On June 3, 2015  I led a conference call for members of the IATF community on how to lead the variation of the "Trust V" teambuilding game.

Click on the link below to download the written instructions for the Trust V game along with photos and handouts described in the call that allow you to take the game further. 

Download Trust_V_teambuilding_game_plus

CLICK  HERE to download the audio recording of this special conference call.

How important is timing and coordination of efforts on your team?  Here's a simple no-prop game that can help a team practice and refine these skills.

This teambuilding game called "Ground Slap" and can be played sitting around a table or (preferably) kneeling on the ground in a circle.

The setup is important - - with team members on hands and knees, ask everyone to place their right hand in between the hands of the person to his/her right.  The end result will weave everyone's hands together.

Here's the challenge:  The leader starts by slapping his/her right hand on the ground which starts a domino effect meaning, the hand immediately to the right must slap the ground and then the hand immediate to that hand must slap the ground, and so on. If someone slaps the ground twice in a row then the direction of the ground slapping domino effect reverses (watch the video and you'll see this happen).

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

Join the International Association of Teamwork Facilitators and receive immediate access to the growing online archive of teambuilding games.  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 100 new and different lead-it-yourself teambuilding game write-ups and growing!

All this and MORE when you become a member of the International Association of Teamwork Facilitators.  CLICK HERE to explore the list of member benefits.

CLICK HERE for a sample teambuilding game write-up.

This teambuilding game - called "Interference" - helps a group explore effective communication and planning.

This game works best with a minimum of 15 people.  Create three equal size groups and position them in the playing area.

"Group A" will be the message senders.  "Group B" will be the message interferers.  "Group C" will be the message receivers.  You'll lead three rounds so everyone gets to play each of the three roles.

This is a powerful game and can help a team reveal important truths about communication.

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

This particular teambuilding game is found in the new book "Duct Tape Teambuilding Games - 50 fun activities to help your team stick together".  CLICK HERE to download complete directions for one of the games.

Get instant access to the growing online archive of lead-it-yourself teambuilding game directions which 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

QUESTION:  How do you help a team move to the next level, to shift, to evolve? 

ANSWER:  Help the team think differently. 

The evolution of a team becomes possible when the team begins thinking differently, thinking in new ways.

This teambuilding game called "Nine Dots" is a classic brainteaser used to help people "think outside the box".

Here's the challenge:  Connect all 9 dots using 4 straight connected lines.  You're not allowed to lift your pen/pencil when drawing the lines.

Yes, this challenge can be completed.  If you find someone who can do it in 4 lines then how about ONE line? (yes, that's possible to)

This is a great teamwork exercise to launch into a discussion about possibility thinking.

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

Join the International Association of Teamwork Facilitators and receive immediate access to the growing online archive of teambuilding games.  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

My friend Mike Cardus is a wonderful person and truly gifted teambuilder who lives in the Buffalo, New York area.

I've had the great pleasure of getting to know Mike and his work more fully this past year.  Mike's deep understanding of team dynamics gives him the insight needed to design superior programs.  His strongest trait though is his ability to model the type of leadership required to build high performing teams. 

Mike has a nice website (I love the photos) and it's his blog I like most (check it out HERE).

Mike has a great teambuilding game write-up called "Bright, Blurry, Blind" that you'll enjoy.

If you live anywhere in the great state of New York I encourage you to give Mike a call for your teambuilding needds.

The Minefield teambuilding game is easy to setup and lead and is perfect for a group as small as 4 people and as large as 50.

You (the facilitator) create a "minefield" (obstacle course) using whatever supplies you have on hand.  In the video clip below I setup the playing area using Toobeez pipes and balls.  You can also use chairs, paper, hoola hoops, etc. to create your minefield.

Participants partner up and everyone stands at one end of the minefield.  One partner closes her eyes and steps into the minefield.  The other partner uses her voice to guide the person inside the minefield, helping her NOT touch any of the items in the minefield.  The objective is to get your partner through to the other side of the minefield and then the fun begins...

There are variations to this teambuilding game including picking up puzzle pieces as you travel through the minefield, avoiding mousetrap, and more.

