Free Team Building Activity: Bonding Belt
This free team building task will get some smiles and laughter out of your colleagues while getting them to use teamwork skills to win.
Overview
A hilarious illustration of team bonding in which teams of six are literally bonded together by a cling film waistband. They then have to race against the clock across the room with the intention of improving their time with each attempt.
You can also download a PDF version of the Bonding Belt exercise.
Key themes: Teamwork, Change, Communication, Leadership
Participants: 6 – 60
Timing: 15 – 30 minutes
Pre-Work
Assess the participants’ receptivity to fun, this exercise requires an open mind and a good sense of humour.
Equipment and Layout
A large space, with a sufficiently clear area to allow the team/s to move between two distinct points. A roll of cling film per team and a timer.
Running the Activity
- . Introduce this as a very light hearted activity in which the team/s will have an opportunity to assess and improve upon their performance
- Tell the teams that they will have to move as one unit between point A and point B in as short a time as possible
- Tell them that to ensure they stay ‘bonded’ as one unit they will be held together by a cling film belt, tightly wrapped around their waists
- Give the teams 5 minutes to discuss their strategy, advising them that at the end of this time they should be in position ready to be ‘bonded’
- When applying the cling film do so at waist height of the mid-sized participant, make the belt sufficiently tight so that it will not fall when the team starts to move. Make the belt several layers thick
- Reiterate the position of the start and finish lines and set the teams off against the clock
- Advise the teams of their times giving them a minute to catch their breath and agree their strategy for the next attempt
- Repeat several times until the teams achieve their best time
Additional notes
Be aware that participants will get very hot during this exercise, provide drinks and look out for potentially
embarrassing perspiration
Review and Conclusions
Ask each team to consider;
- How did they cope with the handicap of the belt?
- How do they feel about their level of improvement?
- How did the playfulness of the activity influence performance?
- What is the equivalent of the belt in your organisation?
- What practical steps could you take to improve your performance within the real constraints that exist in your business?
Follow-up
Exercises like My Dream Trip will help the team to bond relationally. Check out some of our other free team-building activities.
We hope you enjoy using this team building task and if you have any suggested activities for our blog do contact us.