13 Performance Management Activities, Games & Exercises for Employees

Prepare these items before the activity begins so the session runs smoothly.

1. 1

   Set the Frame

   Explain the purpose: multi-source feedback gives a fuller picture than top-down reviews alone. Distribute anonymous rating forms to all participants.

   5 min
2. 2

   Collect Multi-Source Input

   Each participant completes feedback forms rating peers, their direct manager, and direct reports against the provided prompts.

   10 min
3. 3

   Anonymize and Compile

   Facilitator collects all completed forms and compiles each person's responses into a single anonymous summary before distribution.

   5 min
4. 4

   Share and Reflect

   Recipients review their compiled feedback summary silently, then share one pattern they found surprising and one they found validating.

   10 min
5. 5

   Plan Development Actions

   Each participant commits to one specific behavior change based on the feedback and states it to the group as a public commitment.

   5 min

These outcomes should be reinforced during the debrief.

Use these prompts to convert the activity into workplace learning.

1. What did your team do first during 360-Degree Feedback Workshop?
2. Which assumption turned out to be wrong?
3. How did communication affect the result?
4. Where did the team lose time or clarity?
5. What workplace situation feels similar to this activity?
6. What would you change if you ran the activity again?

Prepare these items before the activity begins so the session runs smoothly.

1. 1

   Pull the Company OKRs

   Write the organisation's top 3–5 objectives and key results on a wall or shared board where everyone can see them throughout the session.

   5 min
2. 2

   Map the Department Layer

   Each team places their department OKRs on the board beneath the company objective they support, using sticky notes or markers.

   10 min
3. 3

   Add Individual OKRs

   Each participant maps their personal goals to the appropriate department OKR, surfacing any goals that do not connect to the hierarchy.

   10 min
4. 4

   Spot Misalignments

   Facilitator guides the group to circle orphaned goals, duplicated efforts, or OKRs that conflict across teams.

   10 min
5. 5

   Commit to the Map

   Teams agree on specific adjustments to close gaps, remove orphaned goals, and resolve conflicts before the session ends.

   10 min

These outcomes should be reinforced during the debrief.

Use these prompts to convert the activity into workplace learning.

1. What did your team do first during OKR Alignment Sprint?
2. Which assumption turned out to be wrong?
3. How did communication affect the result?
4. Where did the team lose time or clarity?
5. What workplace situation feels similar to this activity?
6. What would you change if you ran the activity again?

Prepare these items before the activity begins so the session runs smoothly.

1. 1

   Draft SMART Goals

   Each participant writes one goal using the SMART framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

   10 min
2. 2

   Refine with a Peer

   Pairs swap goals and challenge each other: "Is this actually measurable?" and "What does success look like at 90 days?"

   5 min
3. 3

   Present to the Team

   Each participant presents their goal in 90 seconds, stating what they will achieve, how they will measure it, and by when.

   15 min
4. 4

   Field Challenges

   The audience asks one sharp question per presenter to test the goal's clarity, ambition, and feasibility.

   5 min
5. 5

   Lock In Commitments

   Presenters revise their goal based on the feedback and state their final version aloud as a public commitment to the group.

   5 min

These outcomes should be reinforced during the debrief.

Use these prompts to convert the activity into workplace learning.

1. What did your team do first during Goal-Setting Presentation?
2. Which assumption turned out to be wrong?
3. How did communication affect the result?
4. Where did the team lose time or clarity?
5. What workplace situation feels similar to this activity?
6. What would you change if you ran the activity again?

Prepare these items before the activity begins so the session runs smoothly.

1. 1

   Distribute Task Lists

   Hand each pair a mixed list of urgent and routine tasks tied to a realistic scenario.

   5 min
2. 2

   Build the Pyramid

   Pairs arrange tasks into a pyramid with the most critical items at the top and less urgent ones at the base.

   5 min
3. 3

   Apply Time Pressure

   Set a strict timer to force quick reasoning and reveal how pressure shapes prioritization choices.

   5 min
4. 4

   Present and Compare

   Each pair presents their pyramid and explains the logic behind their top, middle, and base placements.

   5 min
5. 5

   Debrief Outcomes

   Discuss how prioritization methods varied and what real work scenarios mirror the exercise.

   5 min

These outcomes should be reinforced during the debrief.

Use these prompts to convert the activity into workplace learning.

1. What did your team do first during Prioritization Pyramid?
2. Which assumption turned out to be wrong?
3. How did communication affect the result?
4. Where did the team lose time or clarity?
5. What workplace situation feels similar to this activity?
6. What would you change if you ran the activity again?

Prepare these items before the activity begins so the session runs smoothly.

