Standing in a circle, each participant holds one of the ropes connected to the metal crane in the center. Eight wooden blocks start upright on the floor and the group must use the crane to lift the blocks up and place them one on top of another to form a tower. The objective is to build the highest and most stable tower possible.
The task appears simple but each block is cut at a different angle and stability is harder to maintain as the tower grows taller. The group must plan effectively and coordinate their actions with excellent communication every step of the way. Failure to do so, and the feedback is immediate!
House of Values
The blocks are labeled with company or team values written on paper and the group is tasked with building a house using fundamental values to form the house's foundation. The group may disagree at first about which values are the fundamental ones. The group discovers that a house with a strong foundation is easier to build and can better support mistakes made along the way or changes in the environment over time. This is a clear metaphor for building an effective team or organization.
SHARE THIS TOOL
Use it for communicating clearly and effectively
Use it for dealing with risk, managing change or giving and receiving direction and feedback
Use it for recognizing interdependencies, maintaining balance or synchronizing the actions of the parts to achieve system goals
Use it for focusing on goals or learning and adapting to make progress
Use it for coordinating actions, cooperating and sharing responsibility
Use it for increasing the stakes with progress and drawing on resources
Participants (min / optimal / max) | Time for Activity |
---|---|
Standard: 6 /12 / 24 | 10-45 mins |
Large: 6 / 12 / 34 | 10-45 mins |
Materials | Workspace |
---|---|
Standard: 1 wooden case, 8 wooden blocks, 1 stainless steel crane with 24 braided strings | 24 x 24 ft |
Large: 1 wooden case, 8 wooden blocks, 1 stainless steel crane with 34 braided strings | 30 x 30 ft |
Dimensions (boxed) | Weight |
---|---|
Standard: 14.75 x 12.5 x 4.75 in (37.5 x 31.8 x 12.1 cm) | 15 lb (6.8 kg) |
Large: 14.75 x 12.5 x 4.75 in (37.5 x 31.8 x 12.1 cm) | 15 lb (6.8 kg) |
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