BREAKING THE ICE BETWEEN TEAMS

Objective

This exercise makes it easy for leaders of other teams to come together as a
group

For the purpose of updating one another on recent developments in their own
work groups.

The exchange is a way to break the ice in a team-building session without

requiring people to expose themselves beyond their individual comfort level.

Preparation

You will need one of the “ Team starter Worksheet” for each participant. Each
participant will need a pen or pencil for completing the worksheet.

Procedures

Introduce the exercise by pointing out that the press of business sometimes
makes it difficult to keep up with one another and that at the beginning of
this session it is important to know what everyone’s expectations are.

Inform the participants that their goal will be to update one another when
necessary on recent developments in their respective work situations.

Give everyone a copy of the Worksheet and instruct them to take about five
minutes to complete it. Ask them to work quietly and to remain quiet until
everyone has finished.

When all have finished ask each participant to read his/her responses aloud.
After each person finishes, ask the rest of the group members to summarize
what were said by that person.
5. Ask the group members what themes they heard. Then ask whether or not
there are things that surfaced during this disclosure that will need the
attention of the group during this team-building session.

Closure

Make a transition statement that will lead into the next activity. For example:
“ now that we’ve heard what is going on with each of the group members, let’s
turn our attention to how this team-building session can help is to support one
another during the rest of this session and in the future.”

Time Required
30 minutes

Location
Seated place
 Team Starter Work Sheet

Directions

In this space below, take five minutes to make notes on how things are going
for you and your own group at the present time and what is on the horizon.

How things Are Good News Bad News What Is

Right Now Unclear

My Work
Group

My Own
Group

What I think will happen in the future:

What I hope won’t happen in the future:

 POSITVE STROKES

Objective

To have participants go home with positive affirmations.

Primarily designed for workshop sessions (25 or fewer participants).

Procedures

Two or three things during the session, each person fills out a card about the
other participants, completing sentences such as:

“ THE THINGS I LIKE BEST ABOUT (name) ARE,”

“ THE BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT I SAW IN (name) IS”

At the end of the day, the folded cards are passed out and read loud and then
given to the named person. He/she then goes home with 15 to 25 positive
affirmations.

Approximate Time Required

15 minutes

Location
Seated place
 I WISH, I WISH….

Objective

To learn how to work together to overcome problems.

Procedure

When doing personal interviews with employees, ask if they had a “ wish list”
and if they could change anything about their job, what would it be? (RESULT:
Honest answers.)

Discussion Questions

What do you like best about your job?

If you were “ king/queen for a day”, what would you change in the organization
(your job, your office, etc.)?
What could we do to make your job better?
What would your boss make as his/her wish?

Approximate Time Required

20-30 minutes for interviews.

Location

Seated place
 LET’S STRING ALONG

Objective

To demonstrate the interdependency of individuals

Procedure

Start by stressing that we are all dependent on each other.

To illustrate your point, ask group members who they are dependent on in that
group.

The first person is given a ball of string and picks out someone she/he works
with.

The person throws the ball at the co-worker, and states how he is dependent
on that person.

Continue process as time permits. If entire group is “tied” together restate

the initial point.

Discussion Questions

Even with the independent nature of our jobs, most of us still need others
why?
How did you choose the person to whom you tossed the ball of string? Could
there have been others?
Can you think of any cases where we operate totally without support?

Approximate time required

15-20 minutes

Location
Seated place / out side place
 A COAT OF ARMS

Objective

To give participant the opportunity to describe qualities bout themselves and

to learn more about other attendees.

Procedure

Reproduce the coat of arms as illustrated below on the diagram, or ask

participants to draw a similar sketch.

In space 1:
Draw something that characterizes a recent “ peak performance.”

In space 2:
Sketch out something about yourself that very few people know.

In space 3:
A symbol of how you like to spend your spare time. For space 4, fill in
something you really are very good at. In space 5, write or draw something
that epitomizes you personal motto.

After each person finishes, form triads

(Preferably with attendees who don’t know each other), and try to identify
what the others’ coat of arms signify.

Ask or several participants to describe their coats of arms to the group.

Approximate Time Required

15-20 minutes

Location
Seated place
 TRUST ME

Objective

To demonstrate importance of teamwork for support, leadership, and

cooperation.

Procedure

Divide group into teams of four.

Participation should volunteer.

One person in each group is blindfolded, another is the leader who will instruct
the blindfolded person to go from point A to point B in the room or adjacent
area.

The other two persons assist the leader and make certain the blindfolded
person doesn’t bump into anything.

When they walk (two-three minutes) is completed, switch roles and repeat the
exercise using a different route.
Repeat as time allows.

