The Challenge of Listen to the Voices
Listen to the Voices is a blindfolded group exercise to improve listening skills and challenge your team to regroup correctly.
Start with your group standing in a circle. Then, without giving anything away, ask each person to greet the neighbour on their left with a laid-back “how’s it going?” and to answer the neighbour on their right with an agreeable “fine, and you?”
Repeat these greetings several times with the requisite turning of heads. Upon concluding this exchange of greetings, ask everyone to close their eyes, and, assuming the bumper’s up position, invite everyone to mingle into the centre of the circle for a short while.
After 10 to 15 seconds, call “STOP” and remind everyone to keep their eyes closed.
Challenge you group to re-form the circle so that they are standing between their two original neighbours, only using the phrases “how’s it going?” and “fine, and you?” to guide them.
Nothing else can be said or communicated at any time. Aim to re-form the circle as accurately and as effectively as possible.
Each person will have to rely heavily on their listening skills to get them home and in the correct sequence. The ultimate aim for the group is to complete their task as accurately, quickly, and safely as possible.
When it appears that the group thinks it has accomplished the task, you may ask them to open their eyes.
Moment of Reflection
- Initially, were you concerned it would be difficult to find your neighbours? Why?
- What were some of your first ‘observations’ as everyone started to locate their neighbours?
- What helped you find your neighbours in the circle? What didn’t help?
- As your sight was impaired, what other senses were used to assist you?
The topics of this publication: interactions, collaboration, teamwork, cooperation, adaptability skills, active listening, adaptation
