Team Building

BLINDFOLD

In this activity, participants must rely on their partners to navigate an obstacle course successfully. This activity is designed to help improve listening skills while also building trust between participants.
  • Communication
    Team Building
  • 15-20 minutes
  • Pairs
    • A large private room
    • Enough blindfolds for half of the participants
    • Furniture and other items to use as obstacles

Source: Adapted from MindTools

What to do

  1. Scatter furniture and objects around the room before the activity begins. Your course should be challenging, but still safe to navigate.
  2. Put team members into pairs and ask them to stand together at one end of the room.
  3. One person from each pair should put on a blindfold.
  4. The sighted people must verbally guide their partners across the room by giving them instructions to help them avoid the obstacles and other people.
  5. When each team reaches the other side of the room, partners should switch roles and then repeat the exercise heading back across the room.

Debrief

(following the activity)

  • How did participants have to communicate differently to guide their partners?
  • How did their listening skills change and adapt when they were blindfolded?
  • What did it feel like to give up control and trust your partner?
  • How could you apply this learning/experience in your work?