Communication

All Aboard*

Purpose: teamwork (group problem solving, communication)
Object: for the group to get on one 2'x2' platform at one time
Supplies: a stable 2'x2' platform or same size marked area on the ground or floor

Rules:

1. In order to be counted as on the platform, each person must have both feet off the ground.

2. The group must be able to hold a balanced post for at least 5 seconds. No one can touch the ground or outside the marked area for the 5 seconds

This exercise lends itself to a useful discussion about team effort, group and individual commitment, leadership, compassion, and group problem-solving dynamics. 

NOTE: An average group can get 12-15 people on a 2'x2' platform. If you don't have a platform another approach is to ask the group to perform the activity on a twin-size flat sheet spread on the group. When this is successfully complete, fold the sheet in half and ask them to try it again. Keep folding the sheet in half to increase the challenge.

One of your responsibilities as a group leader is to encourage safety procedures. It may be necessary to veto an idea if someone's safety is jeopardized. The "Pig Pile" technique of stacking people on the platform one on top of the other is dangerous and should not be allowed. The seemingly logical ploy of stacking horizontal participants perpendicular to one another results in tremendous pressure being put on the bottom two people. 

Bridge It*

Purpose: teamwork, communication
Object: to have two groups of people collaborate on a building project while overcoming structured language barriers
Supplies:
You will need 2 sets of the following supplies (one set per group):

• 4 styrofoam cups

• 8 8" small diameter sticks

• 1 roll of masking tape

• 1 small box of Legos or TinkerToys

• 1 paper and pencil/pen

• 1 set of terminology

You will need the following supplies to be used by both groups:

• 2 card tables

• 1 sheet or blanket

• 1 chair for each person

• 2 rooms

Set up:
Place the card tables next to one another. Hang the sheet vertically over the separation point of the tables by whatever means you decide. Divide the chairs equally on each side of the sheet.

Place all supplies for each group on separate tables.

The terminology change papers should read:  

• Group A - the word top means bottom, side means under, and a laugh means high.

• Group B - the word tape means wide, sticking out your tongue means how many, and criss-cross means parallel

Procedure:
Split the group in half as follows: Rip two full-page pictures out of a magazine and cut them into jigsaw-like pieces to equal the number of people in the group (so that pieces from both pictures equal the total number of people). After all the pieces have been drawn, ask the players to pool their pieces to make a picture - two defined pictures. Those with pieces of the same picture make up a team.

Explain to both groups that the tangible purpose of this exercise is for each separate group to build a bridge toward the other group (sheet) so that the bridges meet and look as much alike as possible. Do not offer any guidance except to say that only the offered props may be used. Try fabricating a story about two countries that are separated by a body of water but want to establish a trade and cultural relationship. The river is plagued by bad weather and almost constant fog. The countries have a common language but the dialects differ considerably. In order to establish a necessary dialogue between groups, three five-minute meetings have been arranged (be very strict on the timing) at a common meeting site (another room). As the members adjourn to the meeting room, remind them that they must not look on the other side of the sheet; offer blindfolds if necessary.

Only one member from each group may talk at each meeting, and these two individuals sit facing one another, separate from the other people in the room. No comments from the group are allowed during this time (only laughter).

The timing of the planning and building sessions should look like this: Separate groups are shown their building area and supplies and are given 7 minutes to talk over the problems of building the bridge (among themselves, not with the other group) and to begin construction if they choose to.

1st: 5-minute meeting of the chosen group representative in a separate room. A new representative should be chosen each time.
7-minute discussion and building time back at the site
2nd: 5-minute representative meeting
5-minute discussion and building time
3rd: (final) 5-minute representative meeting
10-minute race to accomplish the work

Be strict with the deadline! Then comes the unveiling, amid groans of dismay or shouts of glee, and a period of time set aside for debriefing the process, levels of accomplishments, and comparison of approach. The physical result is apt to surprise you with the architectural accuracy achieved. The problem and process are engrossing, revealing, and fun.

Ball Game^

Purpose:  to explore influences on communication
Supplies: a ball or other convenient object for each group
Procedure:

Groups should consist of 6-10 people. The facilitator explains the rules which will be in play for all interactions in the group discussion. The facilitator announces the subject for discussion, taking care to choose a topic that will generate significant interaction (barriers to doing one's job, controversial policies, expressing negative feedback, etc.).

The facilitator may hand the ball to a participant to begin the interaction, or simply place the ball on the table and allow someone to pick it up. After 15 minutes pass, the facilitator announces that the discussion is over.

Communication Rules:
1. Only the person in possession of the ball may speak
2. The person holding the ball must keep it until someone else non-verbally signals that he or she wants it.
3. The person with the ball may refuse to give it to someone else.

Debriefing:
The facilitator may wish to ask group members about frustrations they experienced in this exercise, about the power phenomena that emerge in reference to the holder of the ball, their feelings as they attempted to gain power in the group and patterns of communication that emerged.

Four Up
Everyone starts by sitting down. Anyone can stand up when he/she wants, but must not remain standing for more than 5 seconds. As soon as someone sits down, they can stand up again. The goal is to have exactly 4 people standing at all times.  Time requirement: 1 minute. Best group size: 8 people