1. 1

   Form the Circle

   Gather the team in a circle so every voice has equal space to contribute.

   5 min
2. 2

   Share Strategies

   Each member shares one strategy from a recent project that worked and one that needs improvement.

   5 min
3. 3

   Sort Feedback

   Capture comments on a board and sort them into Keep and Improve columns for clarity.

   5 min
4. 4

   Prioritize Insights

   Group discusses the highest impact items and votes on which to carry forward.

   5 min
5. 5

   Plan Implementation

   Set specific goals and assign owners for applying insights in upcoming projects.

   5 min

These outcomes should be reinforced during the debrief.

Use these prompts to convert the activity into workplace learning.

1. What did your team do first during Strategy Circle?
2. Which assumption turned out to be wrong?
3. How did communication affect the result?
4. Where did the team lose time or clarity?
5. What workplace situation feels similar to this activity?
6. What would you change if you ran the activity again?

Prepare these items before the activity begins so the session runs smoothly.

1. 1

   Prepare Card Sets

   Lay out KPI cards alongside action and outcome cards covering common business scenarios.

   5 min
2. 2

   Form Pairs

   Split the group into pairs and explain the rules for matching cards under time pressure.

   5 min
3. 3

   Run the Match

   Pairs race the clock to pair each KPI with the action or outcome that drives it.

   5 min
4. 4

   Review Matches

   Walk through each pair's matches and discuss the reasoning behind correct and incorrect choices.

   5 min
5. 5

   Connect to Work

   Discuss how these metrics shape decisions and goals in the participants' real roles.

   5 min

These outcomes should be reinforced during the debrief.

Use these prompts to convert the activity into workplace learning.

1. What did your team do first during Metric Match-Up?
2. Which assumption turned out to be wrong?
3. How did communication affect the result?
4. Where did the team lose time or clarity?
5. What workplace situation feels similar to this activity?
6. What would you change if you ran the activity again?

Prepare these items before the activity begins so the session runs smoothly.

1. 1

   Introduce the Map

   Explain the four quadrants of the empathy map and how each reveals a layer of the recipient's experience.

   5 min
2. 2

   Assign Scenarios

   Give each group a realistic performance feedback scenario to analyze together.

   5 min
3. 3

   Fill the Quadrants

   Groups brainstorm what the recipient might think, feel, say, and do during the feedback conversation.

   5 min
4. 4

   Present Findings

   Each group shares their map and the emotional insights it revealed about the recipient.

   5 min
5. 5

   Craft Strategies

   Translate insights into empathy driven feedback approaches participants can use at work.

   5 min

These outcomes should be reinforced during the debrief.

Use these prompts to convert the activity into workplace learning.

1. What did your team do first during Empathy Mapping for Feedback?
2. Which assumption turned out to be wrong?
3. How did communication affect the result?
4. Where did the team lose time or clarity?
5. What workplace situation feels similar to this activity?
6. What would you change if you ran the activity again?

Prepare these items before the activity begins so the session runs smoothly.

1. 1

   Identify Bottlenecks

   Each group surfaces workflow bottlenecks they have personally experienced in recent work.

   5 min
2. 2

   Pick One Issue

   Groups select the single bottleneck with the highest impact to tackle in this session.

   5 min
3. 3

   Find Root Causes

   Use five whys or similar techniques to dig past symptoms and reach the real cause.

   5 min
4. 4

   Brainstorm Solutions

   Generate multiple solutions, then outline implementation steps and the reasoning behind each.

   5 min
5. 5

   Present and Vote

   Groups pitch their proposals and the wider team votes on the most practical idea to trial.

   5 min
6. 6

   Debrief Outcomes

   After the trial, reflect on results, lessons learned, and how to scale the improvement.

   5 min

These outcomes should be reinforced during the debrief.

Use these prompts to convert the activity into workplace learning.

1. What did your team do first during Continuous Improvement Challenge?
2. Which assumption turned out to be wrong?
3. How did communication affect the result?
4. Where did the team lose time or clarity?
5. What workplace situation feels similar to this activity?
6. What would you change if you ran the activity again?

Prepare these items before the activity begins so the session runs smoothly.

1. 1

   Pair Across Levels

   Match each senior employee with a junior colleague from a different team where possible.

   5 min
2. 2

   Share the Template

   Distribute a structured template covering leadership, collaboration, and growth prompts.

   5 min
3. 3

   Junior Feedback First

   Junior staff offer respectful improvement feedback to their senior partner using the template.

   5 min
4. 4

   Senior Feedback Next

   Seniors return constructive guidance focused on growth, strengths, and development areas.

   5 min
5. 5

   Share Takeaways

   Reconvene the group, exchange key takeaways, and plan ongoing mentoring relationships.

