At first glance adding a theme to a team development oriented approach may seem trite, but there is often a method to the madness.
A business message can be lost if delivered through the normal mediums of ‘death by Powerpoint’ and / or the dreaded lectern or TED talk style.
Most seasoned audiences get a bit jaded with conventional means of delivery.
We are often engaged by clients to make use of clever themed games and experiential learning approaches that use a theme and hands-on approach as a ‘Trojan Horse’ for such messages.
Over and above the messaging, team and leadership development outcomes can be gained from a well delivered approach.
Games and problem-solving tasks with simplistic narratives (e.g. get across the swamp, rescue the box etc) can get the job done on some occasions, but to engage audiences with clever themes can often do it better.
Sabre will often write and develop games that address key behavioural and business outcomes within carefully selected themes.
The occasional use of costumes in tandem with these themes can also serve to break down inhibitions, aid in the story telling process and help people to express themselves openly and in different ways.
For example:
When in Rome – This business game uses the theme of 1st Century Rome to explore seizing and consolidating opportunities, as well as general team role and leadership issues.
Battlespace – A military themed game that addresses dealing with complexity, and makes meaningful links between military approaches to planning, decision-making and competition to business. It also powerfully illustrates cross-functional collaboration and communication.
Diamonds R4 Ever – Using the fashion industry as the theme, this game addresses customer needs and the power of information to help anticipate demand and market trends. The game is also useful for accelerated networking.
We also have a broad range of other team building themes and approaches that can position a quality team experience within a fun and engaging thematic framework.
The key is understanding what a client wishes to achieve and then tailoring approaches that will help make the required points, draw out key learnings or link to specific behavioural outcomes.