Back-2-Back Drawing

Objectives

Demonstrating the Back-to-Back Team Building activity

• For group members to experience receiving directions without non-verbal cues
• To develop trust between group members
• Icebreakers/Warmups
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Trust Activities
• Partner Activities

Group Size

• Small
• Medium
• Large

Materials

• Clipboards w/Blank Paper
• Pencils
• Drawing Templates

Set Up

• Have group divide into pairs (or groups of three with one person as an observer) and sit on the floor back to back.
• Give one person the clipboard and a pencil.
• Give the other part of the pair the template of the shape to be drawn.

Directions

The individual with the template has to get their partner to draw an exact duplicate of the shape drawn on their sheet using only verbal directions.

After they are done, the partners should compare the provided shape with what was drawn.

Variations

Have the group perform the activity twice with two different templates.

• The first time through the exercise the "drawing" person is not allowed to speak to the "direction giver."
• The second time they are allowed to ask only yes/no questions.
• A third time, the drawer can ask any question they like.

• Another variation would be to allow the pairs to sit face-to-face, however, the "direction giver" is not allowed to speak. They must get the person to draw the shape using only visual cues. Of course you would have to make sure that the direction giver doesn't just hand over the template.

• In a large group setting, one person could be the direction giver for the rest of the group. No one else is allowed to speak and everyone must try to draw the shape the direction giver is describing. Afterwards, have everyone compare their drawings.

Debrief

• What was it like to give directions? before they could ask questions, then after.
• What was it like to receive directions?
• Was it difficult not being allowed to ask questions?
• Once you could ask questions, did that make the job easier? Why?
• Why are all the pictures different???? Everyone heard the same message.
• Do you think people communicate differently?
• Do you think people receive or perceive the same instructions the same? What should/would you do to clarify? What's stopping you from simply asking?
• Do you know your teammates enough in order to communicate effectively to get the same results?
• If person x said to the group "ABC" would it be perceived the same if person y said the exact same thing?

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