Facilitation Game – Recipe for Success

A Facilitation Game For The Effort-Impact Plate

Objective of the Facilitation Game

The Effort-Impact Plate game helps teams analyze and prioritize tasks by visualizing them through a metaphorical “recipe” framework, weighing effort and impact. Inspired by everyday meal types, the game divides tasks into four distinct categories—YouTube Recipe, Dinner for Guests, Ready-to-Eat Snacks, and Mom’s Sandwich—each with unique levels of effort and impact. Through this game, participants assess tasks based on how much effort is required and the potential outcome (impact), aligning on which actions to prioritize for the best results.

When to Use This Facilitation Game Play

Use Effort-Impact Plate when:

• You need to prioritize tasks in a project or strategy session.
• Teams are struggling to balance effort vs. impact on various tasks.
• You’re seeking alignment on which tasks or ideas offer the highest returns with available resources.
• You want a structured yet fun approach to task evaluation that breaks down priorities in an engaging way.

This game is especially useful in project planning, backlog grooming, and strategic decision-making, where balancing effort and impact can streamline processes and clarify goals.

Game Setup

Materials Needed:

1. Effort-Impact Graph Template (with labels “Recipe from YouTube,” “Dinner for Guests,” “Ready-to-Eat Snacks,” “Mom’s Sandwich”)
2. Post-its (for listing and categorizing tasks)
3. Timer (to pace each phase)
4. Dot votes (for prioritization)
5. Dice (for assigning roles or randomizing tasks)
6. Markers
7. Flipchart or whiteboard

You can purchase facilitation charts for this game at Visual Thinking School Charts.

Game Phases

1. Recipe Ingredients (Brainstorming Phase)

Objective: Generate tasks or ideas that need to be categorized.

Game Mechanics:

• Provide each participant with a few post-its and markers. Ask them to write down tasks, ideas, or projects relevant to the current discussion—one per post-it.
• Set a timer for 5 minutes to keep the brainstorming rapid and focused.
• Participants place their post-its in the center of the table, creating a “pool” of ideas for categorization.

This quick brainstorming phase ensures that each participant’s input is captured, allowing the group to work with a broad spectrum of ideas.

2. The Effort-Impact Plate (Categorization Phase)

Objective: Place each task on the graph, using the meal metaphor to decide its effort and impact.

Game Mechanics:

• Draw a large Effort-Impact graph with effort on one side and impact on the other. Label each section according to the metaphor:
• YouTube Recipe (High Effort, Low Impact)
• Dinner for Guests (High Effort, High Impact)
• Ready-to-Eat Snacks (Low Effort, Low Impact)
• Mom’s Sandwich (Low Effort, High Impact)
• Take turns placing each post-it into one of the four quadrants based on a group discussion of its required effort and potential impact.
• Use a dice roll to select the next participant who will choose and place a post-it, keeping the activity dynamic and inclusive.

For added insight into the effort-impact approach, see this task prioritization frameworks.

3. Cooking Time (Prioritization Phase)

Objective: Vote on which tasks should be prioritized for action.

Game Mechanics:

• Each participant receives three dot votes and places them on the tasks they feel should take priority based on impact and feasibility.
• Set a timer for 2-3 minutes for this phase to keep momentum and encourage quick decision-making.
• The tasks with the most votes become the group’s top priorities, visually highlighted on the graph.

This voting process visually reveals the group’s consensus, helping the team easily identify which tasks or ideas to focus on.

4. Recipe Card (Action Planning Phase)

Objective: Define next steps for each prioritized task.

Game Mechanics:

• For each top-priority task, participants work together to write actionable next steps, assigning each step to an individual or team.
• Use a dice roll to randomly assign team members to specific steps, adding an element of surprise and equal participation.
• Document these steps on a flipchart or board, allowing the team to track responsibilities and follow-up actions.

Wrap-Up and Reflection

At the end of the game, take a moment to reflect as a group. Ask questions like, “Did anything surprising come up during categorization?” or “How can we balance effort and impact better in the future?”

Effort-Impact Plate is a lighthearted, visually structured game that helps teams make strategic, informed decisions on prioritizing tasks. By breaking down priorities into fun yet insightful categories, teams can understand the impact-effort balance in a practical, relatable way. For those interested in mastering visual facilitation techniques and guiding teams through engaging activities like this, explore our Visual Facilitation Certification Course at Visual Thinking School Courses.

Why The Effort-Impact Plate Works

Using a familiar metaphor like meals simplifies the complex task of prioritization, allowing teams to view tasks with fresh perspectives. By incorporating game elements such as dot votes and dice rolls, Effort-Impact Plate keeps participants engaged, while also ensuring balanced participation. For ready-to-use charts that will elevate this and other facilitation exercises, visit Visual Thinking School Charts and make every session a recipe for success!

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Piyuesh is the founder of Visual Thinking School, Netherlands. He is passionate about empowering organizations and classrooms with Visual Thinking Skills. He conducts trainings onBusiness Sketchnotes™ , Classroom Sketchnotes™, Visual Business Storytelling™, Graphic Facilitation™

In his free time, piyuesh likes practicing Aerial Yoga, Acro yoga, Krav Maga and Pole workouts.

He can be reached out at his Instagram and Linkedin