Design Thinking: Warm-Up Games

WARM-UP GAMES
Creating Positive Group Atmosphere
© Operational Excellence Consulting. All rights reserved.

© Operational Excellence Consulting
CONTENTS
2
CLAPPING
GAME
01
WALK & STOP
GAME
02
NUMBERS
GAME
03
COMMUNICATION
GAME
03

● In sports, warm-ups are used to
heighten the performance of
muscles; for musicians, warming
up means preparing the voice for
singing
● In design thinking, we use warm-
ups not only at the beginning of the
workshop, but also after a break or
when we realize that the group is
no longer working efficiently
WARM-UPS
● This can take place in any phase
of the collaboration and have
different goals
● Warm-ups can stimulate creativity,
boost group dynamics, bring about
relaxation, or be used as an
icebreaker to get to know one
another
3

WARM-UPS
4
● Warm-ups promote collaboration
and strengthen a curious attitude
● Well-chosen warm-ups thus
support the design thinking
process, serves as an energizer,
and improve problem-solving
● If you can, go for warm-ups with a
physical, spatial, and mental
component, and with a fun factor
● If people are concentrated, moving
and laughing, it’s going to be a
good warm-up

WHY DO WE DO WARM-UP?
5
Give workshop
participants the
chance to get to
know one another
Create a positive
group atmosphere
Reduce pressure to
succeed
Remove social
barriers
Distract the group a
little bit so
concentration is
improved afterwards
Activate and release
positive energy
Have fun and share
a laugh
Prepare the team for
a certain mindset or
way of working

CLAPPING GAME
01 :
6

CLAPPING GAME
● Purpose: To generate a positive
mood
● Learning objective: Handling
mistakes
© Operational Excellence Consulting. All rights reserved. 7
7

● Group size >/= 2
● Typical duration: 5 mins
● Materials needed: No materials
are necessary
FACILITATION NOTES
● Variations: In order to put stronger
emphasis on the acceptance of
mistakes, a reflection of one’s own
mistakes and the mistakes of other
players can be integrated. A cheer
every wrong clap, or count
intensifies the feeling.
8

STEP 1 – CHOOSE A PARTNER
9
● Each participant chooses a partner

STEP 3 – REPLACE NUMBER “TWO” WITH A CLAP
10
● In order to increase complexity
somewhat, the number “two” is
replaced by a clap
● Then you get a number-clap rhythm
One, clap,
three!

WALK & STOP GAME
02:

WALK & STOP GAME
● Purpose:
o To break through or overcome
social obstacles, heighten
concentration, and have fun
o To energize the group
● Learning objective: Handling mistakes
WALK STOP

● Everybody is moving freely in the room
● By calling “stop” or “walk,” the
facilitator gives instructions to stand still
or keep walking
● In order to heighten concentration, the
meaning of the terms is switched: You
keep walking at “stop” and stand still at
“walk”
● In the next step, two more actions are
added: “name” (stating one’s name)
and “clap” (clapping your hands)
INSTRUCTIONS
● The meaning of these two terms is also
switched
● “Jump” and “dance” are added as to
more commands
● And again the meaning of these terms is
swapped
● Increase complexity by changing the
order of “stop,” “walk,” “name,”
“clap,”…
● If everything is done right, “name,
name, name” triggers a round of
applause at the end
13

WALK, STOP, NAME, CLAP, JUMP, DANCE…
14
Image Credit: Humor That Works

NUMBERS GAME
03:

NUMBERS GAME
● Purpose:
o Icebreaker/Getting to know one
another
o Prevent afternoon doldrums
● Learning objective: Working as a
team
16

FACILITATION NOTES
17
● Group size: Multiples of 10 (e.g. if
you have 20 participants, form 2
teams of 10 each)
● Typical duration: 5 mins
● Materials needed:
o Print numbers 0 to 9 on each
piece of paper (A4 or letter
size)
o Laminate them if needed
● Form teams of 10 people each
● Each team will get their full set of
numbers from 0 to 9
● Make some space between each
team so that you can distinguish
the groups
● Each person will hold a number 0
through 9 so that all ten numbers
are visible for the team

WATCH WHICH TEAM ARRANGES THE NUMBER YOU CALL OUT FIRST
18
Image Credit: Elevate Experiences

COMMUNICATION GAME
04:
19

COMMUNICATION GAME
● Purpose: To generate a positive
mood
● Learning objective: Understand
how information is passed from one
to another
20

CONSTRUCT THE MESSAGE CONSISTING OF FOUR ACTIONS
21
Action 1: Bend your knees
slightly and flap both arms
Action 2: Lift an imaginary
bag with your right hand
Action 3: Lift an imaginary
bag with your left hand
Action 4: Twinkle twinkle
little stars with both hands
above your shoulders
Image Credit: Asgar Hussain

SEND THE MESSAGE STARTING WITH THE LAST PERSON
22
Image Credit: Asgar Hussain
Send the message starting with the last
participant.
The last participant taps the next participant in
front of him to turn around and relay the
message he received.

Operational Excellence Consulting is a management
training and consulting firm that assists organizations in
improving business performance and effectiveness.
Based in Singapore, the firm’s mission is to create
business value for organizations through innovative
design and operational excellence management training
and consulting solutions. For more information, please
visit www.oeconsulting.com.sg
ABOUT OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE CONSULTING

Design Thinking: Warm-Up Games

Recommandé

Recommandé

Contenu connexe

Tendances

Tendances (20)

Similaire à Design Thinking: Warm-Up Games

Similaire à Design Thinking: Warm-Up Games (9)

Plus de Operational Excellence Consulting

Plus de Operational Excellence Consulting (20)

Dernier

Dernier (20)

Design Thinking: Warm-Up Games