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Social Network UnPlugged – Corporate Team Building Activity

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Team Building Activity

Social Network UnPlugged

Purpose
  • Team process of creating connections.
  • Getting to know others while finding similarities and developing shared strengths.
  • Visual Representation of known and unknown connections, dependencies, and accountabilities within teams
 Materials:
  • Flip Chart Paper or Large Roll of paper
  • Post-its (multi-colored preferably)
  • Markers or pens (the more colors, the better!)
 Group Size:
  • Can be accomplished with groups of 3 – 1000’s
  • For smaller groups use flip chart paper, for larger groups you are going to need a much bigger space and sufficient amounts of paper.

 

social network team building activity Mike Cardus

Objective:

Social-Network-Un-Plugged is useful with groups of people who know each other well as well as those who do not know each other well.

The objective is to find connections, then to continue to explore how people in the team are connected. By graphically illustrating relationships people begin to feel and understand that the similarities and accountabilities are more alike than they at first thought.

Preparation:

Before starting this activity with small teams; ensure that you have at least one sheet of flip chart paper/per team of 10 or less.

For a team of 10 or greater, I recommend using another sheet of flip chart paper for every 10 people.

If the group is large for example 100+ there are 2 variations;

1. Break the group into teams of 10 people and each team sits with their piece of flip chart paper. Teams can be Heterogeneous (do not know each other) or Homogenous (know each other well) the facilitator and decision maker determines this based upon the program objectives.

2. The team stays one large organizational group, and a large roll of paper ran across a wall. With this variation, everyone is finding connections with everyone else.

Additionally, you will need at least one Post-it per/person, and each person will need a marker.

Instructions and Facilitator Script:

Hand out the flip chart paper and ensure that everyone has a post-it and a marker or pen.

If using the large group method have the paper secured to a wall.

Below is how I explain the initiative;Corporate team building social network unplugged mike cardus

“Within this room today, we all share connections of managerial authority, accountabilities, backgrounds, futures, training, families, hobbies, etc…

It is vital that these connections grow, and we see that the similarities are greater than the differences. Once we explored how similar and interconnected, we all are then we can grow and develop solutions to enhance what we are doing.

Please in the top portion on your post-it write your name, below that you are going to draw a picture of your face. Below your picture write two ‘tags’ about yourself (one-word skills you possess, sometimes I have them write where they were born and if they work together number of years with the company.)

Great now place your post-its randomly on the paper. Using the markers draw lines connecting you, to other people. Label these lines what the connection is. For example, one line may connect 2 individuals who were hired together, another may connect people who worked in the same office, and another may connect people who like to eat chocolate ice-cream. The connections do not and should not be all work related, look for hobbies, personal preferences, vacation spots, sports teams, etc…”

Allow 20-30 minutes depending upon how interactive the groups are being, with larger groups you will have to allow more time. Some people walk away and come back; it is alright if everyone is not into the activity. Once the action has calmed down, lead the group in some processing and reflection.

Processing & Reflection:

Here are some ideas;

Active Processing;

Ask each person to find their post-it and count the number of connections that off-shoot their name.

Once they find their post-it and count connections ask people to read the connections and reflect on how the connections were;

  • formed
  • broken
  • strengthened
  • changed

Following the personal reflection ask the people to forms groups of 2-3. Ask each person to share one connection for each of the following terms above (formed, broken, strengthened, changed) with the group.

Possible questions for the group
  • What was your initial reaction to the challenge?
  • How many connections were formed?
  • What surprised you about the connections?
  • In what ways did you form connections?
  • Who are you connected with that you did not know you shared that connection?
  • What can we learn from this?
  • How can these ideas be brought to the office, home, community, classroom?

Reference:

Original idea from the book; GameStorming:

 

Hire Mike

Need experiential and hands-on ways to create lasting memories and content in your programs/ workshops/ and lessons.

Mike is your answer. He will set up and develop customized activities and simulations for what you need. Contact Mike (mike@mikecardus.com)

Mike will come to you to facilitate the action learning and processing, or can just send you a document with videos and photos of how to do everything you need.

Mike will make you a success and your next meeting and training program better than ever.

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