Themes & Outcomes
Leadership training: identifying interdependencies in systems, leadership communication, dealing with risk, giving feedback
Team building: communicating effectively, cooperating, being an active listener, maintaining the balance, working with value
Project management: simulating strategic planning, working under time pressure
Communication training: metacommunication, facilitating, dealing with different perspectives
Activity
We know that great teams make great things happen. But the constant challenge of meeting or even exceeding objectives is very demanding for everyone involved. “How should we treat each other?”, “What’s important for each of us in team work?”, “Who’s taking the lead?”: These are just a few questions amongst many that need answering. The answers are the keys to producing effective and synergetic teamwork.
How It’s Done
The trainer places 8 wooden blocks upright on the floor. Each team member picks up one of the ropes that are connected to a crane. The task is to use the crane to build a tower by placing the blocks on top of each other. The participants are not allowed to touch the blocks with their hands or any other part of their bodies. The task appears simple but with each block cut at a different angle and the need for all participants to work together, building the tower starts to get tricky! This task can only be solved by precise planning, good communication and well-organised teamwork.
Variation
Have your group build a three-storey ‘house’. This way, you avoid the tower falling over (as could happen in the classic version) and mistakes during building can be easily integrated.
Themes & Outcomes
Leadership training: identifying interdependencies in systems, leadership communication, dealing with risk, giving feedback
Team building: communicating effectively, cooperating, being an active listener, maintaining the balance, working with value
Project management: simulating strategic planning, working under time pressure
Communication training: metacommunication, facilitating, dealing with different perspectives