Discussion Questions

How did you feel when blindfolded? (uncertain, frightened, dump, etc.)
Did you trust your leader? Why or why not?
Did you trust your co-workers? Why or why not?
What did you need when you are blindfolded? (Support, assurance, advice, etc)
How about our new employees?

Approximate Time Required

20-30 minutes.

Location
Out side place
 WHAT DO I (WE) WANT IN LIFE?

Objective

To provide opportunity for individual goal clarification and goal setting.

To provide a team-building opportunity, through the sharing of key personal

values.

To provide teams with a task to work on as a vehicle for assessing and

improving their process skills.

Procedure

Provide all participants with a copy of the “ What Are My Values?” form, and
ask them to complete it individually, this may then serve as the fist step in
personal goal clarification/goal setting.

Form participants into small groups (e.g., five persons).

Ask them to share their individual rankings and arrive at a group consensus of
the ranking that the typical Egyptian person would provide.

When they are completed, share the “key” with them (for column 3) and let
them compute a measure of the similarity/dissimilarity to other

Discussion Questions

What are the possible reasons for the differences in rankings observed?
What are the implications of your own rankings observed?

Approximate Time Required

20-30 min.

Location
Seated place
 BRAINSTORMING REVISITED

Objective

To clear the cobwebs in-groups work and acclimate participants to a creative

process.

Procedure

Although “brainstorming” has been since Alex Osborne’s introduction of this

technique in the 1950s, it seems now to be regaining popularity after many
years of dormancy.

Since many participants have never been exposed to this novel approach to
problem solving, review and describe the four rules of brainstorming

No critical judgment is allowed. Quantity, not quality, is desired. The wilder

the better! Hitch-hiking(combination and improvement) are sought

To get participants in a creative mode, it is suggested that a “warm-up”

exercise be used. For example, small groups of 3-4 are formed and
participants are asked to think of different uses for a paper-clip.

Announce they have just 60 seconds, and have someone jot down the number
of ideas their group suggests.

(Don’t write out the actual ideas.) Following this exercise,

address the real-world problem to attack.

Approximate Time Required

12-15 minutes.

Location
Seated place
 MAKING WORK LIKE PLAY

Objective

To demonstrate the value, and ease of using knowledge in one area to assist in
solving problems in another domain.

To demonstrate the need to break outs of traditional ways of viewing

something (e.g.work) so as to more constructively and objectively approach a
task.

Procedures

Lead a brief discussion of “play” vs. “work”. What are different connotations
of each? For example, what does it mean to “play the piano” for a 9-year old
vs. a concert pianist? Or “playing tennis” for a weekend tennis player vs. a
touring professional tennis player?

What are the major characteristics of play that make it so motivating to its
participants? (Items generated can be listed on a transparency or flip char.
They will likely match the list provided fairly closely).

Form small discussion group of 3-5 persons each. Assign each group a
different set (e.g., a small number) of the statements on the following page to
work on. Tell them that their task is to indicate how “ work” can be made more
like the elements of “ play” shown there. (For example, nightshift crew and
day shift crews can compete for prizes; or winning performers can be named “
Employees of the month.”)

Discussion Questions

What are the major implications of this exercise for managers?

What prevents managers from making work more like play? Are these forces
real, or imagined?
What would be likely (positive and negative) results of making work more like
play? Could others in the organization accept such creative behaviors?
Materials Needed
None, unless you wish to use the list provided hereunder
Approximate Required Time
30-60 min.

COMPARING PLAY AND WORK

 FEATURES OF PLAY APPLICATIONS TO WORK

1. Alternatives are available 1.

New games can be played on

2. 2.
different days
Contact with equals, friends, 3.
3.
peers
Flexibility of choosing 4.
4.
teammates.
5.
5. Flexible duration of play
6.
6. Flexible time of when to play
7.
Opportunity to be/express
7.
oneself. 8.
Opportunity to use one’s
8.
talent. 9.
Skillful play brings applause,
9. praise and recognition from 10
spectators. .
10 Healthy competition, rivalry 11
. and challenge exist. .
11 Opportunity for social 12
. interaction. .
12 Opportunity for on-going 13
. teams to develop. .
Mechanism for scoring one’s
13 14
performance are available
. .
(feedback)
14 Rules assure basic fairness
. and justice 15
Playing involves experience of .
15
achievement, thrill of winning,
.
handling losing with grace…etc.

Let’s know each other better

 Objective:

This team building module concentrates on getting the participants to get to

know the other members of the group.

On completion of this module participants should have developed their

communication and interpersonal skills and know a reasonable amount about
their new team members.

Procedure

Participants begin by pairing up and asking their partner questions about

themselves: How old? Where from? What hobbies, interests, etc.?

Then you switch name badges with your partner and adopt his or her persona
(effectively become your partner) and remembering all they have told you.

Then, find a new partner, show the badge name and point to whom it belongs
and say as much as you can remember about that person.

