Are you looking for an activity to help create learning opportunities on issues dealing with communication, intention, rumors, and clarity?  The Back Writing teambuilding activity is perfectd for all of these teaching situations.

The group is divided into small teams and each small team lines up.  The game starts when the facilitator shows the people at the back of each line a diagram (example: smiley face). 

Then the people at the back of their lines use their finger to draw on the back of the person in front of them - - attempting to transmit the message in such a way that enables that person to then draw on the back of the person in front of them. 

The "message" (diagram) is sent through the line (organization) and the last person in line must draw an exact duplicate of what they feel drawn on their back. 

No talking.  :-)

Would you like to lead this teambuilding game with your group?

I'll send you the complete teambuilding game write-up!  Just subscribe to my free TeachMeTeamwork.com teamwork ideas e-newsletter (see the form in the right hand column).  In addition to receiving a free teambuilding games e-book, I'll regularly send you complete and detailed lead-it-yourself instructions to teambuilding games like the one above.  The lead-it-yourself instructions include: 

• Setup & Preparation directions
• Rules
• Comments and insights about the teambuilding game
• Debriefing suggestions
• Variations
• Detailed "how to make it" if props are involved
• Video clips and photos

Over time you'll receive over 100 new and different lead-it-yourself teambuilding game write-ups for FREE. 

CLICK HERE for a sample teambuilding game write-up.

Do you need immediate access to my growing online archive of lead-it-yourself teambuilding games?  When you purchase my popular Multimedia 3-CD Training Bundle, I'll immediately send you the password to my online archive of teambuilding game write-ups.  Learn more HERE.

>> Lead consciously.  Learn how HERE

Do you understand how to lead scavenger hunts to build team skills?

On November 8, 2006 I invited teambuilding scavenger hunt expert Andrew Long to a Q&A conference call session.  The turn out was fantastic.  Seems there's lots of people interested in this topic. 

Andrew knows a thing or two about designing and running scavenger hunts as teambuilding events - - this year his company will run over 200 of them in cities all over North America.

During the call I put Andrew in the hot seat and started asking loads of questions.  I wanted to find out as many secrets as I could in 60 minutes.  In addition to my questions, Andrew fielded questions from those on the call.

• What is a typical program design?
• How many people per team?
• How long does a good scavenger hunt last?
• Do you let people use their cell phones during the event?
• What about "interference" from "Joe pedestrian"?
• What are some big no-no's for scavenger hunts?

Andrew answered all these questions and more!  He even provided a 10% off coupon you can use if you want to hire his company to run a program..

Click on the link below to download the special 10% OFF discount coupon provided by Andrew Long:

• Download Coupon_for_Discount.pdf

Listen to the 55 minute recording of this TeleSeminar by clicking on the link below:

• Download Teambuilding_Scavenger_Hunts_sm.mp3

"Teambuilding is nice but we've got work to do around here."

Have you ever heard that statement or a variation of it?

Dr. Jim Cain has.  He's an award winning team skills trainer and author of many books including Teamwork & Teamplay.

Dr. Cain travels widely training educators of all types.  Many of these educators need to "make the case" for experiential learning when they return to their facilities.  To help people in this situation, Dr. Cain has authored a detailed article entitled "In Defense of Adventure-Based Education and Active Learning Opportunities".  Download the article by clicking on the link below.

Download InDefenseOfAdventureBasedEducation.pdf

Click on the link below to hear Dr. Jim Cain make the case for Adventure Based Experiential Learning.

Download dr. Jim Cain mp3.mp3

Imagine working with a large group all by yourself.

For me the first time my knees shook at the thought of working solo with a large group was when the number reached 30 people.  That may seem small for some but read on because it gets bigger.

This particular group of 30 people was from an insurance company and I was the only facilitator for a day of teambuilding.  I don’t know why I said yes to this but I did.  I was absolutely stressed because prior to this, the largest group I had worked with solo was 15 people.

30 people seemed like a HUGE group.  And I did it!

I learned lots including new ways to plan and activities that worked and a few that didn’t.

And then one day I said yes to working solo with a group of 45 people.

Eventually I felt comfortable saying yes to working solo with a group of 150 people. Have you ever been face to face with a 150 pairs of eyes looking at you to deliver bang up results for whatever topic. Can you imagine doing so successfully as opposed to using "just think of them in their underwear" tricks?

The fact is it can be easy and incredibly powerful to lead the energy of a large group.

I now lead activities with entire rooms full of people.

Each time I was scared.  And most importantly, each time I stretched and learned. 

Do you work with large groups (or plan to)?  In this TeleSeminar (recorded live on Sept. 27, 2006) I'll share the three most important lessons I’ve learned about working with large groups.  Lessons I’ve learned the hard way so you don’t have to.  I’m also going to share 3 fun teambuilding games that work great with large groups, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.

