Using games in workshops – yes, no, maybe?

Here are two very different examples of using games in workshops…

In a previous life I appeared on a short-running TV game show called ‘Keynotes.’ The aim of the game was to complete the next line of a mystery song, often played to a different tune or out of key.

It was like a dodgy, high-energy forerunner of ‘Spicks and Specks’ – just without the humour, wit, sharpness and style.

Surprisingly for me, my game show career was very short. I bombed out when I froze and couldn’t remember the lines to the theme song from ‘The Brady Bunch.’ Instead of $10,000 in prize money and a trip to Vanuatu, I ended up with a bunch of crappy CD’s and a dodgy tote bag.

When games suck in workshops

The memories of my game show career were revived years later at an international conference on facilitation. I was expecting a very subdued and purposeful group of delegates. Hmm – not so. For three days it was a rollercoaster of pandemonium!

At the conference opening I can only assume that I was one of the few people there who had not shot-gunned three cans of Red Bull. Imagine loads of loud cheering, pointing at random people and squealing “you’re awesome,” along with numerous high-fives and an occasional hug.

High energy doesn’t always mean good energy

In the first few concurrent sessions, there was an obsession with maintaining high energy throughout.

A recurring technique used was brainstorming. Normally I’m cool with this – but when it turned into a competition with a prize for the team that comes up with over 40 ideas in two minutes on the given topic, I began to question the value of the technique.

Issues for me included:

• Are we really getting the best ideas from the group?
• Is everyone getting the chance to participate – or is it just the fastest thinkers?
• Who’s missing out because their English, Mandarin, Malay, Indonesian or Japanese is not crash hot?

When games are good

To test myself I also attended a full-day conference workshop focusing on improvisation with one of the gurus, Izzy Gesell.

A common perception of improvisation is it’s all about playing games. However, unlike a game show, its methods are not designed as a competition – instead they’re designed to provide ‘instructional moments.’

For instance, one of our first activities was to work in pairs, with each pair given a piece of paper listing two unlike occupations. We then had identify the similarities between them.

My new best friend Denise and I were landed with being a make-up artist and a tour guide.

The similarities we found were that they both:

• Make things look better than they really are
• Are interpreters
• See the best in things
• See things through different eyes
• Are used on special occasions

The exercise helped to us to find areas of agreement when there initially appeared to be none.

It was a great day, with lots of energy balanced by reflection and insight on how the improvisation activities could be used.

Insights

So what did I learn from these two experiences?

• Energy and engagement can be fun – but we need to know when to press the pause button
• Understanding the purpose of activities and unpacking insights makes all the difference
• Knowing the words to the Brady Bunch theme will get you places

If you need more detailed help with session design and facilitation, get in touch or book a 20 minute planning session.