Reverse roles and then exchange badges.

Repeat this process until each participant has talked to at least 5 other
people.

Finally select some participants to introduce and then have them talk about
one or more of the people they had talked to Debrief period.

Approximate Time Required

5-60 min.

Location
Seated place
 Ropes

Objective

This team building module is an icebreaker and designed to get the

participants to look at how they work as a team.

On completion of this module participants should have an increased feeling of

self-awareness and have greater knowledge of what it means to work as a
team.

Procedure

The procedure is as follows: The participants are divided into small groups.
The objective is to get all members through the rope in as short a time as
possible

The rules are

1. Each member has to go under the rope and go across to the other side of
the rope as it is being spun.
2. Someone has to cross with every spin. If the group misses a spin all those
who have already crossed have to return to the beginning.
3. On crossing you cannot touch the rope or all those already crossed have to
return to the start.
4. Repeat until all have crossed, take a note of the time taken.

Approximate Time Required

45-60 min

Location
Out side place.
 Our Motto

Objective

This team building module has been developed to instill a sense of belonging,
identity and comradeship in the teams.

On completion of this module participants should have an increased feeling of

self-awareness and have greater knowledge of what it means to work as a
team.

Procedure

Try to stick in the same groups, and pick team leaders, those who have
naturally come to the front through the other game processes.

The appointed leaders are to get their individual members to draw a figure of
a being or symbol to represent the group identity.

On the paper provided, team members must record their identities and their
values in terms of teamwork within the group. (They must initial after each
item they write. Everyone must write at least once).

After this is completed the group must compose a cheer for their group which
they will demonstrate as a team.

To instill the need for the team to display enthusiasm, life and action in their
"cheer", they must practice the cheer until they have it right then display it
to the other groups.

There will be a debriefing session after wards to discuss the teamwork etc.

Approximate Time Required

30 - 45 min.

Location
Seated place / out side place
 Counting on each other

Objective

This team building module is designed to develop the participants trust in one
another.

Upon completion of this module participants should have an increased

knowledge of what it means to work as a team.

Procedure

There are two teams of equal numbers.

The first group has the use of their eyes, and the second groups are
blindfolded.

The aim of the module is for the sighted to lead the ‘blind’ through a pre-set
obstacle course over different terrain, etc.

There is no verbal communication and so the ‘blind’ have to trust those guiding
them.

Once this has been completed the groups switch and the ‘guides’ become the
‘blind’.

The ‘blind’ are given additional tasks to perform at intervals along the course
that will demand they display trust in their guides.

A debriefing is held afterwards to reflect on the module.

Approximate Time Required

2 Hours

Location
Out side place
 Fall of Trust

Objective

This team building module involves trust, firstly in just your partner and then
progressing to a group situation.

Procedure

This is the typical "Fall and I’ll catch you’ exercise and is only performed
under controlled safety conditions, where participants will not be hurt, but
still find themselves placing a certain amount of trust in their colleagues.

The method uses one ‘fallers’ and two catchers. The fallers trusting the
catchers to catch him. The group rotates until everyone has had a falling
experience both backwards and forwards and to the side.

The catching techniques are carefully explained and demonstrated to

participants by the instructors at the beginning of the module. A debriefing is
held afterwards to reflect on the module.

Approximate Time Required

1 Hour

Location
Out side
 Safety Net
Objective

This team building module involves trust, this time in a group situation.

Procedure

The group forms two lines facing each other and then crosses and interlocks
their arms creating a ‘safety net’.

This when carried out properly will form a secure platform for the fallers who
will lie on the ‘safety net’ and be bounced from one end of the line to the
other.

Once all participants have had a turn, the perceived risk is increased by having
each person in turn fall from a raised platform onto the ‘safety net’.

A debriefing is held afterwards to reflect on the module.

Approximate Time Required

60 min

Location
Out side place
 Spider’s web

Objective

This team-building module is both a physical and intellectual challenge

designed to get teams to work effectively together under time constraints.

Upon completion of this module participants should have a greater knowledge

of what it means to work as a team.

Procedure

Each team has a time limit to get each of its members through an artificial
spider’s web. The web is designed in such a way that the assistance of all team
members is needed in order to get each person from point A to point B
without them touching strands of the web.

The rules detailing what can and cannot be done are explained prior to the
start of the module.

A debriefing is held on completion and learning points are discussed.

Approximate Time Required

1 Hour

Location
Out side place
 Air Crash
Objective

This team building module is purely an intellectual problem solving and team
building exercise.

Upon completion of this module participants should have an increased feeling

of self awareness and have greater knowledge of what it means to work as a
team

Procedure

The team has to envisage themselves as survivors of an air crash in the

desert,

They are advised of a list of items that they were able to ‘retrieve’ from the
wreckage are now have available to them. They have to decide what to do and
how best to use the ‘items’ provided.

