activities?
It’s ideal to conduct these activities regularly, such as once a week or during team meetings, to reinforce leadership skills consistently. The frequency can vary depending on team needs and goals, but staying consistent helps build habits over time. Adjust the schedule as needed to fit the organization’s workflow without causing disruptions.
Can these activities be done with a remote team?
Yes, many leadership activities can be adapted for remote settings using virtual platforms. Exercises like icebreakers, problem-solving discussions, or quick team check-ins can be effectively conducted online. The key is to ensure clear communication and engagement across all participants.
Do these activities work with large teams?
They can be scaled to accommodate large teams with proper planning and facilitation. For larger groups, consider breaking into smaller teams for discussions or creating activities that allow broad participation. With thoughtful execution, these activities can foster collaboration and connection even in bigger groups.
Are these activities suitable for all levels of leadership?
Absolutely, 10 minute leadership activities can benefit leaders at any stage of their career. Emerging leaders can develop foundational skills, while seasoned leaders can refine and expand their approaches. These activities are flexible and can be tailored to suit varying levels of experience as well as team needs.
How can these activities be integrated into a busy schedule?
These activities are designed to be concise and impactful, making them easy to incorporate into even the busiest of agendas. They can be added to regular team meetings, used as icebreakers, or included in training sessions without requiring significant time or resources. In fact, taking the time to engage in these activities can actually save time and improve team dynamics in the long run.
