Purchase the E-Book: How to Lead Awesome Team-Building Programs
Did you ever wonder “How does one lead AWESOME team-building programs? Programs that ensure that content and learning take place. A teambuilding program that is fun, and teams leave better than when they arrived?” Now you can find out; In this 55 page E-book you will find applicable strategies, team-building activities, facilitation, de-briefing, and processing activities + theory that you can use immediately.
Communicate This & Stick it here
Complex simulation illustrating communication by people listening and sharing information in a manner that other people can understand the message being received as well as sent.
Creates environment to transfer, strengthen and re-work systems of communication with intra as well as inter departmental systems.
Can also be used to highlight different idioms and references that are used internally, this can be confusing to other departments and cultures (for global organizations and teams).
Materials:
- Laminated Puzzle (Buy the “How to Lead Successful Team Building Programs e-Book)
- Blank Puzzle Board (Buy the “How to Lead Successful Team Building Programs e-Book)
- 18 envelopes – 1 for each puzzle piece
- Countdown Timer
- Stop Watch
Group Size:
- For this variation 18 people is ideal
- For smaller groups you can supply people with more than one puzzle piece or create a puzzle and puzzle grid with less pieces
- For larger groups you can ask people to break into 18 teams i.e. partner, triad. Or create a puzzle and puzzle grid with more pieces
Objective:
The objective is for the group to assemble themselves according to the directives and place the Communicate This puzzle pieces into their proper order.
Secondary objective is for the group to explore a complex process that requires mapping, planning, strategy, and situational leadership of each team member.
Concluding in the group exploring and developing improved use of communication systems, process mapping and listening plus speaking for understanding.
Preparation:
Prior to beginning this activity with 18 people (see group size above for different group sizes) laminate and cut out each of the square Communicate This puzzle pieces. Place each piece into its own separate envelope, you will need and use 18 envelopes.
The Communicate This grid should be on a table somewhere on the opposite side of the room of where you will have the group gather.
Split about ¼ of the room and place on a table the Communicate This blank grid. In the other ¾ of the room will be the working area for the team. It helps to lay a rope or use masking tape to mark the “Grid Area” and “Planning Area”
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Have the guidelines written on flip chart paper
Instructions and Facilitator Script:
Hand out the puzzle pieces in a random order to the people; ask them NOT to open the envelopes until the activity begins.
Below is how I generally explain the initiative
“Each of you contain within your envelope specific pieces of information that is needed for your personal advancement and the teams overall success. Please keep the envelopes sealed until the countdown timer begins.
The objective of this simulation is to place each of the puzzle pieces in the correct order in less than 60 minutes, and then place the puzzle pieces into the Communicate This grid in under 30 seconds. Here are the guidelines;
- One person per puzzle piece.
- Only you can see, touch, and move your puzzle piece once the envelope in opened.
- NO ONE besides the person assigned the puzzle piece can see, touch and move that puzzle piece at any time in the “Planning Area” and the “Grid Area”.
- Pieces may NOT be exchanged –You must keep your piece at all times.
- The group will have 60 minutes to plan, prepare, and develop a process for placing the Communicate This puzzle into the grid
- Once 1 person steps into the “Grid Area” the 30 seconds for placing all the pieces properly in the grid starts.
- For any violation of the guidelines the ethics board requires a penalty of 2 minutes removed from the planning time. You can choose to be a strict or forgiving of the rules as you choose. Observe how the teams and people choose to interpret the rules and use these observations for the processing and reflection.
Any questions? Your time starts NOW.”
Connections and Concepts:
Communicate this is a challenging activity. Expect yelling, confusion, and some chaos in the beginning.
Pay attention to the group dynamics; are they all working together? Are they splitting into smaller teams? Are the smaller teams sharing information with the larger group? Who is keeping track of the time?
Once the team is all in place and they are ready to transfer the pieces to the grid, did they remember that once the 1st person crosses the line the 30 seconds for completion starts. Teams need to also plan for how they are going to move everybody in a sequence from the Planning Zone to the Grid Zone and place each piece correctly in the Puzzle Grid.
As you can see this is a multi process, situational leadership simulation.
Processing & Reflection:
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 create 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.