The point of the exercise is for the group to react to a life-threatening

situation quickly, and as a team, not individuals.

Groups have to identify obstacles and adverse consequences of each of their

possible decisions.

They must also decide and record how. If at all, they would use the items
available to them.

Not many teams do the right thing. However teams always do better at this
problem than and individual would.

In the debrief for this module the team reactions are analyzed and the
correct solutions are provided, for example what to do, walk out or stay put?

Approximate Time Required

1 Hour

Location
Out side place
 Don’t wake the Giant

Objective

This team building module is both physical and intellectual challenges designed
to get teams to work effectively together.

Upon completion of this module participants should have a greater knowledge

of what it means to work as a team

Procedure

Each team has to lift off the ring from the Giant’s finger without touching and
waking the Giant up.

The ‘ring’ then must be replaced to its original position, again without waking
the Giant.

The rules detailing what can and cannot be done are explained prior to the
start of the module.

A debriefing is held on completion and learning points are discussed.

Approximate Time Required

45 minutes

Location
Outside place
 Spacecraft

Objective

This team building module is both physical and intellectual challenges designed
to get teams to work effectively together under time constraints.

Upon completion of this module participants should have a greater knowledge

of what it means to work as a team

Procedure

The team is on a spacecraft and they must retrieve a water container floating
in space and return it to the craft.

Each team must be in permanent contact with the space craft in some way or
they will float away into space.

After every five minutes the water container will float further away from the
spacecraft.

The rules detailing what can and cannot be done are explained prior to the
start of the module.

A debriefing is held on completion and the learning points are discussed.

Approximate Time Required

30 minutes

Location
Out side place
 The barrel

Objective

This team building module is both physical and intellectual challenges designed
to get teams to work effectively together under time constraints.

Upon completion of this module participants should have a greater knowledge

of what it means to work as a team

Procedure

Each team has a time limit to retrieve an open barrel of rocket fuel from the
center of a pit and bring it to the edge of it.

The team can only use the apparatus provided to complete the activity.

Nothing must touch the floor of the pit except the barrel and the rope.

The barrel must not tip over and spill the rocket fuel.

The rules detailing what can and cannot be done are explained prior to the
start of the module.

A debriefing is held on completion and learning points are discussed.

Approximate Time Required:

30 minutes

Location
Out side place
 The platform

Objective

This team building module is both physical and intellectual challenges designed
to get teams to work effectively together.

Upon completion of this module participants should have a greater knowledge

of what it means to work as a team

Procedure

Each team must work together so that all the team can balance on a small
platform.

No part of any of the teams body must touch the ground once the balance is
achieved.

The rules detailing what can and cannot be done are explained prior to the
start of the module.

A debriefing is held on completion and learning points are discussed

Approximate Time Required

30 minutes

Location
Out side place
 Get the ball
Objective

This team building module is both physical and intellectual challenges designed
to get teams to work effectively together.

Procedure

Each team has to work together to retrieve a plastic ball from the bottom of
a fixed tube.

The group can only use apparatus given to them prior to the start of the
activity.

They are not allowed to move the tube or the container of water.

The rules detailing what can and cannot be done are explained prior to the
start of the module.

A debriefing is held on completion and learning points are discussed.

Approximate Time Required

30 minutes

Location
Out side place
 Objective

This team building module is both a physical and intellectual challenges

designed to get teams to work effectively together.

Procedure

Each team has to work together to complete a low ropes course.

The course involves five different types of challenges.

Two of the group completes the course while the rest of the group act as
safety catchers to them.

The group members then change roles.

The rules detailing what can and cannot be done are explained prior to the
start of the module.

A debriefing is held on completion and learning points are discussed.

Approximate Time Required

1 Hour

Location
Out side place
 Ropes
Objective

This team building is both a physically and intellectual challenge designed to

get teams to work effectively together.

Procedure

Two people work as a team to move along two diverging low ropes.

None of the others in the team are allowed to touch the pair completing the
task.

The distances traveled along the ropes are measured.

The rest of the group acts as safety catchers to the pairs.

Partners are changed to find the better combination of pairing.

The rules detailing what can and cannot be done are explained prior to the
start of the module.

A debriefing is held on completion and learning points are discussed

Approximate Time Required

45 minutes

Location
Out side place
 How I felt

Objective

Upon completion of this survey and it’s results participants should have an
increased understanding of where they fit into the team.

Procedure

Each team member is given a series or forms to fill out on the role how he or
she felt they played in their team throughout the team building elements of
the course.

All the questions are private and are merely for the benefit of each individual.

Once the forms are completed, they add up their score and read translate the
score on the final results table which tells them how they did and which part
of the team they represent.

Approximate Time Required

1 Hour