The Electric Fence Challenge

Electric Fence is an extremely challenging group exercise to promote collaboration, encourage effective communication and develop teamwork skills.

In advance, suspend a taut bungee cord horizontally between two points about 1.0 to 1.2 metres above the ground. The ground should be as flat and level as possible and free of debris.

Assemble your group in front of one side of the line. Challenge your group to move all of their team members from one side and over the top of the line to the other, while never touching the line.

The line represents an electric fence that cannot be touched nor penetrated insofar as the space directly under the line exists. That is to say, as part of their efforts to move people from one side to the other, no one is permitted to place any part of their body on or under the line.

The task must be completed while every individual is physically connected to the rest of the group at all times. If and when one or more people are separated from the rest of the group, or the cord is touched, apply an penalty.

The penalty is that the person(s) touching must return to the starting side of the line, return to the starting position

Set a time limit, if desired, for the group to plan and execute the task. Invite your group to reflect on their experience at the conclusion of the task, or the expiry of the allotted timeframe.

Moment of Reflection

• What was the most challenging part of this exercise?
• What parts of your planning helped your group succeed?
• What occurred that was unexpected?
• How did you and/or your group cope with these unexpected events?
• On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, how would you rate your group’s level of integrity?
• Did you observe any behaviours that concerned you? Why? Did you communicate these to the group? What happened next?
• In what ways did we, or did we not, demonstrate compassion and empathy?
• Can you describe your group’s goal? Was it clear? Did you achieve it?

The topics of this publication: teamwork, trust, integration, interactions, collaboration, cooperation, adaptability skills, foster relationships, strategy, leadership, planning