How Puzzles Can assist With Team Building.
Posted: Thursday, February 26, 2009
by Brian Middle
http://www.chillisauce.co.uk
The term puzzle could refer to a brain teaser style of puzzle in which group effort would be needed to figure out the problem and/or solution, or it could refer to an actual jigsaw puzzle activity. How should you incorporate a jigsaw puzzle into team building?
A Puzzle Exercise
Start by splitting up your group into teams. Give each team pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and give simple instructions to put the puzzle together as quickly as possible. Imply or even state that every team has the same puzzle and make sure the pieces appear as if they are complete. In reality}}, there is only one jigsaw puzzle and the teams will not finish the puzzle until they figure out the secret: team work!
The importance of teamwork is further highlighted by letting the teams themselves figure this out, not by asking for help from the team supervisor. Eventually they figure out the point of working together for a shared intention.
There are some logistical notes on this puzzle game; make sure you find a jigsaw puzzle complicated enough to convince teams that there are actually a number different puzzles to use. Ensure there are sufficient pieces to occupy all colleagues of the team. Clues might be given to help teams (such as what the image is) especially if it is a relatively short puzzle game. You might also choose to offer a prize upon completion of the puzzle within a certain time frame. The winners would be the whole group, once they figured out the problem. There are no winners or losers in this exercise; team cooperation is the aim!
Other Puzzle Activities
Puzzle games need a number of patience and team work if a number people are participating. Puzzle events can be an educational challenge like the previous exercise or could be a regular puzzle session where pieces are put together by groups as quickly as possible. If possible, use jigsaw puzzles that relate to the industry you're in.
Puzzle gmaes are an excellent way keep your team motivated and to liven up a tedious office spirit. Puzzle games can be used as ice breakers, training sessions, workshop events, seminars, conferences and other meetings. Puzzle games can also refer to lateral thinking puzzles, trick questions, brain teasers, logic puzzles and number puzzles.
When coordinating a puzzle games, remember that it is not so much the puzzle that is essential, rather the point you're trying to make with this team building exercise. You may be trying to stress the importance of team work or you may wish to illustrate a point about communication. Whatever your intentions remember that the puzzle is a teaching technique and ought to focus on the issue at hand.
To read more about the different types of team building challenges you can set up for your organisation, visit www.team-building-tips.co.uk. You can also get an assortment of corporate event ideas from our professionalevent organisers.All our team building challenges include an extensive array of venues appropriate for your activity and meeting requirements and an extensive array of of actvities for example Crystal challenge, school sports day, chocolate challenge,themed treasure hunts.
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