We spent this week at the World of Learning in Birmingham, and one theme kept coming up among all the talk of AI: the importance of face-to-face training.
It seems human connection is more important than ever. It was fascinating to hear how many Trainers have had enough of screens and isolation. Experiential learning brings delegates together to interact, collaborate and learn from one another, and Trainers are rediscovering just how powerful that can be.
With face-to-face training so firmly on everyone’s minds, it was great to be showcasing our latest activity - The King's Game which is all about how teams interact – and the importance of trust and cooperation – which are essential for teams at work.
In the game each of four teams have 6 counters. Each round they play one counter and the outcome is scored. The team with the lowest score lose their heads!
A chart shows the outcomes of each round. If all four teams play a red they all score high. But if three teams play a red and the fourth team plays a green – then green scores high and the reds lose out.
So if you were the fourth team, what would YOU do?
Bear in mind there are six rounds in all and if you play a green you may never recover TRUST!!! There is a win/win solution - but can teams find it? They need to work together against the king. Cooperation is the key!!
Here are FOUR great lessons from The King’s Game:
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Trust is a behaviour, not a feeling
Just saying you trust someone is not enough. Honouring an agreement when the chips are down is what counts. Trust has to be earned through actions.
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Fear is more powerful than greed
Most teams who dump the others in it aren't chasing a big win. They're afraid of being left behind. Understand that, and you can overcome people’s fear.
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Communication is necessary but not sufficient
In a second play of The King’s Game, teams can communicate with each other and make agreements before every round, but this does not necessarily work! The gap between what people SAY they’ll do and what they actually do is where most teams and organisations go wrong.
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Systems shape behaviour
In the game the king is not the villain – it’s the structure of the game, combined with human psychology. Self-awareness can overcome doubtful systems!! Are your systems working for or against you? Time to find out!
Find out more here.