The class notes for this program include the following:

• Three program designs I created for large groups I worked with.
  • 480 employees from financial services (4 one-hour programs in one day)
  • 100 managers from a retail store chain (one day for 6 hours)
  • 124 new hires (recent college grads) for a bank (one day)
• A recording from 2004 of a TeleSeminar entitled "Managing The Energy of a Large Group"
   

Registration Fee: $79

NOTICE:  Access to the recording and class notes for this program are only available to members of the International Association of Teamwork Facilitators.  Become a member and get instant access to this resource and much more!  CLICK HERE to learn more.

The Ceiling Clock activity is the perfect exercise to help a group of people "get" the importance of perspective.  How we view / experience an event (situation) will determine what we think about that event.

Participants point at an imaginary clock pasted to the ceiling.  Ask everyone to point at the clock and then begin following the second hand around the face of the clock.  While you continue to point at the clock and follow the second hand, lower your hand.

Is your finger moving in a clockwise direction anymore?  What just happened?!

Would you like to lead this teambuilding game with your group?

When you become a member of the IATF you'll receive immediate access to our growing online archive of teambuilding games plus you'll receive many other benefits. BASIC membership is free! CLICK HERE to learn more about the benefits of IATF membership.

CLICK HERE to view a sample IATF teambuilding game write-up which includes:

• Setup & Preparation directions
• Rules
• Comments and insights about the teambuilding game
• Debriefing suggestions
• Variations
• Detailed "how to make it" if props are involved
• Video clips and photos

Hi!  It's Tom Heck with the latest issue of the TeachMeTeamwork.com e-newsletter you subscribed to.

I'm offering a new TeleSeminar next week entitled Working Solo With Large Groups

Imagine working with a large group all by yourself.

For me the first time my knees shook at the thought of working solo with a large group was when the number reached 30 people.  That may seem small for some but read on because it gets bigger.

This particular group 30 people was from an insurance company and I was the only facilitator for a day of teambuilding.  I don’t know why I said yes to this but I did.  I was absolutely stressed because prior to this, the largest group I had worked with solo was 15 people.

30 people seemed like a HUGE group.  And I did it!

I learned lots including new ways to plan and activities that worked and a few that didn’t.

And then one day I said yes to working solo with a group of 45 people.

Eventually I felt comfortable saying yes to working solo with a group of 150 people. Have you ever been face to face with a 150 pairs of eyes looking at you to deliver bang up results for whatever topic. Can you imagine doing so successfully as opposed to using "just think of them in their underwear" tricks?

The fact is it can be easy and incredibly powerful to lead the energy of a large group.

I now lead activities with entire rooms full of people.

Each time I was scared.  And most importantly, each time I stretched and learned. 

Do you work with large groups (or plan to)?  On Wednesday September 27, 2006 I’m going to share the three most important lessons I’ve learned about working with large groups.  Lessons I’ve learned the hard way so you don’t have to.  I’m also going to share 3 fun teambuilding games that work great with large groups, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

And as always, there will be time for you to ask questions.

Here are the details:

Title of This Special TeleSeminar:
Working With Large Groups  - - Strategies and games for the solo leader

Time of the Call:
Wednesday September 27 at 1 pm Eastern (New York time zone)
Convert your time here:
http://www.worldtimeserver.com/time_converter.aspx

What You Get:

1. 55 minute LIVE TeleSeminar with experienced TeleSeminar leader and Teamwork Coach Tom Heck
2. Clear and detailed notes on how to lead the teambuilding games.
3. License to use the teambuilding games with the groups you directly serve.
4. Recording of the TeleSeminar in mp3 format.
5. Time with Tom during the Q&A session to get your questions answered. 

Registration Fee: $37

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

I look forward to seeing you on the call.

Tom Heck
Teamwork Coach

PS  Because this TeleSeminar will be recorded, you can benefit from this class even if you can’t participate in person.  After the call is over, all registrants will be sent access codes to the student only area for this class.  You can download the recording and class notes at your leisure.

PPS This "Working with Large Groups" TeleSeminar is just one of several topic specific teambuilding classes now open for registration.  Are you interested in:

• Five Dysfunctions of a Team -- Teambuilding Games That Bring This Must Read Material Alive
• Manager As Coach -- Learn the Number One Skill Needed to Build and Lead Successful Teams
• The Flakey Five -- Avoid Creating Another Flakey Teambuilding Event With These Five Principles
• Tolerations -- Stop The Energy Leaks So You And Your Team Can Be More Productive And Happier
• Experiential Breakthroughs In The Virtual Environment -- Four Activities To Advance Team Skills and Personal Development Using the Phone and Internet
• Unleash Your Ears -- Listening to Discern What's Really Going On with a Team

CLICK HERE to find out more about each of these TeleSeminars.

