The Tennis Ball Exercise

Communication, Team Building, Productivity

The day student teams are formed, this tennis ball tossing exercise is used to help them understand how to communicate effectively in teams and facilitate team building. The exercise’s initial stage, of three, has few instructions about how to toss the ball. Participants enjoy this stage, however effectiveness and productivity are limited. More specific instructions are given in the two subsequent stages. Productivity increases, while fun decreases. Debriefing focuses on how throwing a tennis ball is analogous to communicating and how communication can improve team building. Discussion then focuses on how design tasks so they are both productive and enjoyable.

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