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Very helpful; can apply at work this week!

Workshop Participant

Current Activity - Silence is Golden!

Overview

A superb, sit-down initiative that highlights

1. the need for coordinated team effort to achieve organizational objectives.
2. the importance of communication between members on a team.
3. the nature of leadership.

The team's task is to identify a symbol that is common to all of the envelopes in their group.

PROPS: One prepared envelope and pen or pencil for each participant; one chair for each participant, arranged in groups of 5 (click here for complete resources file)

TIME FRAME: 30 minutes total: 5 minute brief, 15 minutes for the activity, 10 minutes for the debrief.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Prior to the class, arrange the chairs according to the layout in a separate room if possible. Cut out the symbols on the symbols sheet and prepare each envelope. Place the appropriate envelope in each chair.
2. Prepare a flipchart with the following bullet points
   1. 15 minutes total
   2. Only written communication (i.e., notes only, no talking)
   3. Only to persons indicated in your instructions
3. Say something like "Your organization is spread out at different locations (A, B, C, D, E), and it has just been given a rush job to do.  Unfortunately, your phone system is down (no talking), and your email (written notes) only works between certain people, so you’ll have to do the best you can within the 15 minutes allotted.  Once person A believes that the task is done, s/he may raise his hand and give me the finished product.  I’ll indicate whether you’re successful or not; if not, keep working until your time is up.  Good luck!”
4. Observe and debrief when the group has finished.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE:

1. Only the leader has been told the objective of the exercise. Other members have been told constraints alone. You will see confusion to begin with for most of the team. Remind them that no talking is allowed if they start to ask questions.
2. Notes will start being passed. The three in the back row will "obey orders" but will quickly lose interest. The person in the middle will be writing furiously. The person at the front will be wondering what is taking so long.
3. The key to success is when either a) the leader informs everyone of the goal or b) the team members ask for clarification on the goal.