10 FANTASTIC · 2013. 7. 4. · This makes them think that they are competing with other teams. The puzzles must be jumbled up with pieces belonging to other the jig-saw-puzzles of

10 FANTASTICteam-building games to help your team Communicate, Co-ordinate and Co-operate!

BONUS!

4 questions to help you conduct an

effective debrief.

Copyrights © Vasu Dev, Team, Works! 2013

Welcome to the first of a 3-part series of e-books on team-building, that I am giving away free, to help you build great teams. In this e-book, I am giving away these 10 fantastic games to help your team, Communicate, Co-operate, Co-ordinate with one another, and of course build Trust.

“Games are often a reflection of behavior.” This is the main reason why games are used in team-building activities. I have specially selected these ten games to help you conduct your own in-house, mini team-building session. They have have been selected to help you and your team explore the challenges in communication, co-operation and co-ordination as a team, and of course to build trust. They are THE four important keys to (or for some, stumbling blocks) to great team work.

Now, I am not suggesting that you suddenly down your tools and start playing these games in the middle of work. What you could do is select a game to ‘throw in’ as part of a team alignment meeting, or group mentoring session, announcing the agenda ahead of time so that your team members are mentally and emotionally ready for the game/s.

A word of caution however. Choose only one or two games for the session. What I have discovered is that sometimes when there are issues that cut real deep, nothing works better than good, open, heart-to-heart, discussions and sharing. In the process of resolving these issues, then these games can then be used as ice breakers or reinforcers for the follow-up session, to confirm or anchor what was agreed or learnt in previous sessions.

I hope these games serve you well; some of them are my own adaptation of existing ones and some are perennial favorites. Use them to help you and your team examine your challenges and behaviors. May you build a great team. Be well.

Regards

Vasu Davewww.vasudave.com

Introduction


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Secret Agents


ObjectiveObserve, and decode an image or sculpture, and reproduce it’s image in another (part of the) room.

Size: Ideal for any team size if space is not an issue

Materials per team: Flip chart board and paperMarker penMasking tape to mark the boundary

InstructionsDivide the group into teams of 6.Let the team select 3 secret agents and 3 decodersPlace an object (a sculpture or picture or object) in another room. Use masking tape to create a boundary beyond which the secret agent cannot cross

Rules:The secret agents are the only ones who can view the object.Secret agents cannot cross the boundary to pass information,The distance between the decoder and secret agent must be at least 4m. Only one secret agent at a time is allowed to pass instructions to the decoders. The secret agent cannot reveal the complete object to the decoders e.g. It’s a vaseOnly voice or hand gestures are allowed to describe the object - no pictures or drawing etc. No electronic or mobile devices can be usedThe decoders must work on one solution and can discuss with each otherThe decoders are allowed to see the secret agents, listen and acknowledge with gestures; but they cannot speak or ask any questionsThe secret agent will not be able to see the drawing before the time is up (whistle)The decoders have to draw an image of the object based on the instructions givenNote that the room could get noisy as the secret agents try to out-shout each other, to get the message across.

Completion time - 20 mins.

Objective:To work as one team and piece together a jig-saw puzzles.

Size: Ideal for 60 or more

Materials: One 100 piece Jig-saw puzzle per 20 participants. Ensure other puzzles look alike (but not the same)

InstructionsSplit into groups of 20 with each group given a set of jigsaw puzzle. Ask for team name and for commitments - the winning team or the fastest etc. This makes them think that they are competing with other teams.The puzzles must be jumbled up with pieces belonging to other the jig-saw-puzzles of other teams. Each team member is given 5 puzzle pieces. Teams must not be told that their puzzles have been jumbled.

Rules:Teams must complete the jigsaw puzzles in complete silence.any one caught whispering or talking will have his/ her puzzle pieces taken away and exchanged with others


Jig-Saw-Muddle


ObjectiveTo transport a team member from one point to another using a ‘duck tape’ stretcher

Size: Ideal for teams of 7

Materials per team: One 40 foot roll of commercial duck tape

InstructionsSplit into groups of 7 Give each group given a roll of duck tapeInstruct the teams to make a stretcher strong enough to support the heaviest team memberOnce completed, the team must transport the team member over a distance of 50 meters, using the stretcher.

Rules:Teams must use only the materials providedTurn this activity into a race, or a relay to instill a sense of urgency and drama.