Statistics for TeachMeTeamwork.com

• 26,758 subscribers (as of this newsletter)
• Members in 101 countries.  See the list
• 139 Affiliates worldwide. Learn more

Announcing the Fall 2006 TeleSeminar Schedule!

Going back to school has never been so fun and convenient!

Going "back to school" at TeachMeTeamwork.com means TeleSeminars and I'm excited to be leading each of the programs.  I've been leading TeleSeminars for 5 years and I love it!  I'm amazed at what this simple yet powerful teaching technology can do.

Ouch! Sharpen The Saw

In his ground breaking book entitled "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", Dr. Stephen Covey identifies habit # 7 as "Sharpen The Saw".  Sharpening the saw means you must commit yourself to constant and never ending improvement, to learning new skills and honing old ones.  If you don't, you become obsolete and who wants to work with an obsolete trainer?

Join me this fall and let's stay on the cutting edge.

A culture is a collection of historical beliefts, behaviors, attitudes, rituals or agreed upon social intercourses.

We are the product of our culture, historically.

As coaches of teams, however, we want our clients to be equally if not more influenced by their community which is more in the present and more influential and more empowering, often, than cultural norms and expectations.

If one is following cultural expectations, one is probably not relating fully with the present because they're being guided or dictated to by the past, and a community of people you love is a healthier form of influence than their culture.

About Distinctions: 
The first of the two words or terms is generally the better, stronger, more useful one.  Usually, nothing is "wrong" with the second word or term; it is simply weaker or less inclusive.  A coach will hear "where" the group is and/or what word of the two words the team (or a member of the team) is oriented around or coming from.  For example, many groups are still "stuck" in the power dynamic of life (force, dominance, victory, win/lose, etc.).  For a team to evolve, they would want to embrace and reorient around the notion of strength (resourcefulness, collaboration, win/win, development/success from within, etc.).  Even a single distinction can add tremendous value to a team and help them evolve.

© 1997 Copyright by Coach U.  All rights reserved.  Used with permission

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a cracker jack leader of teams and one who drags?

When I first started out in this field I would observe skilled teamwork facilitators and wonder how they managed to help a team evolve so quickly. 

It was most evident in the discussions that followed the teambuilding games. These expert facilitators would hear things I didn’t and that’s because (I later found out) they had trained themselves to listen in a new way.

They were listening to the team to pickup on key pieces of information they would use to help the team make the required shift.

It all seemed very magical.  The group would talk.  The facilitator would listen.  A few pertinent and (sometimes) pointed questions later, the team was ready to move forward.

All because the facilitator was listening in a different way.

There are 8 key things to listen for when working with groups (or individuals).  They are subtle and yet powerful.  When you listen for them you will begin to be a much more effective leader and facilitator of teams. 

CLICK HERE to access recording and class notes.  $49

The recording and class notes are free to IATF members and can now be found in the IATF Members Only Area HERE.

Learn more about the benefits of IATF membership HERE.

Student Only Area

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Has it ever occurred to you that what you’re putting up with is draining you and making you less productive?

Have you thought about what you put up with in terms of your team (sales team, executive team, board team, creative team) and how it’s sucking the life energy out of you and your team?

Tolerations are those things that you put up with every day that distract you from other important things.

Tolerations keep you (and your team) from achieving your goals and they drive people crazy.  Unless you find a way to deal with them, the tolerations your team deals with will literally cause it to dissolve.

Here’s a true flakey teambuilding story…

A software development company wants to do a teambuilding session during the semi-annual all staff retreat.  It’s a four day long event and the CEO has allotted three hours for the teambuilding session. That was red flag number one.  Three hours for teambuilding?

Red flag number two:  When I asked the CEO when the last team training event was, he had to pause and look at his assistant (also in the meeting) and they guessed it was two years ago.  “We went rafting” he said.  “Did you cover any training content?” I asked. “No.  All we did was paddle down the river.  It was fun.” 

The CEO was doing nothing to promote and advance a culture of teamwork among his staff of 150 people.  And his organization was feeling the pain.

How is it that a team (company) filled with so many smart people can do dumb things?

Guy Kawasaki suggests there are 9 reasons: Consensus, Conviction, CEO's, Experts, Good News, Lofty Ends, Budgets, Greed, and Arrogance.

Better yet, Guy offers 10 strategies to help your team prevent or minimize the dumb things.

CLICK HERE to read the full article.

The Human Ladder teambuilding activity requires a high degree of trust and coordination on the part of the climber.

Team members pair up and each pair is supplied with a wooden dowel.  A volunteer starts at one end of the human ladder and climbs (horizontally) along the rungs of the ladder.

After the climber passes over a rung of the ladder, team members "leap frog" to the front of the ladder, allowing the climber to continue climbing indefinetly. 

Would you like to lead this teambuilding game with your group?

