Team Activity 3: HeckMeck

HeckMeck is an excellent tool for anyone intending to explore coordination of procedures and structural change. It is also useful for illustrating topics such as team co-operation, leadership and change management. Format: The aim is to construct a HeckMeck from 15 elements in the shortest time possible. When the team members first start to put it together, they have a visual guide to help them. Once they have assembled it, however, the first version is taken apart and the team has to rebuild the construction as quickly as possible – but this time without the guide. The group can only succeed by optimising communication and by ensuring that all team members coordinate effectively with each other. In fact, the most well-coordinated teams manage to build the HeckMeck in less than 20 seconds! For more information about HeckMeck please visit the Metalog Tools website.

Team Activity 4: Lights, Camera, Action!
This film making team building challenge is an excellent way to get teams working together creatively, to produce a tangible outcome within only a few hours. Format: Within a set time teams must produce storyboard outlines before using digital cameras and laptops to create and edit a finished film. The session can be varied to suit your requirements and can involve a simple storyboard exercise or the full production of a professional film with the assistance of trained cameramen. For more information about this filming team building event please visit the Fresh Tracks website. Pros: The problem with team building events can be that although they have a great impact on the day the lessons learnt can be hard to remeber a few weeks later once the pressures of work have mounted. With this event the not only does it work well with a facilitater but also the film that is produced can be used as a reminder of the learning from the day. Cons: Some people don’t like being on film!