Set Your Objective!™ | Prioritisation Training Activity

This two-part activity is about time management, setting objectives and teamwork. Participants represent management teams and 'today’ they have a limited amount of time to complete a number of tasks. In Part 1 of the activity they set their objectives, by deciding which tasks to take on, and in Part 2 they actually do their chosen tasks. Will they achieve their chosen objectives?

The tasks, eight in all, vary in degree of urgency and difficulty - and the type of skills required . Each carries a point score to reflect this (although teams are not asked to amass points. It's there as a bit of a distraction - a 'red-herring'). Set Your Objective is about deciding which tasks are key and getting them done efficiently and successfully, on time - and not being distracted away from this objective. Teams need to realise that points don't help, although they don't always!

So which are the key tasks and which of those can be realistically achieved in the allotted time. Teams have 35-40 minutes to study the tasks (issued on Task-cards), decide which to tackle and submit their plan on a Contract Sheet. The cards give only outline details, the full details are issued on Data-cards in Part 2, the Action Phase. So teams cannot actually start any tasks until Part 2.

The brief also details two other tasks. A Main Task which teams must complete - it's in their brief and involves making a tower from the artstraws. The second is an Unexpected Task which simulates the unexpected events that inevitably get in the way of achieving objectives. Did teams leave enough leeway in their planning?

The Action Phase lasts 25 minutes. Trying to do ALL the tasks will result in failure, but just how many tasks, and which ones, should teams attempt? They need to set SMART objectives!

• Allows for group decision-making on setting objectives (and goal setting)
• Highlights the need to have realistic, achievable objectives
• Illustrates the importance of time frames - how long will this take?
• Allows groups to prioritise tasks according to urgency and importance
• Tests teams’ ability to work together under pressure

1. Divide participants into teams.
2. Issue Briefing Folders and explain the activity. Allow 40 minutes Planning Time.
3. At the end of the 40 minutes, collect Contract Sheets and issue specific task details for those tasks teams have chosen to complete.
4. Allow groups to begin on the Action Phase. After 15 minutes, issue the Unexpected Task. After 25 minutes, check each team’s Main Task.
5. Award scores and lead a Debrief on team experiences and key lessons about planning, time management and setting objectives.
6. Link to the workplace and how team members can improve their own performance at work.

Full guidance supplied in the Trainer’s Notes.

• Trainer’s Notes
• Team Folder containing a Brief and eight Taskcards
• Set of eight Datacards
• Score Sheet
• Contract Sheet
• Unexpected Task
• Handout: Team Review
• Resources: Artstraws, A4 Card, Rulers, Scissors, Sticky-Tape, Felt Pens

This activity is for face-to-face classroom use. It is supplied as a hard copy pack and 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 24 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.