50 Activities for Developing Leaders, Vol. II

36

You + Me = A Team

Objectives

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To develop teamwork

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To allow participants to reveal their uniqueness

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To help instill and encourage leadership

Group Size

Enough to make small teams of 5 participants each

Estimated Time

1 hour

Training Methods

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Discussion

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Reflection

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Hands-on art project

Equipment and Supplies

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Tables for drawing; chairs

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Large pieces of paper

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8" × 11" paper

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Pencils

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Colored markers or crayons

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Tape

Room Set-up

Put tables together, if necessary, to provide enough space for team drawing.

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Comments

This activity works well because it allows individuals to reveal a cherished

value or belief symbolically. There will be some resistance to the art portion, but

teams are always pleased with their results.

This activity is appropriate for team-building, particularly if you have newly

formed IDEA teams.

One variation is to send people on a walk to find an object that symbolizes who

they are or in what they believe. Then complete Step 2. Objects that are heavy or

impossible to hang may be placed on a spare table.

50 Activities for Developing Leaders

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Trainer’s Notes for Activity 36

Step-by-Step Procedure

Step 1: Introduce the activity by asking participants for an example of a

time when a team they were on worked extremely well. Ask why

they believe it was a high-performance team.

Explain that high-performance teams take time because relation-

ships must be developed so that all the team members will work

better together. Indicate that this next activity will demonstrate

what you mean.

Step 2: Participants will now create a team symbol. Distribute one 8 " × 11"

sheet of paper and a pencil to each person.

Ask participants to think of a symbol that represents who they are

as individuals—something they value highly, or something that

symbolizes an achievement, a special interest, a hobby, or a posses-

sion. Allow time for each person to privately sketch his/her symbol

on paper.

Step 3: Divide participants into groups of 5. Ask each person to share

his/her drawing and explain the meaning of the symbol to their

group.

Each small group is to develop one large team symbol or collage,

incorporating all of the group members’ symbols into the new one.

They will have to think about what the individuals have in common

or develop a theme that applies to everyone.

Ask the groups to label their team symbol with a title or motto and

have each member sign the final drawing.

Step 4: Reassemble into the large group, and ask each team to explain its

symbol. Hang the symbols on the wall nearest to each team’s table.

Discuss the creative ways people expressed their individuality.

Step 5: Ask participants to identify the advantages of doing an activity

such as this one with their own staff or team.

Ask for suggestions on other team-building activities (perhaps

what people have had experience with), and wrap up.

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You + Me = A Team