Purpose

This is a simple yet challenging exercise which puts pressure on a group to solve a problem as the clock is ticking. To successfully survive the task, the group must learn to work together quickly and efficiently.

Objective

Remain on a shrinking platform as much as you can.

What You Need

• A series of square tiles such as carpet squares. The size and number of them depends on the size of the group.

Setup

• Layout the squares on the floor to form a larger square or rectangle. Make it large enough so that the group can stand on the area comfortably and be at ease.
• Explain that every 30 seconds, you must remove a square. They should shift around until there is one square that no one is standing on so you can easily remove it.
• They are allowed to step on anything other than the tiles.
• Start the exercise and watch as the group manages its members to survive on the shrinking tiles area.
• The group fails when you can no longer remove a square.
• Time their performance and record it for your own statistics so you can compare group performances over time.
• Follow with a discussion.

Timing

Explaining the Exercise: 5 minutes

Activity: 10 minutes

Group Feedback: 5 minutes

Discussion

What did you do to succeed at this exercise? Did you work cooperatively? Did you work as a team? What worked and what did not? Could you have done better? If so, how?

Variation

You can adjust the amount of time to allow between each removal. Examples are:

• Take tiles out every 1 minute.
• Take tiles out every 15 seconds.
• Take the first 3 tiles out every 15 seconds, the next three tiles every 30 seconds and the next three tiles every 1 minute.
• Take the first 3 tiles out every 1 minute, the next three tiles every 30 seconds and the next three tiles every 15 seconds.

You can also convert this to a competition by dividing the delegates to two groups and letting them race for it. This however allows them to get ideas from each other as they go through the exercise.