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Team Building Initiatives

Traffic Jam

1. Have each person line up and stand on a poly spot, place the extra spot in the middle of the line
2. The goal of the game is to get side A to side B and Side B to side A, all facing forward
3. The rules are as follows:
· No moving backwards
· A person can only move forward to an empty space
· A person can not “jump over” their own team mate
· Only one person may move at a time
· One spot per person, no sharing
· If any of these rules are broken, the group must begin again

DICUSSION:
1. Was your group successful in their task?
2. Were you successful as a group?
3. Did everyone participate?
4. Did you communicate effectively?
5. In what ways did you act together as a group to solve the challenge?
6. Did anyone feel frustrated during the activity? How did you deal with this?
7. Think about these Keys to success of problem solving in groups:
· Communication
· Planning
· Motivation

Requirements

Poly Spots, one per person plus one. Any type of marker that one can stand on is fine.

Speed Pass

The goal of this activity is to give a group an opportunity to work together to achieve a simple goal.

The task is to pass an object so that each member of the group, one at a time, physically touches it.

Allow for group planning time. This can be a timed event.

Requirements

A tennis ball or any object that can easily be passed by hand.

Helium Stick

We use the Helium Stick to teach a powerful lesson about organizational mission statements and group work in general.

Facilitator storyline:

Organizations create mission statements to be a guiding force. A good mission statement focuses everyone's attention on the core essence of a business or organization, and enables them to make decisions and take action that are directly aligned with their core values.

For our next challenge, your group will have a simple mission: To lower this stick to the ground better than ANYONE in the world.

Have the group repeat the mission a couple of times...

The Challenge:

Have the group of 8-12 divide into two lines and face each other.

Explain the technical rules to the group (very important): everyone's index fingers MUST remain in contatc with the stick at all times, and the stick must rest on top of their fingers at all times (no grabbing, finger curling, etc.)

Have the group extend their index fingers at waist level.

Lay the stick across the group's fingers.

At that time, the group must work together to lower the stick to the ground.

Inevitably, the stick rises almost instantly - causing laughter, frustration, or confusion. The rise is caused by the small ripples of upward pressure as individuals each try to remain in contact with the stick.

After refocusing, the group will be able to lower the stick.

The Debriefing:

Ask the group if everyone understood the mission and technical lowering rules.

Ask if anyone was intentionally trying to sabotage the group's mission by lifting the stick.

Ask if everyone sincerely wanted to accomplish the mission or thought that it could be done.

If everyone understood the mission, and was committed to succeeding, why did the group get so far off track right away? Try to elicit answers that are related to the group process, not the technical explanation of the challenge. For example, "we didn't plan well" more so than "we weren't holding our fingers correctly.

Ask the group to share example of groups that they have participated in "the real world" that seemed to be comprised of committed folks, but were not productive.

Discuss what types of actions are important to keep a group focused on the mission.

Many times during this activity, people become frustrated with others who aren't lowering the stick, and often choose one person as the culprit. Also, some people give up and let the stick come off their fingers. If either happens, be prepared to discuss how blame or giving up affects groups.

Tip for success: When you place the stick on the group's fingers, apply slight downward pressure before letting them begin. This helps create the initial upward pressure that creates the "helium stick."

Requirements

1/2 inch pvc pipe, or broomstick handle, tent-pole, or even a hula hoop.

Community Project - Asteroids

Storyline: Team members have a "community project" to complete. i.e. big carnival, sports tournament, etc. and need the help of many community agencies/organizations- represented by the circles.

Each team member must come up with ideas re/ who's help they will need to make the event successful. When a team member suggests a person or organization who's help they may need, they are given a circle.

Once each team member has a circle, they must place both of their feet "inside the cylinder created by the circle" (in other words starting at the ground and going infinitely high-but don't give them those instructions)

If everyone is within their circle you are ready to begin. You may have everyone switch to a new circle, as you take one away. Wait until all the feet are inside the circles again before another switch is made. Removing circles can represent people or organizations that can no longer help with the event, and the group must try to "pull it off" without them. Participants will begin to become crowded within the circles (be sure to leave a large one for the end).

Eventually groups may figure out that only their feet must be within the circle, and they may sit around the large circle with their feet piled up within it.

Requirements

Circles made from rope of various sizes(1-3 feet in diameter, larger for bigger group)

PEOPLE MACHINE

Whole group: members make themselves into a machine, with as many parts (gears, levers, etc.) as they can devise. One member starts by repeatedly doing a movement, like shaking a leg and making a sound;
another member joins in, with his own motion, etc.