The Group Structure Challenge
Group Structure is a challenging exercise and a group initiative to build confidence and promote collaboration and teamwork.
Ask your group to stand in a tight circle, facing into the centre, just touching the shoulders of their neighbours. No bends, no corners, just a perfectly round-edged circle.
Invite everyone to slowly lean into the circle, without moving their feet. Having established reasonable balance, instruct each person to slowly – very slowly – slide their feet backwards as they lean into the centre.
The ultimate goal is for the group to create an evenly balanced circle in which everyone feels supported and yet critical to the overall balance of the structure. Your group should aim to keep this up for as long as possible.
Allow time for multiple attempts, stopping frequently to discuss what is and isn’t working. Invite your group to discuss what is and isn’t working between a series of attempts, and encourage them to keep practising until they reach the desired level of challenge, balance and comfort.
Continue until your group meets the challenge or interest wanes. To finally process the experience of your group.
Moment of Reflection
- What worked and what did not work to keep the circle balanced evenly?
- What adjustments had to be made to achieve the objective?
- Can we apply any of the design principles here to our relationships with others?
- What do you think is the benefit for the group of supporting each other in daily work?
The topics of this publication: teamwork, trust, integration, interactions, collaboration, cooperation, adaptability skills, foster relationships, strategy, planning, adaptation, reflection, empathy
