lifeboat problem solving exercise

resources for christian youth ministry and leadership

Lost at sea - a team building game.

You have chartered a yacht with three friends, for the holiday trip of a lifetime across the Atlantic Ocean. Because none of you have any previous sailing experience, you have hired an experienced skipper and two-person crew.

Unfortunately in mid Atlantic a fierce fire breaks out in the ships galley and the skipper and crew have been lost whilst trying to fight the blaze. Much of the yacht is destroyed and is slowly sinking. Your location is unclear because vital navigational and radio equipment have been damaged in the fire. Your best estimate is that you are many hundreds of miles from the nearest landfall.

You and your friends have managed to save 15 items, undamaged and intact after the fire. In addition, you have salvaged a four man rubber life craft and a box of matches. Rank the items correctly and you will survive until rescue comes. Make too many mistakes and... Download (pdf) the complete 'Lost at Sea' team building game.

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17 Comments

Yes thanks a lot for sharing - v excited to do this w my team cheers

Posted by: steve b | 09/11/2016 at 11:53

This is a great game because it forces everyone in the team to work together. It fosters trust and friendship among the team, which will most likely be working together a majority of the time. By having games and tasks like this for teams to complete, it better helps them perform and succeed at their job.

Posted by: Stephan Bashkir | 31/03/2015 at 21:55

Had done this test a decade ago. The trainer used this game to demonstrate the concept of synergy and leadership quality. First, soled the game individually. Then formed teams and selected (by members) one leader for each team. Team collectively solved the problem. Then compared the individual scores with team score. In all cases, team score was better than average scores of team members. Also done several permutations like comparing the best individual score among team members to combined score, leader's score to combined score etc. A lot was there to learn from such games.

Posted by: Krishnakumar | 25/07/2013 at 11:35

Great resource for indoor team building.

Posted by: Toni | 07/07/2013 at 06:01

There's a couple of ideas here that I have not seen before, so I'm adding them to my repertoire asap. Thanks Grahame...

Posted by: Mark Collard - ice-breakers & team-building games expert | 25/05/2013 at 09:09

You have published a fantastic resource.

Posted by: www.gforcebc.com.au | 06/01/2013 at 07:56

This was an awesome project to do with my class mates.

Posted by: Haley | 03/01/2013 at 00:49

Hi there, I enjoy reading through your article post. I wanted to write a little comment to support you.

Posted by: work in cruise | 23/12/2012 at 08:23

It was so funny today with my team.

Posted by: Account Deleted | 06/02/2012 at 12:23

This worked very well, thank you!

Posted by: Tobin Crenshaw | 03/11/2011 at 22:39

I'm the head of the non-profit English Club in Novosibirsk State University (Russia). Your games is pretty well written and I used it in our meetings several times with success. I had known some of these games before due I participated in Intel's trainings but when I tried to find description of these games your web-site was the only one where I could get it for free. Thank you for you work.

Posted by: Kirill Lykov | 16/05/2010 at 06:21

Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to put together such a wonderful resource for us all to access. God bless you!

Posted by: Kishi | 26/11/2009 at 10:41

What a wonderful find. Have just started a youth group for tweens - this site is amazing. God Bless.

Posted by: Carol Dubery | 17/08/2009 at 12:09

only one word to describe this site - Awesome!! may God bless you for the efforts you have put in. - kenman

Posted by: kenman | 13/04/2009 at 23:02

If only I knew about this site while I was volunteering in Sunday school lol. It would have made things much less painful

Posted by: Lukewarm | 14/02/2009 at 23:27

@Lukewarm. Thanks for your comment. I write all the discussion starters, talks and reflections myself. The icebreakers and team builder ideas have been collected over 25+ years in youth ministry and come from a variety of public sources. I've just tried to put them together in a way which is helpful to youth workers. At least that's the plan :-)

Posted by: Grahame | 13/02/2009 at 23:09

This is such a great resource. Do you come up with these yourself? Because they are great.

Posted by: Lukewarm | 13/02/2009 at 21:36

The comments to this entry are closed.

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Team Building Exercises – Problem Solving and Decision Making

Fun ways to turn problems into opportunities.

Written by the Mind Tools Content Team

Whether there's a complex project looming or your team members just want to get better at dealing with day-to-day issues, your people can achieve much more when they solve problems and make decisions together.

By developing their problem-solving skills, you can improve their ability to get to the bottom of complex situations. And by refining their decision-making skills, you can help them work together maturely, use different thinking styles, and commit collectively to decisions.

In this article, we'll look at three team-building exercises that you can use to improve problem solving and decision making in a new or established team.

Exercises to Build Decision-Making and Problem-Solving Skills

Use the following exercises to help your team members solve problems and make decisions together more effectively.

Exercise 1: Lost at Sea*

In this activity, participants must pretend that they've been shipwrecked and are stranded in a lifeboat. Each team has a box of matches, and a number of items that they've salvaged from the sinking ship. Members must agree which items are most important for their survival.