Duck Tape Stretcher


Balloon Yogi


ObjectiveTo work as a team and place every team member on the ‘Yogi seat” without bursting the balloons

Size: Ideal for teams of 7

Materials per team: Balloons, and 2 plastic mounting boards or corrugated cardboard sheets

InstructionsDivide the group into teams of 6Ask the teams to inflate 4 balloons and to tie the balloons togetherSandwich the inflated balloons between the 2 mounting board.Each team member must then sit in a yogi or lotus pose, be lifted up and lowered onto the top mounting boardThe team shall release the team member gently until he/she is supported by only the balloons and the mounting boardsThe team shall then remove the ‘yogi’ by lifting him/her off the seat.VariationIn larger groups, with many teams, the Team that burst the least number of balloons wins

Rules:Teams must use only the materials providedThe ‘yogi’ must sit for 5 seconds without bursting the balloons.Timing starts when team member is properly seated without any support.

Completion time - 15 mins per team

‘Balloon-a-pillar’ race

ObjectiveTo race as a team of ‘balloon-a-pillars’ to the finish line

Size: Teams of 8

Materials per member: Balloons

InstructionsDivide the group into teams of 8Line up 2 teams behind the start line; show them the finish line,Instruct each team member to inflate his/ her balloon to at least 10 inches in diameter, and place in in the small of their backs.With the last team member (the only one without a balloon in his or her back) staying put, instruct the other team members to gently take half a step back.This sandwiches the balloons and each team is now a ‘balloon-a-pillar’Line the teams up behind the start line.Begin the race (whistle)The team that crosses the finish line as a complete ‘balloon-a-pillar’ wins.

Rules:Teams who burst their balloons shall be given a new balloon to inflate and form the balloon-a-pillar again, before they are allowed to continue. Teams who drop their balloons must form the balloon-a-pillar again, before they are allowed to continue.

Completion time - 15 mins


Helium StickObjectiveTo lower the helium stick as a team effort

Size: Teams of 12

Materials per member: Balloons

InstructionsForm a group of 12 members.Ask them stand in a line and point their fingers, barely touching each ones fingertips.Place a light aluminum rod or stick on the fingersInstruct the team to maintain contact with the rod and to lower it to the ground as one team

Rules:Every team member must maintain contact with the stick



Balloon TowerObjectiveTo build the tallest free-standing balloon tower possible

Size: Teams of 5

Materials per team:50 Balloons

InstructionsGive each team 50 balloons and ask them to build the tallest free-standing balloon tower possible.

Rules:The tower must stand without being weighted or taped down using any other materials other than those supplied.



I’ve got your back, you’ve got mine

ObjectiveTo work as a pair and complete a race,

Size: Any size

Materials per team:Balloons, masking tape

InstructionsWithin the teams, form pairsGive each pair one balloonInflate the balloonInstruct them to stand back to back and sandwich the balloon between them,Instruct the pairs to stand behind the start line You may also form teams consisting of pairs to race each other in a relay or tag race.Race each other around an obstacle course, without loosing contact with one another or bursting the balloon. Note safety, as one of the partners will be walking backwards. The first pair (team) across, wins

Rules:Teams who burst their balloons will have to come back to the start line for a fresh balloon, before they resume the race.



Ouija Marker Pen

ObjectiveTo write and draw as many words and pictures using the given device

Size: Any size

Materials per team:Strings, Marker, flip chart paper

InstructionsTeams stand in a circle Each team member is given one end of a string tied to a common marker pen. Without adjusting or shortening the strings, teams must remain in the circle and coordinate with each other to draw or write words given to them by a facilitator. Each team has 10 minutes to complete as many words as possible.

Rules:The length of the string cannot be adjusted



The Finish Line


FINISH

ObjectiveTo coordinate with each other and cross the finish line at exactly the same time together.

Size: Any size

Materials per team:Masking Tape

InstructionsMake two parallel lines on the ground, using masking tape, with a distance of 2 cm apart. Make the lines as straight as possible.The length depends on the number of participants in the room. The game starts with everyone’s big toe in the start position just behind the first tape. After the whistle is blown, the team must ensure that all toes must touch the second tape, at exactly the same time.

Rules:Everyones toe must touch the second line at exactly the same time


Conducting an effective debriefDebriefs are a must, immediately after each game, whilst the experiences are still fresh. A good debrief ensure that your team ‘gets it’. Here are four simple debriefing questions you can use for maximum effect.

1.What happened in this game?2.What did you learn about yourself/ team in the game?3.How could you have played this game differently for a better result?4.How can you apply the lessons in your life or at work?

Ask your team to discuss and write or draw their lessons and discussion notes on flip chart paper. You may also be as creative as possible and ask them to use any other means to share and get their lessons across to everyone on the team.

Send me an email if you would like to receive a free copy of ‘The Five Keys to Resolving Conflicts in Teams,’ part 2 of this 3-part series.

For your team building and other enquiries regarding team development training, please go TEAM, WORKS! at www.vasudave.com/contact or

email me, at [email protected].


BONUS!

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Documents

10 FANTASTIC · 2013. 7. 4. · This makes them think that they are competing with other teams. The puzzles must be jumbled up with pieces belonging to other the jig-saw-puzzles of