The Great Communicator

Listening Skills
Practice Communication Skills

Group members need to practice speaking to one another so that they can clearly explain the ideas they wish to put into action.  Try having all groups try the Great Communicator at one time.  Space is not an issue.   Try this challenge early in your team building program.  As your groups develop (or struggle to develop), you may wish to repeat this challenge from time to time as a test of communication success.

Description

The group members sit either in a semicircle or randomly in an area assigned only to that group.  One member of the group is selected as the Great Communicator.

The Great Communicator attempts to describe a picture in teams that will allow the group members to draw the objects being described.  The Great Communicator may not, however, use certain terms describing standard shapes.  Terms such as circle, square, rectangle or triangle may not be used.  Also, group members may not ask the Great Communicator questions or request further descriptions.



Equipment

Pencil and Piece of Paper for each student
Picture for the Great Communicator to describe
Clipboard for Great Communicator



Possible Solutions

The solutions will vary according to the descriptive skills of the Great Communicator and the listening skills of the group members.  As the group displays their drawings and compares them to the Great Communicator's picture, they will get an indication of their success in listening and speaking.  As the group practices this challenge a few times, members should see an improvement in their communication efforts and skills.


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