Instructions for Communication Team Exercises

Team Sitting Exercise

Aim of the exercise: at the beginning of the exercise the whole team is standing and at the end of the
exercise the whole team must be sitting down. Only 1 person may sit down (or move to sit down) at
one time.
1. The whole team stands in a circle with their chair behind them.
2. Only 1 team member can sit down, or move to sit down, at one time.
3. If 2 or more team members move at the same time, any team members who have sat down
must stand up again and the exercise starts again. The slightest movement to sit down is
counted as ‘sitting down’.
4. If the whole team have to stand up again, everyone must applaud and say ‘yeah’.
5. No communication – verbal or non-verbal – is allowed between team members.
6. Team members are not permitted to sit down in a pattern (e.g., 1 after the other in the circle,
alternate team members, team members opposite each other, the same pattern as used in a
previous attempt). If a pattern is created by more than 3 team members then the whole team
must stand up and the exercise starts again.
7. On completing the exercise, the whole team must give themselves a round of applause and
each team member must congratulate the team members sitting next to them.
Team Counting Exercise
Aim of the exercise: the team must count to a specified number (e.g., 20, 25 or 30) as a whole team
with only 1 team member speaking at one time.
1. The whole team sits in a circle.
2. A target number is set depending on the experience of the group. Beginner teams may start at
15 or 20, more experienced teams can try 30 – 40.
3. Only 1 team member can say a number at one time.
4. If 2 or more team members say a number (or start to say a number) at the same time, the
exercise starts again at zero.
5. If the exercise starts again, everyone must applaud and say ‘yeah’.
6. No communication – verbal or non-verbal – is allowed between team members.
7. Team members are not permitted to count in a pattern (e.g., 1 after the other in the circle,
alternate team members, team members opposite each other, the same pattern as used in a
previous attempt). If a pattern is created by more than 3 team members then the exercise
starts again at zero.
8. On completing the exercise, the whole team must give themselves an enthusiastic round of
applause and each team member must congratulate the team members sitting next to them.