The Cross the Circle Game
Cross the Circle is an engaging activity that provides a playful way for participants to find common ground with each other. In this playful team building activity, participants are encouraged to cross the circle in response to questions posed by a person in the middle.
Finding common ground and shared experiences across a diverse group is what team building is all about. For example, the participant in the middle might say, “Cross through the circle if you are studying something.” “Cross through the circle if you play sports.”
Ask participants to form a circle with one person in the middle. The person in the middle asks the other participants to cross through the circle if they can answer positively that they have, have done, or can do something in particular.
If the other participants can answer the question positively they must cross the circle and find an open spot on the other side left by someone else who also answered the question positively.
The participant in the middle also finds a spot left open by some one who answered the question positively. A new person is left in the middle. This person gets to pick a new topic. The game continues as time allows.
If the group is already in a stage of maturity, you can take advantage of the exercise to obtain better results. Invite the people in the center of the circle to ask questions more related to the topic you want to address.
For example, cross if you consider that communication in the team is effective, or cross if you believe that the team does not work collaboratively.
Moment of Reflection
- How did it feel to have to answer questions in front of everyone? Did you feel uncomfortable with any questions? Why?
- How did it feel as the exercise progressed and the questions were not trivial? Did it feel a different commitment to respond?
The topics of this publication: interactions, integration, active listening, team bonding, motivation, diversity, reflection, disinhibition, distension, foster relationships
