TEAM =
TOGETER EVERYONE
ACCOMPLISEES MORE
Ability is what you’re capable of doing.
Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
—Lou Holtz
Members :
Marta
Eunice
Ginevra
Giulia
FeiFei
Ronel
Eneida
May I Present . . . ?
Group Size
10 participants works best
Materials
Flip chart or whiteboard, blank sheets of paper, markers, adhesive tape
Time
20 to 25 minutes
Procedure
Have participants pair up. Provide each pair with blank sheets of paper and markers. Write these instructions on a flip chart or whiteboard so everyone can see them:
On the first sheet of paper, write your partner’s name and draw a picture of your partner. On the second sheet of paper, create a fact sheet by writing down your partner’s answers to the following questions:
• What do you like about your job?
• What are the skills you admire in others?
• What would we be surprised to know about you?
Have each team member introduce his or her partner by presenting the drawing and the answers to the three questions. After the presentations, tape all the drawings and fact sheets to the walls for the duration of the program.
You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.
—Mahatma Gandhi
Shake It Up
Group Size
Any
Materials
None
Time
15 to 20 minutes
Procedure
Have participants pair up. Each pair is required to come up with a handshake.
The handshake has to have three moves and a sound effect or phrase.
Give them a few minutes to develop and practice their handshake.
Have each pair team up with another pair. Have them put their handshakes
together to form a six-part handshake with two sound effects. Give
the new foursomes time to practice.
Have each foursome join with another foursome to put their handshakes
together for a twelve-part, four-sound-effect handshake. Time permitting,
have each team of eight present their handshakes to the whole group.
Variations
You can stop this at four or continue with the eight-person version (more
challenging). There are many ways to adapt this one, depending on the
number of people you have in your team.
Discussion Questions
1. How did you learn the twelve-part handshake without becoming overwhelmed?
2. What aspect about this process was easy? Challenging?
3. In what ways does this relate to sharing information and learning from each
other at work?
Worst Team Everever!
Group Size
Any
Materials
Flip-chart paper, markers
Time
20 to 30 minutes
Procedure
Split the team members into groups of five to seven. Give each group flipchart
paper and markers. The groups then have 20 minutes to create a
poster depicting the worst team ever, including the qualities and characteristics
of the worst team and an illustration. After 20 minutes, have the
groups present their work.
Tips
You may have to monitor this so it does not turn into a gripe session. It is
meant to be done in fun and have a positive outcome.
Discussion Questions
1. Have we all experienced or displayed some of these qualities? Why? What
can we do about it?
2. In your discussion of the worst team ever, did you come up with some qualities
of the best team ever? What were those?
3. How can this activity help us become the best team ever?
4. What is our individual responsibility in creating the best team ever?
It is a luxury to be understood.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Draw
Group Size
This activity works best for up to 12 participants.
For a large group, split into smaller teams.
Materials
Copies of the drawing handout (provided),
additional sheets of paper, pens
Time
10 to 20 minutes
Procedure
Have all the participants stand one behind the other in a single line. Briefly
show the original drawing to the last person in line. With her finger, she
“draws” the picture on the back of the person in front of her, who then
draws on the back of the person in front of him or her, and so on down the
line to the first person. When the first person in the line finally gets the
“message,” he or she draws it on a sheet of paper.
Compare all the final drawings with the original to see how many different
messages were received.
Discussion Questions
1. When does communication start to break down?
2. What are some reasons for our communication breakdown?
3. What can we do to make sure our message is understood?
4. What did you learn about communication that you can take back to the
workplace?
Oh
Group Size
Any
Materials
Sheet of paper and pen
Time
10 to 20 minutes
Procedure
This is a fast and fun way to demonstrate the power of tone in our verbal
communication.
As the facilitator, write the word “Oh” on a sheet of paper so everyone on
the team can see it. Ask them to say the word, and lead them in saying the
word aloud. Now tell them the following:
The simple word “Oh” says very little as you see it written here. However,
when we say the word “Oh,” it can have many different meanings
according to how it is spoken. I am going to read you some different
intentions, and after I read each one, please convey that intention by
saying the word “Oh” in the appropriate tone of voice.
Then read each of the following intentions, and wait for the team to verbally
demonstrate the tone. You may want to say it with them for the first
one to get them started.
