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BLIND, DUMB AND LAME

Team Building
Medium
30 min / 45 min
9 / 30

Method author: contact@nfemethods.eu

Goal:

The goal of this method is to foster teamwork and communication skills as participants work together to find and collect items placed on the floor. This activity encourages participants to rely on each other’s strengths and enhances their ability to communicate effectively under constraints.

Description:

"Blind, Dumb, and Lame" is an interactive team-building exercise where each participant in a group of three takes on a specific role with unique limitations. The "blind" participant must find and collect items from the floor based on the instructions provided by the "lame" participant, who can only receive directions from the "dumb" participant through gestures. This activity promotes trust, coordination, and clear communication.


Required materials
Additional:

Instruction
Step 1:

Divide the participants into groups of 3. Each group will have three roles: one participant will be "blind," another will be "dumb," and the third will be "lame."

Step 2:

Distribute the materials. Provide a blindfold to the "blind" participant and a chair for the "lame" participant to sit on. The "lame" participant sits on the chair with their back to the "blind" participant. The "dumb" participant stands facing the "lame" participant and can see both the "blind" and the "lame."

Step 3:

Explain the roles and rules:

• The "blind" participant is blindfolded and must collect items from the floor. They can talk but cannot see.

• The "dumb" participant can see both the "blind" and the "lame" participants but cannot speak. They can only use gestures to communicate.

• The "lame" participant can see the "dumb" participant and speak to the "blind" participant but cannot turn around to see the "blind."

Step 4:

Without the "blind" participants seeing, the facilitator places the items to be collected on the ground within each team's designated area. Ensure each team has the same number of items placed at equal distances.

Step 5:

On the facilitator's signal, the activity begins. The "dumb" participant uses gestures to show the "lame" participant where the items are located. The "lame" participant then verbally instructs the "blind" participant on where to go and how to find the items.

Step 6:

The "blind" participant listens to the instructions from the "lame" participant and tries to find and collect the items on the floor.

Step 7:

The facilitator carefully observes the teams to ensure safety and fair play. Remind participants that teams are not allowed to pick up items from other teams' areas, and ensure the path is clear of obstacles to prevent injuries.

Step 8:

Once all the items are collected, or the time is up, the facilitator stops the activity.

Step 9:

The roles within each group are then rotated so that each participant has the opportunity to experience being "blind," "dumb," and "lame." Repeat the activity to allow everyone to try each role.

Step 10:

Facilitate a debriefing session to discuss the experience, focusing on teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.


Additional tips:

• Ensure the play area is safe and free of obstacles that could cause injury

• Encourage participants to use creative problem-solving and effective communication techniques

• Observe the group dynamics and provide guidance or hints if necessary to help them overcome communication barriers

• Rotate roles efficiently to ensure everyone gets an equal opportunity to participate


Debriefing question
What strategies did your team use to communicate effectively despite the constraints?
How did it feel to rely on your teammates for guidance and support?
What were the most challenging aspects of the activity, and how did you overcome them?
How did participating in this activity help build trust and camaraderie within your team?
What did this activity teach you about teamwork and communication?

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