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

Get instant access to the growing online archive of lead-it-yourself teambuilding game directions which 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 100 new and different lead-it-yourself teambuilding game write-ups and growing!

All this and MORE when you become a member of the International Association of Teamwork Facilitators.  CLICK HERE to explore the list of member benefits.

CLICK HERE for a sample teambuilding game write-up.

The Magic Carpet teambuilding activity is easy to lead and requires simple and easy to obtain props.

Create groups of 6 to 10 people and provide each team with a "Magic Carpet" (a tarp measuring 5 feet x 5 feet). 

The team stands on top of their tarp and is then asked to "flip" the tarp over without anyone touching the ground.

This is a teambuilding game  you can lead with small groups or large groups (500+ people).  If the groups collaborate this teambuilding game becomes much easier.  You'll see an example of collaboration in the video clip below.

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

Get instant access to the growing online archive of lead-it-yourself teambuilding game directions which 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 100 new and different lead-it-yourself teambuilding game write-ups and growing!

All this and MORE when you become a member of the International Association of Teamwork Facilitators.  CLICK HERE to explore the list of member benefits.

CLICK HERE for a sample teambuilding game write-up.

Here's a quick, simple and no prop teamwork exercise that helps you teach a foundational principle of "possibility thinking" or "tapping into our individual or team potential".

Have the group (or individual) stand up and ask them to do the following:

"Reach as high as you can."

As the facilitator, you should demonstrate as the group does this by reaching toward the ceiling.

Then ask the participants to relax and remain standing.

Once everyone is relaxed and standing, make the following statement:

"Now, I want you to do that again, only this time reach even higher!"

Amazingly, everyone will reach even higher.

Why did they reach higher the second time?  Where did the extra effort come from?  The answer is simple - - you (their coach) ASKED them to stretch, to go further.

The lesson?  We are all capable of way more then we are currently exhibiting.

We're more likely to "stretch" or go for it when we work with a coach who asks more from us.

View the video clip below of my (then) 8 year old son Joseph.  He doesn't know that I'm going to ask him to "Reach even higher".  Watch his reaction when he reaches higher the second time - - he has a big smile.  Why is that?  Because reaching higher (going for it) is fun.

Would you like to learn how to help your team "reach even higher"?  Check out the IATF Leader As Coach Fast Track Program. 

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

Join the International Association of Teamwork Facilitators and receive immediate access to the growing online archive of teambuilding games.  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

This teamwork exercise accomodates 4 to 8 people and is very challenging. 

This activity requires a high degree of concentration and coordination between team members.  Groups typically report that this teambuilding game looks easier than it really is.

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

Join the International Association of Teamwork Facilitators and receive immediate access to the growing online archive of teambuilding games.  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 100 new and different lead-it-yourself teambuilding game write-ups and growing!

All this and MORE when you become a member of the International Association of Teamwork Facilitators.  CLICK HERE to explore the list of member benefits.

CLICK HERE for a sample teambuilding game write-up.

>> Lead consciously.  Learn how HERE.

After challenging a group with this teamwork activity I ask the group to describe their experience.  I then like to share how this team building workshop is similar to the Green Blue Black puzzle in that we are going to explore concepts you already have some experiences with (communication, problem solving, trust, etc.) and we are going to do this work in a way that helps us gain greater mastery of the subject through practice.

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

Get instant access to the growing online archive of lead-it-yourself teambuilding game directions which 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 100 new and different lead-it-yourself teambuilding game write-ups and growing!

All this and MORE when you become a member of the International Association of Teamwork Facilitators.  CLICK HERE to explore the list of member benefits.

CLICK HERE for a sample teambuilding game write-up.

The Consensus Ropes teambuilding activity is used to help teams discern best practices around decision making. 

As you'll see from the video (below), this teamwork exercise is setup to require the team to reach a consensus as to which of the five ropes is the one that acts like a key ring to the other ropes.  The group may not move forward until everyone is on board with the choice.

The game can be presented in a way that requires more refined consensus building skills (see printable instructions below).

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.  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