Sample Experiential Activities for the DiSC® Team Member Challenge

Sample Experiential Activities for the DiSC® Team Member Challenge Corporate Teams provides a variety of experiential based activities that can be combined with the DiSC® Suite of Profiles. All action-based initiatives are customized to the group using language, activities and objectives that are specific to the type of team: intact teams; virtual teams; cross-functional teams; management teams; sales teams; engineering teams; R&D teams; etc.

Experiential based activities are used to integrate the principles of the DiSC® profiles with action-based learning. True change only occurs when team members are able to ‘feel’ what it is like to engage in newly learned behaviors. This experiential model of program delivery provides the opportunity for team members to ‘try on’ new behaviors, experience ineffective team performance and then engage in intentional communication adjustments that provide the foundation of on-going behavioral shifts leading to increased communication effectiveness.

We have outlined two of our most requested experiential team based activities as examples. The Integrated Team Challenge and Team Adventure Race are fast paced, collaborative team events that require teams to strategize quickly, analyze alternatives, organize into action, produce results, and manage for process improvement all while under the pressure of time. The principles of the DiSC® profiles provide team members with the tools to increase team performance by employing the techniques and strategies learned to drive team communication to the next level.

Learn about Corporate Teams other action based team building activities that can also be integrated into DiSC® programs.

Activity Example #1: The Integrated Team Challenge

The Integrated Team Challenge provides an intensive team experience while requiring teams to ‘integrate’ processes with another team. This initiative has been used with great success with management and executive teams due to its complexity and need to maintain team focus while requiring teams to consider a strategy that is inclusive of another team while working in a ‘simulated virtual environment’.

How do you successfully bring together different work processes or functions across diverse teams? What happens when these same teams are working virtually? Sounds a lot like today’s workplace? That’s the intent!

The Integrated Team Challenge tests the best of teams to innovate, execute, meet aggressive performance measures and integrate diverse work processes or functions all while simulating a virtual team environment.

How does the Integrated Team Building Challenge work?

Using only the materials supplied, each team must create a life size structure capable of moving a ball bearing (the process) through a complexity of measures.

• Complexity: Number of times the ball changes direction
  
  
• Time to Customer Delivery: Length of time the ball is in the structure
  
  
• Risk-Taking: Number of times the ball drops to another level while in the maze
  
  
• Economic Upswings: Number of upward ascents of the ball from a downward decline
  
  
• Momentum: Straight line distance from the drop point to the ‘client’
  
  
• Quality: Delivering the process successfully to the ‘client’
  

The process gets increasingly complex when multiple structures must be ‘Integrated’ seamlessly under the pressure of time. Add a few budget cuts that alter the availability of resources and you have an environment that requires adaptability to change. Which team(s) will earn the most revenue points while managing the complexity of these measures and changing dynamics? It’s not the fastest team that wins – rather the smartest team or the team that can think ‘outside of the structure’.

From management teams to executive teams, the Integrated Team Challenge requires team members to think strategically while working across a virtual team environment. Strong collaboration is a must to bring the multiple processes or functions together successfully.

Integrated Team Building Challenge Learning Outcomes:

• Working across time, distance, and technology – building an effective strategy and plan for execution
• Team collaboration – multiple teams coming together to ‘integrate’ a diversity of processes for final execution
• Team roles – evaluating each team member’s ability and effectively managing team resources that will drive the team to a successful solution
• Virtual communication – a collaborative project without ‘seeing’ the other teams progress
• Effective management of time – managing strategy, innovation, evaluation of alternatives, execution, measurements and process improvements within a designated period of time
• Focused communication – aligning diverse team priorities into an overall integrated system

Integrated Teambuilding Challenge Sample Agenda

Phase One: Team Foundation & Briefing

Phase Two: Strategy, Design & Planning Team Leader Meeting at end of Phase Two

Phase Three: Building A Series of Three Team Leader Meetings

Phase Four: Independent Process Execution & Evaluation

Phase Five: Process Integration

Phase Six: Process Integration Execution & Evaluation

Request a Quote for the DiSC® Team Member Challenge with the Integrated Team Challenge

---

Activity Example #2: The Team Adventure Race

This multi-event activity can incorporate a variety of experiential team building initiatives. Each activity is selected based on the ability of the team, level of ‘active’ adventure desired, and availability of equipment in the chosen venue. We have presented an overview of the program format with a sample of activities that includes one physically demanding event and three innovative problem-solving events.

Team Adventure Race Logistics:

1) Foundation and Briefing: Each team will receive the following materials: Racing Bibs, Race Rules, and Team Passport. Teams will create a team name and logo to
represent their team. The race rules of the Team Adventure Race are then revealed.

The overall objective of the Team Adventure Race is for each team to earn as many performance points as possible during a series of four activities. All teams have the same amount of time to experience each activity. It is not the fastest team that wins – but rather the team that employs the best strategy and demonstrates the most efficient teamwork.

2) Team Adventure Race: Once the race clock starts, teams quickly move to their activity location per the race rules. Teams will have 40 minutes to develop a strategy, execute their action plan and manage for process improvement for each activity. (This timing can vary based on types of activities chosen and total number of activities included for the event.) At the end of the 40 minutes, the teams will receive the revenues earned by checking in with the Corporate Teams staff member. Their revenues will be
recorded and passports stamped before moving to the next activity.

3) Managing the Results: At the end of the four activities, teams will hand in their passports to the Corporate Teams staff for final tallies. Results will be announced during the action debrief.

