Infusing Olympic-Level Teamwork and Creativity into Facilitation

As the Olympic Games kicked off in late July, the world has gathered and stopped in its tracks at the feats of such talented competitors. Seemingly-superhuman strength, agility, and skill draw us in and leave us in awe of each country’s best athletes, whether or not they win the gold. 

While we sit at the edge of our couch and yell for our country, or another, to win, something innate in us gets excited at the teamwork, movement, and intention we are observing. 

Games & play in our daily life, while they aren’t as intensive as the Olympic Games, provide us with the opportunity to engage in an alternate world, where the rules of life are temporarily suspended (Gamestorming). 

Facilitators have a unique opportunity to channel creativity, teamwork, and movement when leading their teams with games and play. It seems that when using games, we are simply channeling something that comes natural to us. The Olympics and the way that many of us get invested in games provides a reflection of what can happen with our teams, in our workshops, and as we facilitate! 

What Are Games? 

Dave Gray, Sunni Brown, and James Macanufo outline games as alternative worlds in their book, “Gamestorming.” 

“To enter into a game is to enter another kind of space where the rules of ordinary life are temporarily suspended and replaced with the rules of the game. In effect, a game creates an alternative world, a model world. To enter a game space, the players must agree to abide by the rules of that space, and they must enter willingly. Its not a game if people are forced to play. This agreement among the players to temporarily suspend reality creates a safe place where the players can engage in behavior that might be risky, uncomfortable, or even rude in their normal lives.”

Because games introduce rules that bring us into an alternate world, they act as a context through which social engagement can be structured. 

With this new structure in play, the normal method of engaging with coworkers, peers, or leaders can be adjusted to meet the demands and rules of the game. 

While the rules create a space to engage with the goal at hand, they also leave room for a freedom within structure. 

When we introduce these games into our facilitation practice and use them as methodologies for accomplishing business goals or learning, we also can introduce three benefits: movement, creativity, and teamwork. 

Games Introduce Movement

Games provide a method of introducing embodiment in meetings. While many of us sit at desks most of the day and use our computers to accomplish tasks, meetings provide a unique opportunity to move our bodies as we think with our minds.

Julie Baeb, a Senior Consultant at TeamWorks, relayed her beliefs on the importance of movement on our podcast. She mentions that she uses chart graphs because they force participants to still stand up. “I appreciate the need to stand up. I’ll do a ‘pick your side; coffee or tea.’ I literally get them to physically cross the room. I feel like movement is important. It helps your thinking and your creativity to move your body.”

The Olympics pose to us extreme movement, like moves named after Simone Biles. But movement doesn’t have to be as complex as a double layout with a half-twist in the second flip for it to be beneficial to our minds and teams. 

Games Elicit Creativity 

Forcing participants into an alternate world when solving problems can foster strong creativity that may not bubble to the surface ordinarily. “Playful activities introduce an element of novelty and unpredictability, forcing individuals to adapt and think on their feet.” 

Improv activities are examples of games that foster an environment primed for creativity, quick-thinking, and adaptability. 

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a wonderful example of getting imagination involved with games. It involves a facilitator guiding participants through building 3d models of their ideas. “The creative, reflective process of making something prompts the brain to work in a different

way, and can unlock new perspectives.”

Games Encourage Teamwork 

Games and play as structures for learning and engagement provide opportunities for teams to actually work together, as a team, as a unit! 

For instance, brainstorming sessions can be highly individualized by nature (every participant thinking on their own, by themselves). Gamifying or introducing a new, creative method of brainstorming that involves collaboration can make a once-isolating activity now team-oriented. “25/10 Crowdsourcing” is a great example; it forces participants to move around the room with their ideas, swapping them with other participants to vote. Laughter is often heard in a room where this activity is being used, which encourages psychological safety.

Games also can level the playing field. Traditional structures of interaction may favor higher-level employees or voices, while games force all to participate. Julie Baeb continues, “It gives voice to everybody in the room.” 

Overall, engaging in enjoyable activities boosts team morale and creates positive memories. Teams who game together have an increased sense of camaraderie!

“…serious games help organizations solve complex problems through collaborative play.” Source

Staff Picks

There are many ways to incorporate games, play, and game-like structures into meetings and workshops. At Voltage Control, we are not shy when it comes to using game-like structures when facilitating. Here are a list of some of our favorites: 

For Connection: Secret Handshake

Secret Handshake introduces a personal but silly way for participants to learn about someone else in the room. It is best used with groups of unacquainted members, especially in larger groups! 

Steps: 

  1. Have the group split into pairs.
  2. Instruct the groups that they have five minutes to create a secret handshake with their partner. They’ll begin by asking each other three questions each, such as “what are your hobbies?” and use the answers to help create the handshake. 
  3. Select 3-4 volunteer groups to share their handshakes with everyone, and invite the audience to guess what the different activities and hobbies were that inspired the handshake. 

