How’s your team doing? To what extent have they built a relationship with each other?
Based on Lencioni’s work, does your team:
- Trust each other
- Engage in Conflict around ideas
- Commit to decisions
- Hold one another Accountable
- Focus on achieving collective Results
We work with all kinds of teams. Here’s a fun game that can be used to build relationships, learn more about what other team members do, brainstorm ideas to avoid dropping the ball, and simply have fun.
The game is called Gutter Golf.
The object of the game is to move the client (represented by a ball) from one team member (or from one department) to another until the client has been successfully, well served.
Each team member is given a length of “gutter”. I use plastic corner molding cut to about 36” in length. The ball starts with where a “client” would normally first make contact with the organization or team. As the ball rolls along that person’s gutter, he/she must hand it off to the next person in line until the client passes through all those that would play a part in serving the client.
Here are some guidelines:
We use guidelines to set the stage with a client company who wants to play this game with 60-70 team members:
- You have to keep your eye on the ball. Each of us has a part to play in serving the client.
- Distractions occur; we choose how we respond to them…and others are watching.
- Transitions from one department to another are an opportunity to demonstrate our professionalism and our value of Customer Advocacy.
- When we minimize and avoid distractions, we create a safe work environment that supports our values of Teamwork and People Matter.
As the ball moves down the line, we build in some distractions. For example, at various points in the activity, distractions are inserted. The distractions are printed on 3×5 cards and handed to a person. The person has to read the distraction and follow the instructions. After each distraction, the ball moves back some number of gutter lengths. Here’s one of the distractions:
Lack of Feedback
Read:
- The Sales Team is working with the client and developing the proposed scope of work. In the process, they ask team members in other divisions for information. In this instance, a request was made of engineering, but a week has passed, and no feedback has been received.
Result:
- Due to the delay, the client has contacted another vendor and is considering whether to work with our company.
Brainstorm:
- How could this delay be avoided? Action: Move the ball back three gutter lengths.
Gutter Golf is a great way to engage team members in fun, yet accomplish a variety of important goals!
Did you know?
Switzer Associates is an approved Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team Partner. We are doing customized team building workshops geared to accomplish a variety of organizational objectives. Call us now to discuss how we can help improve your team!