   5 min

These outcomes should be reinforced during the debrief.

Use these prompts to convert the activity into workplace learning.

1. What did your team do first during Reverse Mentoring for Feedback?
2. Which assumption turned out to be wrong?
3. How did communication affect the result?
4. Where did the team lose time or clarity?
5. What workplace situation feels similar to this activity?
6. What would you change if you ran the activity again?

Prepare these items before the activity begins so the session runs smoothly.

1. 1

   Open the Circle

   Set a confidentiality agreement and clarify the goal: learning from experience, not judgment. Introduce the talking token and how it works.

   5 min
2. 2

   Name the Challenge

   Each participant shares one recent performance challenge, describing the situation and what made it difficult.

   5 min per person
3. 3

   Walk Through Steps

   The presenter explains what actions they took, what worked, and where they got stuck.

   3 min per person
4. 4

   Invite Peer Input

   The circle offers one observation each: "Have you tried...?" or "I faced something similar and..."

   5 min per person
5. 5

   Capture the Lessons

   Facilitator records the most common patterns on the board so the group leaves with shared learning, not just individual stories.

   5 min

These outcomes should be reinforced during the debrief.

Use these prompts to convert the activity into workplace learning.

1. What did your team do first during Challenge Sharing Circle?
2. Which assumption turned out to be wrong?
3. How did communication affect the result?
4. Where did the team lose time or clarity?
5. What workplace situation feels similar to this activity?
6. What would you change if you ran the activity again?

Prepare these items before the activity begins so the session runs smoothly.

1. 1

   Form Mixed Teams

   Build cross functional teams that span departments, locations, and seniority levels.

   5 min
2. 2

   Issue the Challenge

   Share a realistic time sensitive business challenge with clear success criteria.

   5 min
3. 3

   Collaborate Digitally

   Teams brainstorm and coordinate only through Teams, Slack, or Workspace tools.

   5 min
4. 4

   Deliver Solutions

   Each team produces a documented solution within the 30 to 45 minute window.

   5 min
5. 5

   Debrief Strategies

   Discuss communication gaps, coordination wins, and how to make virtual contributions visible.

   5 min

These outcomes should be reinforced during the debrief.

Use these prompts to convert the activity into workplace learning.

1. What did your team do first during Real-Time Collaboration Lab?
2. Which assumption turned out to be wrong?
3. How did communication affect the result?
4. Where did the team lose time or clarity?
5. What workplace situation feels similar to this activity?
6. What would you change if you ran the activity again?

Prepare these items before the activity begins so the session runs smoothly.

1. 1

   Frame the Motion

   State the debate motion: "Remote workers deliver stronger individual performance than office-based workers." Explain the round structure and scoring criteria.

   5 min
2. 2

   Assign the Sides

   Divide into two teams and assign each team the position they personally disagree with, forcing genuine perspective-taking.

   2 min
3. 3

   Prepare Arguments

   Teams build their cases using evidence, examples, and logical frameworks within the time limit.

   10 min
4. 4

   Run the Debate

   Hold three rounds: opening statements (2 min each), rebuttals (2 min each), and closing arguments (1 min each).

   15 min
5. 5

   Vote and Reflect

   The full group votes on which team made the strongest argument, then discusses which assumptions the debate revealed about their own views.

   8 min

These outcomes should be reinforced during the debrief.

Use these prompts to convert the activity into workplace learning.

1. What did your team do first during Debate: Remote vs. Office Performance?
2. Which assumption turned out to be wrong?
3. How did communication affect the result?
4. Where did the team lose time or clarity?
5. What workplace situation feels similar to this activity?
6. What would you change if you ran the activity again?

Prepare these items before the activity begins so the session runs smoothly.

1. 1

   Form Two Camps

   Split the group into pro AI and ethical risk teams and explain the debate format clearly.

   5 min
2. 2

   Share Scenarios

   Distribute realistic scenarios where AI makes questionable performance calls about employees.

   5 min
3. 3

   Prepare Arguments

   Teams research and prepare arguments backed by examples, data, and ethical frameworks.

   5 min
4. 4

   Hold the Debate

   Run timed rounds with opening statements, rebuttals, and counterpoints from each side.

   5 min
5. 5

   Synthesize Guidelines

   Facilitators guide a balanced wrap up and capture ethical implementation guidelines together.

   5 min

These outcomes should be reinforced during the debrief.

Use these prompts to convert the activity into workplace learning.

1. What did your team do first during AI Ethics Debate?
2. Which assumption turned out to be wrong?
3. How did communication affect the result?
4. Where did the team lose time or clarity?
5. What workplace situation feels similar to this activity?
6. What would you change if you ran the activity again?