Wiff Waff™ | Teamwork Training Activity

Wiff Waff is the original name for Ping Pong, or table tennis. In this short sharp teamwork activity participants are asked to plan for a table-tennis tournament. They have ten minutes' individual planning time and they then come together, in virtual teams, to work out details of play, costs and entrance fee, design a poster and prepare advertising copy.

The activity is based on a set of seven team roles that are considered essential components for high-performing teams. The task is designed to bring the key team roles into relief and gives participants the opportunity to reflect on their own best skills and attributes - and how they fit into a team.

During the debrief you can discuss what happened during the team task, and consider the seven key roles or types. Optional handouts included. An exciting, team task that is designed to get your delegates interacting followed by an opportunity for self-reflection.

Wiff Waff has been developed from Northgate's activity, Building an Effective Team (no longer available).

• To test and practise team skills in a short team activity
• Self-awareness about behaviours and attitudes in groups
• Teamwork and leadership skills
• The importance of team roles
• How to identify preferred team roles via a questionnaire

1. Briefly introduce the activity to all participants.
2. Allocate participants into teams and put them into breakout rooms.
3. Send a copy of the Team Brief to each individual and allow ten minutes for participants to study it on their own. After ten minutes participants can then discuss it within their teams.
4. Allow 20-30 minutes for the team task. Observe teams in action and make notes for the debrief in terms of how they worked as a team.
5. After the allotted time stop the teams. Ask for results from each team in terms of the answers to the task.
6. Lead a general debrief on how the teams operated and a discussion on team roles.
7. Use the (optional) PowerPoint to describe and review the seven key roles. Use the optional handouts which are designed to make participants think about their own traits and how they best fit into the key roles required in a team.
8. Consolidate the learning by linking the idea of team roles to the workplace and how improvements might be made in terms of self-awareness, behaviours and attitudes.

Full guidance supplied in the Trainer’s Notes.

• Trainer’s Notes
• Trainer's Debrief PowerPoint
• Team Brief
• Handout: Team Roles - Questionnaire
• Handout: Team Roles - Summary of Team Roles

This activity is supplied digitally via the Northgate Trainerhub. No delivery charges apply.

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.