Each team works separately and has a map of an area showing a number of hostelries as well as their own colour flag. One team’s task is to visit the hostelries to collect bottles of water; the other’s task is to collect empty bottles. The teams also have to draw the other’s flag. They do not know each other’s tasks but know that their joint score is what will be measured.
Their means of communication is two-fold:
- They can send unlimited emails via a central computer.
- They can have one 5 minute meeting every half hour at which only one person from each team can speak (the rest of the team can silently attend the meeting).
Sounds simple? At the end the two teams often have no idea about what the other team was trying to do!
- Exposes the danger of making assumptions
- Highlights the importance of checking and clarifying all aspects of a task
- Forcefully shows the importance of unambiguous written communications
- Illustrates how important it is to plan for meetings and agree agendas
- Shows how easy it is for communications to go wrong!
Ideally suited to:
Smaller groups to test a whole raft of common-sense skills required for good verbal and email communications.
- Divide the group into two and place a computer and printer between them.
- Explain the task in general terms and the mechanics of using the computer.
- Issue teams with their Briefs and maps.
- Observe teams at work and stand by to arrange and oversee the meetings where only one member from each team can speak although all team members may attend.
- Hold a Debrief (where many teams are amazed to learn what the other team’s task was). All misunderstandings are revealed and the lessons can be related to real examples from the workplace.
Full guidance supplied in the Trainer’s Notes.
Hard & Digital Copy
- ☑️ Hard copy pack supplied
- ☑️ Program supplied (internet access required)
- ☑️ PDFs & PowerPoint supplied
Digital Copy
- ☑️ Program supplied (internet access required)
- ☑️ PDFs & PowerPoint supplied
- ❌ You will need to source: Felt Pen Sets x2
Full contents
- Trainer’s Notes
- Computer Program (internet access required)
- Trainer's PowerPoint
- Team One Briefing Folder
- Team Two Briefing Folder
- Maps
- Planning Sheets
- Review Forms
- Felt Pen Sets x2
This activity is for face-to-face classroom use. The digital files are supplied via the Northgate Trainerhub.
This Northgate Training activity comes with a five-year licence for repeat use with up to 12 participants at a time, for use by Trainers based at one licence-holding site.
All Trainers physically based at the same office location can access the Northgate resources during the five-year term, including the digital resources supplied on the Trainerhub via your own site-specific Trainer Dashboard. If you have Trainers based at other locations, and/or remote workers, who would like to access and use the Northgate resources, we can advise further depending on your requirements.
For further information on our licence terms please view the Northgate Licence Agreement.
To use with more than 12 or for multiple site licences please contact us for a quote.
