Global Change Seminar "It's Your Move!"
Group Exercise

Character Quality Ranking

          Distribute copies of this exercise, and take a few minutes for each person, individually, to do the ranking as described below. When the group is finished, use the Talking Stick and have each person share their responses. Then spend some time discussing why each chose what they chose and what struck each one about the exercise.

1. Consider the qualities listed below. In each column, pick what you consider to be the 6 most important qualities for someone to be a "good" person. Then, give a "1" to the one you see as the most important quality, a "2" as the next most important. etc. until you've ranked your 6 picks in each column.
2. If there are qualities that are important but not on the lists, write them in the empty spot(s) along the bottom of each column.
3. To do the ranking, you may have to compare each choice in the column by pairs against the others in the same column. Many may seem to be of equal weight or inter-related. Nonetheless, there is something to be learned by forcing a ranking.
   
   
   

   _____ trustworthy _____ good listener _____ empathetic _____ wise _____ curious _____ stable _____ strong _____ competitive _____ cooperative _____ persistent _____ flexible _____ focused _____ tolerant _____ firm _____ truthful _____ generous _____ easygoing _____ powerful _____ reliable _____ balanced _____ _____

   _____ authoritative _____ gentle _____ enthusiastic _____ intelligent _____ healthy _____ honest _____ humble _____ humorous _____ insightful _____ integrated _____ respectful _____ self-confident _____ caring _____ spontaneous _____ compassionate _____ serene _____ purposeful _____ knowledgeable _____ self-reliant _____ intuitive _____ _____

   _____ peaceful _____ tough _____ stoic _____ patient _____ open _____ mature _____ loving _____ positive _____ polite _____ forgiving _____ happy _____ disciplined _____ introspective _____ accurate _____ outspoken _____ determined _____ creative _____ courageous _____ responsible _____ fair _____ _____

   
   
   

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   Think About
   
   

   • Compare the rankings for each of the three columns. What insights does this offer?
   • Of the qualities you picked in each column, how do you rate yourself?
   • What do you think are the primary criteria that drove your internal ranking process?
   • What struck you most from doing this exercise?