Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

Part I. Getting Ready

CHAPTER 1.How to Run a Successful Team-Building Activity 7

Step 1. Before: Select a pertinent activity for your team 7

Step 2. Before: Prepare for your team-building activity 8

Step 3. During: Explain the activity to the team 10

Step 4. During: Check for understanding before beginning 12

Step 5. During: Run the activity 13

Step 6. During: Debrief the activity 14

Step 7. After: Reinforce the learning back on the job 16

CHAPTER 2.What Could Go Wrong in a Team-Building Activity 17

Part II. The Activities

CHAPTER 3.Welcoming: Introductions and Icebreakers 31

Bet You Didn't Know This 32

Cell Phone Rings 35

Haiku 38

Hangman 40

Heads or Tails 43

Human Poker 46

I am . . . 50

Kids' Stuff 53

Pennies and Dice 56

Scramble 59

Word Count 62

CHAPTER 4.Battling: Games That Teach Healthy Competition 65

Balloon Battle 66

Chopsticks 69

Cotton Balls 72

Higher Lower 75

Marshmallow Dodge Ball 78

Snake Eyes 81

Tablecloth 85

Tall Towers 88

Team Scores 91

Unshuffle 95

CHAPTER 5.Teamwork: Challenges That Require Cooperation 99

Buttermilk Line 100

CONNECTIONS 103

CROSSING THE LINE 106

DOLLAR BILL 109

HOUSE 112

LETTER #27 115

LICENSE PLATES 117

ONE SYLLABLE 120

PUZZLED VISION 123

REACH FOR THE STARS 126

STICK IN THE MIDDLE 128

CHAPTER 6. Creativity: Challenges That Encourage Out-of-the-Box Thinking 131

ABCs 132

FAILURE STRATEGIES 135

FISHBOWL 138

FIST 140

JOB TITLES 143

MONSTERS 146

NEWSPAPER COSTUMES 148

SECRET AGENDA 151

STATUE MAKER 154

THE SWAMP 157

CHAPTER 7. Support: Activities to Appreciate and Help Each Other 161

Anonymous Feedback 162

GARBAGE 166

ONE WORD 169

POSITIVE ENVELOPES 172

SECRET COACH 175

TOMBSTONE 178

TOTEM POLES 181

TROPHIES 184

Index 187

About the Author 191