I’m Great, You’re Great, We’re Great
I'm Great, You're Great, We're Great is an energizing group affirmation exercise in which participants affirm themselves, their partners, and the ensemble as a whole through eye contact, physical commitment, and full-voiced declaration. The exercise generates collective momentum and group warmth rapidly, and it trains performers to inhabit positive energy physically rather than performing positivity from a detached or self-conscious position.
Structure
Setup
Participants stand in a circle with enough space to move freely. The facilitator introduces the affirmation sequence: each participant will make eye contact with another, state an affirmation, and receive one in return.
Progression
The facilitator demonstrates the sequence. A participant makes direct eye contact with the person across from them and says: "I'm great." The receiving participant responds with full commitment: "You're great." Both turn to the group and say together or in sequence: "We're great."
This exchange then spreads across the circle. Participants are encouraged to make it big -- full voice, full body, genuine eye contact -- rather than ironic or self-conscious.
Escalation
The facilitator may increase the energy by shortening the time between exchanges, layering simultaneous exchanges across the circle, or adding physical gestures and movement to each affirmation.
Conclusion
The exercise ends when the group has reached a shared peak of energy and warmth, signaled by laughter, genuine connection, or a facilitator-led group declaration.
How to Teach It
Objectives
I'm Great, You're Great, We're Great targets energy generation, presence, and the willingness to commit to positive emotional states without apology. It combats the common performer tendency to hedge enthusiasm with irony.
How to Explain It
"This exercise is about committing to feeling good about yourself and each other -- out loud, with your whole body. It might feel ridiculous. Do it anyway. Say it like you mean it, look the person in the eye, and bring the room up with you."
Scaffolding
Begin with slow, deliberate exchanges so the group gets comfortable with the phrasing and eye contact before increasing pace and volume. For groups with low energy or high self-consciousness, model the exercise with full commitment before asking them to join.
Common Pitfalls
Participants often undercut the affirmations with a smirk or drop their gaze at the moment of declaration. Coach the group to hold eye contact through the full phrase and to match their physical energy to the volume of their voice. The exercise loses its effect when it is performed apologetically.
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How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). I’m Great, You’re Great, We’re Great. Retrieved September 29, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/im-great-youre-great-were-great
The Improv Archive. "I’m Great, You’re Great, We’re Great." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/im-great-youre-great-were-great.
The Improv Archive. "I’m Great, You’re Great, We’re Great." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/im-great-youre-great-were-great. Accessed September 29, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.