Free Team Building Game

• Encourages participation from all team members.
• Enhances open communications.

Development Areas:

• Cooperation

• Trust

• Problem Solving

• Collaboration

• Communications

Time & Space:            

• Five minutes to one hour

• Preferably inside.  Balloons are susceptible to even the slightest breeze which can cause unproductive frustration for participants.

Participants:

• Groups of any number, divided into two teams

Materials: 

• Begin with 2 to 3 assorted 9 to 12 inch (medium to large) round latex balloons per person (deflated).  The actual number needed will depend on your group size and the specific activity.   Additional material such as sports equipment, permanent markers, and slips of paper are optional, depending on your selected activity.

• Balloons work best for games at about 85% of inflation capacity.  Eager participants often over-inflate balloons which leads to higher percent of balloons bursting.  Less confident participants may under-inflate. You can turn the ideal inflation into a game and demonstration. Show the ideal inflation and walk around coaching people. 85% inflation also allows a good distance for tying a thumb-knot in the neck of the balloon. 

Preparation and Notes for Facilitator:

• Hygiene: Only one person should inflate each balloon.
• Hyperventilation: Can occur following quick, deep breaths from the top of the chest when blowing up balloons, leading to a lack of Carbon Dioxide in the blood.  Symptoms include light-headedness.  Instruct  anyone with these symptoms to sit down and to breath slowly.
• Environmental Considerations: Latex balloons are biodegradable (at the same rate as an Oak leaf).  Latex is a natural substance, produced from the milky sap of the rubber tree.
• Safety:  Unless you have a specific and compelling reason to use helium balloons, it is best to avoid them.  The party game of inhaling helium to sound like Donald Duck is potentially life-threatening.  According to experts, if the concentration of oxygen is decreased below 18% within the human body, symptoms and signs of Asphyxia can occur.    Helium gas can totally displace the available oxygen and if this is maintained for even a few seconds, asphyxia and death can and will occur.  INHALING HELIUM IS NO LAUGHING MATTER!

Facilitation:

• Start off both teams as separate groups, each with their team members in a circle, facing inwards, with their hands behind their backs. 
• The objective is to be the first team with everyone to be in the center keeping all balloons afloat.
• Optional:  Forbid any verbal communications to increase the challenge level. 
• Place between zero and three balloons in people's hands behind their backs.  Participants should not let on to others how many they have. 
• The team leader starts by trying to keep three balloons afloat in the center. 
• When it becomes too difficult, the leader calls somebody's name and says "X, I need your help!".  That person comes in with all their balloons and helps until it becomes too difficult and then they call "Y, I need your help!". 
• If a balloon falls on the ground, it must be picked up by someone in the center and kept afloat.
• Continue until all participants are in the center with all balloons in the air.
• Establish a line-up for teams, and award nominal prizes (optional)

Debrief questions:

1. What was the initial reaction of your team?

2. How well did the team cope with this challenge?

3. What skills did it take to be successful as a team?

4. What creative solutions were suggested and how were they received?

5. What would an outside observer have seen as the strengths and weaknesses of the team?

6. What did each team member learn about him/her self as an individual?

7. What other situations in life or at work are similar to  this game?

to more team building programs for change management:

The Amazing Race

The Apprentice

Survivor

Millionaire

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

Deal or No Deal

The Idol

Pyramid

Jeopardy