One of the immediate benefits of team building is improved team communication. There are many reasons why team members fail to communicate. You can bring out these reasons using games that require members to communicate at their best.
I gathered some of the communication games you can find on the internet. You can use these games the next time you are asked to facilitate your team-building exercises.
Do you know the story of the Tower of Babel? It is a narrative in the Bible known as an origin myth of why we speak a different language.
According to the story, the human race who speak only one language band together to build a tower, a tall tower high above the sky.
Yahweh, the God, notices what they are doing and alters everyone’s language. Because of that, they all had a hard time communicating with each other, and because they do not understand each other they end up scattered from different parts of the world.
As a result, they all struggled to communicate with one another, and because they don’t understand each other, they end up scattered across the globe.
Two things should be noted about the story: first, communication is essential for uniting everyone to achieve a goal, whatever it may be. Second, communication without mutual understanding is disastrous.
Communication has been both a solution and a problem in the progression of any company.
Games Promote Cooperative Communication
Games promote cooperative communication especially when you are playing with a team. This is because everyone in the team must cooperate and cooperate, everyone must communicate.
I recall once facilitating a company for team-building, and we played a game in which the team leader could only communicate through sounds they chose, such as the sound of a dog. While everyone is blindfolded, the team leader should accompany the team to the other side by making sounds. Imagine the confusion on both sides when every team makes sounds at the same time and some of the facilitators mimic their sounds; imagine the chaos.
The good thing is most of them make it to the other side, it is because before they do the game they communicate first and then plan.
Games naturally promote cooperative communication because it helps the team works together, and to work together everyone must communicate.
How to choose the right game?
Team-building is more than just Eeny, meeny, miny, moe; you must know what game to play, and there are three factors to consider:
- What is the goal
- Who are the participants
- Where is the venue?
What is the goal?
When looking for games to play with your team, you must know what your goal is. Because you’re not just wasting your time, right?
A goal directs you to the right game for your team. Games should be played with a goal in mind; otherwise, you’re just playing without learning, which isn’t team-building.
Team-building is about making your team realize what is important to be a successful team.
Who are the participants?
Of course, you should know who will participate. It is because there are games that are not suited for some ages. There are games that can’t be played without designing them through the discipline of a professional
Where is the venue?
Think about where you will play the game.
Is it in the workplace? What about outside the office? Is it possible to engage in sports activities at work?
If it’s outside, where is it? Is it an open space? Choosing a location is important because it can help set the tone for the activities that will take place.
Ten Games that Promote Communication
Team-building can assist in the growth of healthy workplace communication, so in this article, I’ll provide you with a list of ten team games for communication that you and your team can try.
- Mimicking
- Chest of hopes and dreams
- Pass the message
- Charade
- Silent Movie
- Listen and Draw
- Card Pieces
- Memory test
- Guiding blind
- Body language
Mimicking
This game is about how well everyone on the team knows each other; it is a fun way to let everyone on the team know what their distinguishing characteristics are and how they perceive each other.
You can play this with your team outdoors or indoors. The good thing about this game is there are no materials needed.
Chest of hopes and dreams
This game has the potential to improve the team’s problem-solving abilities as well as cooperative communication. This is an indoor game, and there are few materials required—a hat (or bowl/box), a pen, and paper for each player—can all be found in the office.
This activity encourages participants to work together to determine how to realize their goals and aspirations.
Pass the message
This game is simple and fun. You can use a different kind of approach to this because it is flexible. You can even use the material or none at all.
Charade
This game is a word or phrase guessing game, there is a single person would act out each syllable of a word or phrase in order, followed by the whole phrase together, while the rest of the group guessed. But it can be more creative and challenging if you make a different kind of twist.
Silent Film
Have you ever seen a silent movie? The term “silent film” refers to movies that do not have sound and words are written visually. This is a game in which participants play without saying anything but simply writing it, and not everyone must write at the same time, but one at a time. This can help heighten the team’s cooperation and professionalism because it promotes a sense of consideration for others’ ideas.
The only materials needed in this game are a pen or marker and a piece of paper.
Listen and Draw
This game is simple to play but difficult to “win,” as it calls for participants to pay close attention and actively listen. It helps the team understand the importance of comprehension.
The only materials needed in this game are a pen or marker and a piece of paper.
Card Pieces
Through this game, participants can improve their communication and negotiation skills while also learning to be more empathic and open-minded. The materials it needed is a set of cut-half diagonally playing cards.
Memory Test
This activity is easy but will challenge the memory of those who will participate. It helps hone the prowess of memory to recall any information. Your team can do it indoors. The only material needed for this activity is a set of word cards.
Guiding blind
This game is a great activity that promotes focus and active listening skills, it exposes the participants to a distractive environment that challenges them to listen attentively. The only material needed for this activity is a handkerchief.
Body Language
This game is an activity where participants learn how body language is powerful. It can help the participants to work on their body language skills. There are no materials needed for this activity.
Conclusion
I agree with Brian McClennan when he says, “Communication is what makes a team strong.” Investing in developing and honing your team’s communication skills can help you build a successful team.
Team Bayanihan facilitators can help you incorporate these team games into your goal setting; doing these activities helps everyone remember the company’s goals better and of course, assist the team to understand their roles to achieve them.
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