A knotty problem
Featured in the Indoor and Outdoor Team Development training manual
By Michèle Barca & Kate Cobb
Category: Team Building
Credit price: 3 download credits (Single user)
The way we communicate with our team members is vital to the success of our working as a team. However, communication isn’t always clear and, when it is distorted, can sometimes create havoc. This relatively short training activity involves the group in a tangled maze, which the leader will have to untangle with causing more chaos.
You begin by explaining that this training activity explores the issue of communication and how easily it can become distorted. After choosing a leader, you tie the rest of the group loosely to a length of rope. The leader leaves the room while you tangle the group up as much as you can. The leader’s task is to untangle the group. However, they cannot speak directly to the person they are working with but to another member of the group two people away, who must pass the communication on. Once the rope is untangled (or not!) you explore the issue of communication distortion and how if affects the working situation.
Who is it for: Use this training activity to explore communication issues and how it can become distorted without care.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 10 |
| Max Group Size: | 16 |
| Typical Duration: | 01:40:00 |
| No of Pages: | 13 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Additional resources: 30 metres of rope, cord or elastic.
Purpose: This training activity can be used as part of any training programme where communication is a focus, such as team building, management training, and so on. This training activity needs slightly more space, so it is suggested that you take your team to an outdoor area, for example, the car park. It may also need some slightly unusual equipment, such as bamboo poles, plastic crates, bin liners, or string.
Download the training activity, A knotty problem as featured in the Fenman training manual; Indoor and Outdoor Team Development