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Human Resource Development

Drawbridge Activity

Skills
Primary Teamwork and Cooperation
Project Management
Secondary Communication
People Development

Details
Time Required Setup: 10 minutes
Activity: 20 - 45 minutes
Debrief: 30 minutes (minimum)
Space 20 x 20 (minimum room size)
Open space – no chairs, tables, etc.
Group Size 4 - 10 participants per set of Toobeez
Materials - One Toobeez set, split in two equal piles + a Tarp, blanket, or opaque sheet to divide space, Tape, Flip chart

Description
The group is split into two teams and instructed to build half a bridge on their respective sides of a visual divider. When the divider is removed at the end, the two teams must connect their bridges to complete a bridge with the addition of only one more Toobeez tube.

The Activity

Set Up
Hang a large sheet, tarp, or curtain in the middle of the room. On each side, measure out the length of one long Toobeez plus one short Toobeez from the divider and mark the floor with a line of visible tape. Divide the Toobeez in half. Each team will have half a set. NOTE: Since one piece is withheld as the connecting piece, divide the Toobeez into two identical piles of 25 pieces of Toobeez. You will have one piece leftover which is not used in this activity.

Instructions
Clearly outline the instructions and answer any questions before the activity begins. Once the time allotted begins, your role as facilitator is to observe until the time is up.

Facilitator Script
In this activity, you will be divided into two teams and situated on either side of this divider. (Divide the room and keep teams separate for the remainder of instructions and activity.) Each team will be given the same number of Toobeez. Each team is to build half a bridge on their side of the divider. In order for the activity to be successfully completed, teams must be able to complete the bridge with only one additional Toobeez tube upon removing the divider. Following are some specific guidelines:

  • No supports may be on the ground between the tape and curtain
  • Teams may not look at the other side of the curtain
  • Nothing may touch or support the Toobeez (rope, divider, wall, etc.)
  • Only verbal communication is allowed with the people on the other side of the divider
  • The tape and curtain may not be moved or altered
  • If any guidelines are broken, start over

(Answer any questions and get teams situated with their Toobeez on separate sides of the divider). You will have approximately 30 minutes to complete this activity.

Begin
During the activity, listen and look for the following: How people work together, manage the project, and communicate.

Concluding the Activity
After 30 minutes, regardless of where the team is, conclude the exercise.

Start Activity Debrief
The intention of this activity is to develop teamwork, cooperation, and project management skills. It requires extensive coordination among participants, and no one can do this one alone.

Let the participants share with you what they learned and think the activity is about.

  • What was the point of this exercise?
  • Where in your professional life are there dividers? How do you deal with them?
  • What was the biggest challenge of this activity?
  • What did you learn?
  • How can you apply that to your professional life?

Closing
This activity is a platform for new actions. We work “blindly” across dividers (e.g., telephones, offices, geography) everyday. Sometimes we aren’t even aware of the dividers. Cooperation, teamwork, and effective project management are vital to successfully working together regardless of the barriers among us.

Concluding Questions

  • What did you learn about trust, cooperation, teamwork, and project management?
  • What could have been done differently?
  • Where in your professional life are there barriers and dividers? What can you now do differently to overcome those challenges?

Action Plans

  • How many ways can you apply what you’ve learned in this activity to: - Everyday management, - Dealing with conflict, - Business relationships
  • Based on your new experiences and insights, what could be different in going forward?
  • What three action steps (with specific, measurable results) will you take this month to begin incorporating what you’ve learned into your daily routine?

For additional instructions and modifications click HERE.