Download and print our team-building exercises worksheet to help you with this exercise.

This activity builds problem-solving skills as team members analyze information, negotiate and cooperate with one another. It also encourages them to listen and to think about the way they make decisions.

What You'll Need

• Up to five people in each group.
• A large, private room.
• A "lost at sea" ranking chart for each team member. This should comprise six columns. The first simply lists each item (see below). The second is empty so that each team member can rank the items. The third is for group rankings. The fourth is for the "correct" rankings, which are revealed at the end of the exercise. And the fifth and sixth are for the team to enter the difference between their individual and correct score, and the team and correct rankings, respectively.
• The items to be ranked are: a mosquito net, a can of petrol, a water container, a shaving mirror, a sextant, emergency rations, a sea chart, a floating seat or cushion, a rope, some chocolate bars, a waterproof sheet, a fishing rod, shark repellent, a bottle of rum, and a VHF radio. These can be listed in the ranking chart or displayed on a whiteboard, or both.
• The experience can be made more fun by having some lost-at-sea props in the room.

Flexible, but normally between 25 and 40 minutes.

Instructions

• Divide participants into their teams, and provide everyone with a ranking sheet.
• Ask team members to take 10 minutes on their own to rank the items in order of importance. They should do this in the second column of their sheet.
• Give the teams a further 10 minutes to confer and decide on their group rankings. Once agreed, they should list them in the third column of their sheets.
• Ask each group to compare their individual rankings with their collective ones, and consider why any scores differ. Did anyone change their mind about their own rankings during the team discussions? How much were people influenced by the group conversation?
• Now read out the "correct" order, collated by the experts at the US Coast Guard (from most to least important): - Shaving mirror. (One of your most powerful tools, because you can use it to signal your location by reflecting the sun.) - Can of petrol. (Again, potentially vital for signaling as petrol floats on water and can be lit by your matches.) - Water container. (Essential for collecting water to restore your lost fluids.) -Emergency rations. (Valuable for basic food intake.) - Plastic sheet. (Could be used for shelter, or to collect rainwater.) -Chocolate bars. (A handy food supply.) - Fishing rod. (Potentially useful, but there is no guarantee that you're able to catch fish. Could also feasibly double as a tent pole.) - Rope. (Handy for tying equipment together, but not necessarily vital for survival.) - Floating seat or cushion. (Useful as a life preserver.) - Shark repellent. (Potentially important when in the water.) - Bottle of rum. (Could be useful as an antiseptic for treating injuries, but will only dehydrate you if you drink it.) - Radio. (Chances are that you're out of range of any signal, anyway.) - Sea chart. (Worthless without navigational equipment.) - Mosquito net. (Assuming that you've been shipwrecked in the Atlantic, where there are no mosquitoes, this is pretty much useless.) - Sextant. (Impractical without relevant tables or a chronometer.)

Advice for the Facilitator

The ideal scenario is for teams to arrive at a consensus decision where everyone's opinion is heard. However, that doesn't always happen naturally: assertive people tend to get the most attention. Less forthright team members can often feel intimidated and don't always speak up, particularly when their ideas are different from the popular view. Where discussions are one-sided, draw quieter people in so that everyone is involved, but explain why you're doing this, so that people learn from it.

You can use the Stepladder Technique when team discussion is unbalanced. Here, ask each team member to think about the problem individually and, one at a time, introduce new ideas to an appointed group leader – without knowing what ideas have already been discussed. After the first two people present their ideas, they discuss them together. Then the leader adds a third person, who presents his or her ideas before hearing the previous input. This cycle of presentation and discussion continues until the whole team has had a chance to voice their opinions.

After everyone has finished the exercise, invite your teams to evaluate the process to draw out their experiences. For example, ask them what the main differences between individual, team and official rankings were, and why. This will provoke discussion about how teams arrive at decisions, which will make people think about the skills they must use in future team scenarios, such as listening , negotiating and decision-making skills, as well as creativity skills for thinking "outside the box."

A common issue that arises in team decision making is groupthink . This can happen when a group places a desire for mutual harmony above a desire to reach the right decision, which prevents people from fully exploring alternative solutions.

If there are frequent unanimous decisions in any of your exercises, groupthink may be an issue. Suggest that teams investigate new ways to encourage members to discuss their views, or to share them anonymously.

Exercise 2: The Great Egg Drop*

In this classic (though sometimes messy!) game, teams must work together to build a container to protect an egg, which is dropped from a height. Before the egg drop, groups must deliver presentations on their solutions, how they arrived at them, and why they believe they will succeed.

This fun game develops problem-solving and decision-making skills. Team members have to choose the best course of action through negotiation and creative thinking.