Team Adventure Race Possible Activities:

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The overall objective of the Team Adventure Race is to earn as many performance points as possible during a series of 4 activities. Each team will rotate through a series of activities requiring a diversity of skills and strategy. Completion of each activity generates revenues that contribute to your final team revenue total.

The key to success as a team is strategy, working efficiently under time pressure and the ability to communicate well as a team. Use your resources wisely and recognize the contributions that all team members bring to the table.

GENERAL RULES

• Your team will have 40 minutes to complete each activity; this includes strategy and set up.
• Your team will have 5 minutes to transition to the next activity.
• Team members must stay together at all times. Distance between first and last person must not exceed 50 feet unless otherwise specified.
• At the end of each activity, the Corporate Teams facilitator at your activity station will record your revenues in your team passport before you proceed to the next activity area.
• Activities begin with our without you being present, so be sure to mind the time!

Team Adventure Race: Team Orienteering

Each team will receive a map of the area. The objective is to locate as many Control flags as possible. There may be too many flags to find all of them, so you must choose them carefully.

• Team members must stay together at all times.
• All team members must arrive at a Control flag together.
• Write down the ‘Secret for Team Success’ code and value of the flag in your passport to verify you found it.
• Take a team photo at each Control flag before proceeding to the next location.
• You CANNOT move, relocate, or take a Control flag.
• You must return within the 40 minutes – be sure you are aware of the time before you leave!
• Once you return to the start area, tally your total points and enter into the team passport. Have the CT staff member stamp your passport before moving to the next activity.

Revenues: Each control has a value between $100 and $1000 depending on difficulty or distance from the start/finish. See your map for the values of the Control flags.
Penalties: $200 for each minute past the 40 minute cutoff time

Team Adventure Race: Toxic Lake

The latest service innovation for your company is floating in a Toxic Lake. You must retrieve the secret innovation without stepping into the lake and without spilling the contents. You must place the innovation outside the lake before it is considered successfully retrieved.

• You can only use the equipment issued to your team.
• You cannot drag the innovation across the lake. It must be lifted out of the toxic lake by the materials supplies.
• You cannot touch the container holding the innovation.
• Once any of the materials enter the lake, they are considered toxic and cannot be touched again.
• If you touch the materials after they have been in the lake, then you become blind and must participate while blindfolded.
• You are NOT allowed to step into the Lake.
• The exercise is completed when the time is up or you have successfully retrieved the secret innovation.
• ALL team members must participate in the exercise. Failure to participate will cost $100 per participant.

Revenues: $500 for successfully retrieving the secret innovation without spilling the contents.
$350 for successfully retrieving the secret innovation (after one spill).
$150 for successfully retrieving the secret innovation (after two spills)
Bonus Revenues: $50 for every minute remaining on the official time clock after successful completion.

Team Adventure Race: 3D Minefield

An explosion has just happened in the corporate vault. Thankfully no one has been injured. Cash is lying all around the vault. The security system has been damaged so that the laser beam mechanism can’t be turned off. Your team must safely retrieve the cash from the vault and put it in a secure place. You must have a minimum of one coach for each person entering the vault. The person in the vault will be in the dark and cannot see (they will be wearing blindfolds).

• You must be blindfolded in order to enter the vault.
• Your entire body must be inside the vault to retrieve the cash.
• There should be no physical assistance to team members entering or leaving the vault.
• Team members within the vault must move with only verbal instructions from their teammates outside the vault.
• Only people outside the vault are permitted to talk.
• If you touch a laser beam, you should remove your blindfold, return any cash collected and exit the vault.
• You cannot touch, move or detonate any of the mines within the vault. If you do, return the cash collected and exit the vault.
• Each person is permitted to retrieve only ONE item of Cash while they are in the vault.
• Once you have collected your Cash, you must exit the vault (still blindfolded and without crossing a laser beam) and another team member may enter the field.

Revenues: The Cash you retrieve from the vault.
Penalties: $100 for each infraction to the rules (setting off a mine or touching a laser)

Team Adventure Race: Multi-Tasking Challenge

The objective of the exercise is to effectively multi-task and complete 2 different activities during the 40 minute timeframe. The activities are: Pipeline and Tarp Turnover.

Pipeline: Your objective is to transport a golf ball from the starting line to the finish bucket without stopping or dropping the ball in under one minute.

• Only the pipeline pieces provided may be used to transport the ball
• Each team member gets one pipeline piece only and cannot assist with other pieces
• The ball must roll in or on each piece at least once
• Team members cannot move their feet while the ball is/on their pipeline piece
• Pieces may not overlap by more than one inch
• Juggling the ball is allowed
• Time starts when the ball begins rolling on the first piece at the starting line and ends when the ball lands and stays in the bucket
• If the ball is touched, is dropped or stops, the group must return to the start with the ball and try again. The clock keeps ticking.
• During the practice, teams can ‘bend’ the rules, restart, etc.
• Team members may exchange pipeline pieces between the practice session and the actual challenge.

Tarp Turnover: The objective is to turn over the tarp without stepping off of the tarp.

• Everyone must remain on the tarp at all times
• No stepping off the tarp; if anyone touches the ground, the group must start over
• No climbing on shoulders or physically lifting team members

Revenues: $250 for completing each activity.
Bonus Revenues: $250 for completing both activities within the activity timeline.

Request a Quote for the DiSC® Team Member Challenge with the Team Adventure Race