In tying with Becky's blog post on showing appreciation for teammates, here's a team-building activity that helps others see what skills and talents each "player" brings to the table.
Purpose: To help group members better understand the value of each others' contributions.
Time required: 20-30 minutes
Size of group: unlimited, but participants should work in small groups of four to six.
Materials required: flip chart paper and markers for each small group
Process: David Moorefield begins his car-building exercise by breaking the class into groups of four to six and giving each group a sheet of flip chart paper and some markers. Each group is instructed to draw the outline of a car on the paper. (To save time, the instructor may prepare the drawings in advance.)
Each member adds one detail to the drawing to illustrate a strength he or she brings to the group and labels the relationship. For example, a participant might draw a headlight and write beside it, "I provide long-range vision."
The teams have 15 minutes to complete their cars. After which, groups take turns explaining their drawings to the class. Each member describes his own addition to the car.
The method is good for helping new team members learn one another's strengths, says Moorefield, a training specialist at EDS, Plano, Texas. It also helps established teams gain an awareness of what various members contribute.
From 101 Games for Trainers by Bob Pike with Christopher Busse. Used with permission.