For Collaboration: I’m a Tree

We got this one from Stoke Deck! I’m a Tree is a classic improv activity that introduces creative thinking through metaphor and movement. It fosters boldness, teamwork, and perspective-shifts in a lighthearted manner. Best used to shift perspectives, get uncomfortable, and encourage out-of-the-box thinking!

Steps: 

  1. Guide all participants to stand in a circle. 
  2. Standing in the center, explain to everyone that they will use their bodies to create a scene, with you starting as a tree. Instruct them to join as other things they might see near a tree, announcing what they are resembling as they join the scene, and that once a third person joins the center, the previous two have to return to the outer circle. Then, the process begins again with the scene built around the third person’s object of impersonation.
  3. In the center, say, “I’m a tree!” while impersonating a tree stance.
  4. As the third person enters, walk back to the outer circle, leaving room for a new scene. 
  5. Continue until all have participated.
  6. Debrief by talking through the experience with the team, asking if they had inhibitions, what they learned about teamwork, or how focused they became on the task at hand. 

For Reflection: The $100 Test

The $100 Test is a novel ranking system that engages participants in teamwork and creativity when making decisions on prioritization. Best used when structuring participatory decision-making, closing a meeting, or when needing to gauge group feedback on ideas. 

Steps: 

  1. Share the list of items in need of prioritization. 
  2. Split up participants into groups of 3-5.
  3. Explain that they have $100 to spend on the list of items and that the dollars represent importance. Prompt them to write a brief explanation for the amount. 
  4. Give the groups 30 minutes to assign their values.
  5. Collect the papers, and lead the group through the total amount assigned to each item. 
  6. Highlight the top two highest-dollar items, and discuss first steps for moving forward. 

For Idea Generation: Five Things

Five Things encourages quick, confident thinking alongside group support. It both stimulates agility and camaraderie. Best used before a session to stimulate creative thinking or as a bonding activity before or during a meeting. 

Steps: 

  1. Gather everyone into a circle
  2. Explain the game: Going around the circle, one at a time, as quickly as possible, everyone will share 5 things that fit into a particular category (for instance, 5 things you’ll find in the trunk of a car or 5 things you find on a school teacher). After each item, the group should clap and call out, “ONE!” and then “TWO!” etc. After the 5th item, the group yells, “5 THINGS!” 
  3. Announce the category, and go first to model the pace and excitement.
  4. Continue around the circle until everyone has gone.

For Strategy & Planning: Brand Takeover

We got this one from SolveNext! This activity shifts perceptions of what is and isn’t possible for your organization. Brand Takeover encourages outside-of-the-box creativity in the face of a challenge. Best used with teams that are stuck or restricted by perceived cultural expectations. 

  1. Before beginning, select the brands you want to use as “taking over” each team (one per group). Prepare a large space for each team to ideate, including a flipchart or board with each brand’s logo and a few photos that show their company culture. 
  2. Decide on an idea or problem statement of choice, and clarify it for the group. 
  3. Explain that the organization has been taken over by another brand; For example, if you pick Nike, say: “You now have the resources, culture, and assets of Nike, and can use them to solve the problem at hand.” Describe that their task is to brainstorm ideas on how people at Nike might solve the challenge. 
  4. Separate the participants into groups and direct them to their assigned brand board. Instruct them to write one idea per sticky note and place it on the space. Give them 20 minutes.
  5. Invite teams to share their 3 favorite tactics with the room, explaining the assets and culture involved in the decision. 
  6. Lead a discussion on how team members want your organization’s culture to look in the face of innovation and problem-solving. Ask them what it looks like to implement this culture now, starting with this problem. Discuss what changes need to be made in your organization that came to light during the exercise. 

The Olympic Games serve as a powerful reminder of the potential within each of us to achieve greatness through teamwork, creativity, and movement. These elements, when integrated into facilitation through games and play, can transform the way we approach challenges in our teams and workshops. Just as athletes push their boundaries to achieve the extraordinary, facilitators can inspire their teams to break free from conventional thinking, engage fully with the task at hand, and collaborate in ways that bring out the best in everyone.

Games create a unique space where the usual rules of interaction are set aside, allowing participants to explore new ideas, take risks, and connect on a deeper level. Whether it’s the structured embodiment of movement, the spark of creativity from playful activities, or the camaraderie built through shared challenges, games can unlock potential that might otherwise remain dormant.

By harnessing the power of play, facilitators not only make meetings more engaging and productive but also foster a culture of innovation and collaboration that echoes the Olympic spirit. As we cheer on athletes from around the world, let’s also channel that energy into our work, using games to elevate our teams and create lasting impact. If you’re ready to dive deeper into the art of facilitation and learn how to incorporate these techniques into your practice, our Facilitation Certification Program is here to guide you. Join us and discover how you can bring Olympic-level inspiration to your everyday work.

Facilitation Certification

Here at Voltage Control, we love encouraging creativity, teamwork, and movement with games and activities as we facilitate. Interested in learning more about how to structure activities for your teams in ways that will keep them engaged? Check out our Facilitation Certification Program, a three-month, cohort-based course designed to build your confidence and facilitation skills to lead. Our next deadline is September 13.