Follow the link below to read detailed directions on how to lead this teamwork exercise which include:

• Setup & Preparation
• Rules
• Comments and insights about the teambuilding game
• Debriefing suggestions
• Variations
• Detailed "how to make it" if props are involved

CLICK HERE to read complete lead-it-yourself instructions.  You will be taken to a password protected "Member Only Area".  Become a Member - Learn how HERE.

“Why did we do that?”  It was the first question the group of 15 teenagers asked me after investing 90 minutes into completing the Spider’s Web initiative. 

My response?  I bumbled around for a minute or so mentioning buzz words like “teamwork” and “leadership” and I tried to explain how they would use this stuff once they returned home. 

They didn’t buy it – and I must confess, neither did I. 

The year was 1987 and I was in my first year working for the Camp Woodson program in North Carolina – a wilderness based therapy program serving adjudicated youth.  Our job as camp counselors was to help the program participants learn and practice important life skills that would keep them out of jail and maybe even turn their lives around.

Like many new to the field of adventure learning, I found myself leading teambuilding activities that I had just learned (from a book or from another staff member). 

My greatest challenge was that I had very little knowledge about how to effectively help the participants learn from the activities.  It was unclear to me how to “debrief” or “process” these activities with any degree of confidence.

One day I was leading another teambuilding program with a group of students and it hit me.  I realized how I could explain why we were participating in the teambuilding games AND what these games meant in the "real world".

I came up with something I now call the "Results Diagram" which empowers people by recognizing they are always "at choice" and their choices always produce a result.

I've trained facilitators around the world to use this process with great results.

When you subscribe to the free TeachMeTeamwork.com teambuilding ideas e-newsletter you'll receive the detailed lead-it-yourself instructions for leading a debriefing session using the Results Diagram.  To receive immediate access to this write-up purchase the TeachMeTeamwork.com 3-CD bundle of teambuilding games and you get lots of bonuses included free and immediate access to an online archive of teambuilding game write-ups including this particular Results Diagram write-up.  CLICK HERE to learn more.

Hi!  It's Tom Heck with the latest issue of the TeachMeTeamwork.com e-newsletter you subscribed to.

I've provided some links below to help you access all the new stuff quickly and easily.

Please forward this newsletter to your friends. 

I’d love to hear from you. Send me an email How can I best support your teambuilding efforts?

New Teambuilding Games Added
Check out the new format. Bigger videos. Downloadable directions. Login not required.

• Nail Balance
• Penny Goals
• Dice Racing

New Audio Interview:  John Taylor Gatto -- Teaching, Learning (and a dark secret?) 
I just interviewed one of my heros.  He's brilliant and (some might think) controversial.  CLICK HERE to listen to the recording.

Team Theory:  Venn Diagram of Creating an Effective Teambuilding Game
While leading a workshop at an International Coach Federation conference, I asked the participants to help me create this diagram which utilizes technology from the 1800's.  CLICK HERE to learn more.

New Collaboration Tool
It's called "Writely" and it's a free web based word processor.  CLICK HERE to learn more.

Live Coaching Recorded - - Listen In
I offered a "Free Coaching Friday" on August 18th and a nurse trainer called in for help on designing her teambuilding event for 120 people.  CLICK HERE to listen to our conversation.

Live (in person!) Workshop September 15
Here is a fantastic conference where you can learn from some of the best teambuilding games trainers in the country.  CLICK HERE to learn more.

Are You Playing Big?  Do You Want To?
Are you out to create positive change in the world on a massive scale?  If yes, then you need to know how to build a list of subscribers to your newsletter.  And if you're playing big then you've got to build a big list AND do it with absolute integrity.  Learn how in this recording.  CLICK HERE for more information.

Statistics for TeachMeTeamwork.com

• 26,143 subscribers (as of this newsletter)
• Members in 101 countries.  See the list
• 132 Affiliates worldwide. Learn more

Do you work with others on projects such as program and training designs, workshop handouts, pre-event questionnaires, pamphlets, books, etc.?  If yes, then you need to know about a product called Writely.

Writely is a web based word processor.  With Writely you can:

• Share documents instantly & collaborate real-time.
• Pick exactly who can access your documents.
• Edit your documents from anywhere.
• Nothing to download -- your browser is all you need.
• Store your documents securely online.

My sources tell me Google just purchased the company and the product.  It looks like this is one of many anticipated moves on Google's part to provide an entire suite of office software.  And, amazingly, it's free!

John Venn (1834 - 1923) was a British philosopher and mathematician who created Venn diagrams in an effort to simplify the explanation of relationships between concepts. 

While leading a workshop at an International Coach Federation conference I asked the workshop participants to help me create a Venn that would show the three main elements of a "successful teambuilding activity".  Here's what we came up with (click on the image to enlarge):

Download the PDF explaining this Venn
Download venn_of_team_games.pdf