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.
Worth Reading
See all books →
Group Improvisation
The Manual of Ensemble Improv Games
Peter Campbell Gwinn; Charna Halpern
When I Say This, Do You Mean That?
Enhancing Communication
Cherie Kerr; Julia Sweeney
Improv Ideas
A Book of Games and Lists
Mary Ann Kelley; Justine Jones
Business Improv
Experiential Learning Exercises to Train Employees
Val Gee
Improvised Theatre and the Autism Spectrum
A Practical Guide
Gary Kramer; Richie Ploesch
Improvisation for the Theater
A Handbook of Teaching and Directing Techniques
Viola Spolin
Related Exercises
You’re Amazing
You're Amazing is a supportive exercise in which players take turns receiving genuine praise and affirmation from the group. The exercise counters the vulnerability of performance by establishing a baseline of mutual admiration. It builds ensemble trust and sets a positive emotional tone for creative risk-taking.
Positive Chair Exercise
Positive Chair Exercise is a supportive exercise in which each player sits in a designated chair while the rest of the group shares genuine compliments or positive observations about that person. The exercise builds ensemble trust, counters the vulnerability of performance, and establishes a culture of mutual support within the group.
I Like You Because/I Love You Because
I Like You Because/I Love You Because is a connection exercise in which players take turns expressing genuine appreciation for specific qualities in their partners. The exercise builds trust, vulnerability, and ensemble warmth. It works best when participants move beyond surface compliments to specific, observed qualities.
Fuck Yeah!
Fuck Yeah! is an affirmation exercise in which players celebrate each other's offers, ideas, and choices with immediate, enthusiastic, profanity-optional approval. When a scene partner makes an offer, the group or the other performer responds with full-body, vocally committed affirmation rather than analysis or evaluation. The exercise trains the Yes-And reflex at its most visceral and develops comfort with unreserved enthusiasm as a collaborative default.
Circle Sitting
Circle Sitting is a trust exercise in which players stand in a tight circle, turn to face the same direction, and simultaneously sit on the knees of the person behind them. When successful, the entire group supports each other in a freestanding circle of seated bodies. The exercise demonstrates the power of collective trust and cooperation.
Dog, Dog, Dog
Dog, Dog, Dog is a group warm-up exercise in which players repeat a word while performing a corresponding action, then switch to a new word and action on a signal. The exercise trains focus, the ability to follow group shifts, and comfort with repetitive, committed physical choices. It builds ensemble synchronization.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). I’m Great, You’re Great, We’re Great. Retrieved March 17, 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 March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.