exercise · all tools
Rose, Bud, Thorn
Each person names a rose (something going well), a bud (something new or full of possibility) and a thorn (something hard), then picks who goes next. Simple enough for a company meeting or a family dinner; the manual's own additions include compost and weed.
Practical
- Time
- 5-30 min
- Group
- 2–∞ · pairs, small-group, large-group
- Settings
- in-person, online
- Mechanisms
- narrative-identity, dialogic-encounter
- Change scope
- state → skill · recurring-practice
Instructions
- Where
- authrev.org/ar-games-manual — Authentic Relating Games Manual, paid
- Availability
- In the source document — the instructions live inside the material linked, on its terms
- Licence
- CC BY-SA 4.0 (Authentic Relating Games Manual)
Source link checked 31 Aug 2026 — unchanged since we recorded it on 29 Aug 2026
This directory describes and points home; the instructions stay with the people who made them.
Origin
Origin unknown, seen across many communities; write-up by Sara Ness and Norian Caporale-Berkowitz (AuthTeams) — Widely used check-in; codified in Authentic Relating (Authentic Relating Games Manual, 2025 edition)
In this directory via Authentic Relating Games Manual
Related: Team Check-in (alternative-to) · Meeting check-ins (alternative-to)
The manual also offers it as feedback on a project or group dynamic, and as a reflection between people who know each other, on their connection.
status: checked · added 2026-08-31