Minefield

A great game to start a conversation around communication on the telephone. As you'll know, talking on the phone requires intense clarity, pace, clear words, no weasel language and easy to understand.  In addition call handlers need to summarise regularly to ensure understanding.

This game practises these and helps the group discuss communication afterwards

 Equipment you will need

• Some tape for the floor
• Some mines - anything will do - books, tape, football training cones
• Blindfolds (cleaned each time)

Objective

Each pair of delegates needs to successfully navigate the minefield by communicating with each other in a clear and concise manner

Trainer Instructions

• Set up your minefield indoors or outdoors, with enough space to manoeuvre around and explain the rules to the group.
• The rules are for the blindfolded delegate to successfully cross the minefield without being blown apart.  The winning team is the one with the quickest time.  You might add time if they hit a minefield
• Split the group into pairs - one blinded with blindfold and the other one should communicate.
• Set off a pair and ask the sighted person to guide the blind colleague through the minefield.
• Set of another pair, ensuring you keep and eye on time.
• Add points where necessary

Variations

• Create a race atmosphere, get the teams to start at the same time
• Silence the blind member and probe afterwards how difficult this made communicating on the phone.
• Add extra mines whilst the race is on
• Play this outdoors in a car park or indoors in your training room

Debrief

• Ask how they got on - let them spill out feelings
• Ask what kind of communication worked well and what kind didn't
• Ask how this relates to the workplace on the telephone with customers.