• You surprised me!
• I made a mistake.
• You’re a pain in the neck.
• You make me so happy.
• I’m bored.
• I’m fascinated.
• I understand.
• I don’t understand.
Variations
Use the word “Dude,” or run through the list twice using both words.
Discussion Questions
1. How can one word mean so many different things?
2. What can this simple activity teach us about the power of tone?
3. What is a good takeaway from this activity?
What’s Your Story?
Group Size
Any
Materials
None
Time
10 minutes
Procedure
Have everyone find a partner. Tell each pair to decide which of them will
be the first storyteller. The storyteller has two minutes to tell the partner
a story. Story topics could include a recent vacation, a funny situation, an
interesting experience, or a hobby. The listening partner’s job is simply to
listen. After two minutes, have them switch roles.
The next step is for everyone to find new partners. This time, the story
they just heard has now become “their story.” They have two minutes each
to convey that story to their new partner as if it happened to them.
Discussion Questions
1. How well did you listen?
2. If the original person had been sitting next to you, how well would that person
think you captured his or her story?
3. What does it take to be an effective listener?
Back to Back
• To improve verbal communication skills
Group Size
Any
Materials
Paper, pens, Sample Drawing Templates
(provided), clipboard (optional)
Time
15 minutes
Procedure
Have the participants pair up and sit back to back. One person—the artist—
gets the clipboard and pen; the other—the director—gets a template of
a picture. The director’s goal is to get the artist to draw an exact duplicate
of the picture by using only verbal directions. (Sample templates are provided
with this game.)
The first time through the exercise, the director describes to the artist
what to draw, but the artist is not allowed to speak to the director. For the
second round, have the partners switch roles, and hand out the second
template. This time, for the first five minutes only allow the artist to ask
yes-or-no questions. After the five minutes are up, allow the artist to ask
any questions he or she would like.
When the partners are done with both rounds, they can compare
drawings.
Discussion Questions
1. What was it like to give directions without getting any feedback?
2. Once you could ask questions, did that make the job easier? Why?
3. What kind of questions were the most effective?
4. What types of situations resemble this activity?
5. What can we do to improve our communication with each other?
The Rest of the Story
Group Size
Any
Materials
None
Time
5 to 10 minutes
Procedure
Have the team form smaller groups of four or five. Each person explains
the significance of something he or she is wearing or has on his or her person
(maybe in a wallet or pocket).
Start the team off in the right direction by using yourself as an example,
saying something like:
The necklace I am wearing was made by my niece when she was eight
years old. We spent the day together making pendants by wrapping silver
wire around polished rocks. For me, it’s a great memory of a fun day with
my niece.
Tips
Even if some team members may not be wearing any accessories (watches,
rings, etc.), they can tell the story behind the shirt or shoes they have on.
Discussion Questions
1. How did it feel to divulge personal information?
2. What impact does this have on your level of trust and comfort with your
team?
3. What are some other ways to build a comfort zone within our teams?
4. What are some ways we can build the level of trust within our team?
Catch and Release
Group Size
Any
Materials
One bouncy ball or tennis ball for each team member
Time
10 minutes
Procedure
Split any large groups into smaller teams of six or seven, and have them
form a circle. Each person gets a ball.
The rule is that as soon as anyone catches a ball thrown to him or her by a team member, that person must immediately toss it to someone else on the team (all balls must be tossed, not handed). No one should ever be holding a ball—everyone is either tossing, catching, or both—while the game is being played. If a ball is dropped, simply pick it up and return it to play.
Ask a volunteer from each team to count how many balls get dropped during the activity. They have one minute on the clock after you say, “Go!”
Ask each team how many balls were dropped. You can score the teams individually or add the totals together for a group score.
Now let them know they will have a chance to improve their score. For the second round, the same rules apply, except that the team members will have some planning time. Give them about a minute or two. When it seems like all the teams are ready, give them another minute—then say, “Go!”
Discussion Questions
1. Why the big difference (there usually is a difference) between the two rounds?
2. What strategies were effective?
3. Do we always take the time to plan? Why or why not?
4. Why is it important to take time to plan, even when things are crazy or moving quickly?
Ask each team how many balls were dropped during this round.