• Ideally at least six people in each team.
• Raw eggs – one for each group, plus some reserves in case of accidents!
• Materials for creating the packaging, such as cardboard, tape, elastic bands, plastic bottles, plastic bags, straws, and scissors.
• Aprons to protect clothes, paper towels for cleaning up, and paper table cloths, if necessary.
• Somewhere – ideally outside – that you can drop the eggs from. (If there is nowhere appropriate, you could use a step ladder or equivalent.)
• Around 15 to 30 minutes to create the packages.
• Approximately 15 minutes to prepare a one-minute presentation.
• Enough time for the presentations and feedback (this will depend on the number of teams).
• Time to demonstrate the egg "flight."
• Put people into teams, and ask each to build a package that can protect an egg dropped from a specified height (say, two-and-a-half meters) with the provided materials.
• Each team must agree on a nominated speaker, or speakers, for their presentation.
• Once all teams have presented, they must drop their eggs, assess whether the eggs have survived intact, and discuss what they have learned.

When teams are making their decisions, the more good options they consider, the more effective their final decision is likely to be. Encourage your groups to look at the situation from different angles, so that they make the best decision possible. If people are struggling, get them to brainstorm – this is probably the most popular method of generating ideas within a team.

Ask the teams to explore how they arrived at their decisions, to get them thinking about how to improve this process in the future. You can ask them questions such as:

• Did the groups take a vote, or were members swayed by one dominant individual?
• How did the teams decide to divide up responsibilities? Was it based on people's expertise or experience?
• Did everyone do the job they volunteered for?
• Was there a person who assumed the role of "leader"?
• How did team members create and deliver the presentation, and was this an individual or group effort?

Exercise 3: Create Your Own*

In this exercise, teams must create their own, brand new, problem-solving activity.

This game encourages participants to think about the problem-solving process. It builds skills such as creativity, negotiation and decision making, as well as communication and time management. After the activity, teams should be better equipped to work together, and to think on their feet.

• Ideally four or five people in each team.
• Paper, pens and flip charts.

Around one hour.

• As the participants arrive, you announce that, rather than spending an hour on a problem-solving team-building activity, they must design an original one of their own.
• Divide participants into teams and tell them that they have to create a new problem-solving team-building activity that will work well in their organization. The activity must not be one that they have already participated in or heard of.
• After an hour, each team must present their new activity to everyone else, and outline its key benefits.

There are four basic steps in problem solving : defining the problem, generating solutions, evaluating and selecting solutions, and implementing solutions. Help your team to think creatively at each stage by getting them to consider a wide range of options. If ideas run dry, introduce an alternative brainstorming technique, such as brainwriting . This allows your people to develop one others' ideas, while everyone has an equal chance to contribute.

After the presentations, encourage teams to discuss the different decision-making processes they followed. You might ask them how they communicated and managed their time . Another question could be about how they kept their discussion focused. And to round up, you might ask them whether they would have changed their approach after hearing the other teams' presentations.

Successful decision making and problem solving are at the heart of all effective teams. While teams are ultimately led by their managers, the most effective ones foster these skills at all levels.

The exercises in this article show how you can encourage teams to develop their creative thinking, leadership , and communication skills , while building group cooperation and consensus.

* Original source unknown. Please let us know if you know the original source.

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20 Teamwork Games to Boost Collaboration

By: Michael Alexis | Updated: July 05, 2024

You found our list of teamwork games.

Teamwork games are activities that foster collaboration and trust within a group. For example, building balloon towers or surviving hypothetical scenarios on a lifeboat. The purpose of these games is to enhance team skills such as cooperation, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. These games are also known as “collaboration games” and “communication games.”

These teamwork games are similar to team building exercises , corporate team building activities , and 30-minute team building activities .

This list includes:

• collaboration games
• communication games
• cooperative games
• fun team exercises
• games for improving teamwork
• group bonding games

Let’s get started!

List of teamwork games

From Lifeboat Survival to Blanket Name Game, here is a list of the top games to improve collaboration at work.

1. Lifeboat Survival

Lifeboat Survival puts your problem-solving skills to the test in a high-pressure scenario.

Here is how to play the game:

• Tell teams to imagine they are stranded on a lifeboat.
• Give them a list of limited supplies, such as food, water, blankets, and first-aid kits.
• Set specific obstacles teams need to overcome. Examples include rationing resources, navigating, avoiding weather, or encountering wildlife.
• Optionally, set a timer.
• Have teams create a survival plan for each challenge.

This game enhances decision-making skills under pressure. Further, teams will learn to work together in high-stress scenarios.

2. Balloon Tower Construction

Balloon Tower Construction is a fantastic teamwork game. Teams will learn collaboration and problem-solving skills.

Here is how to play this game:

• Divide teams into small groups.
• Give teams inflated balloons and tape.
• Set a five-minute timer.
• Teams compete to build the tallest tower possible using balloons and tape.
• Whoever builds the tallest tower wins!

Participants will learn to brainstorm creative ideas and improve communication skills. Plus, this activity fosters a positive team dynamic.

Get our free team building toolbox

• icebreaker games
• bingo cards

3. Tangled Web

In the game Tangled Web, participants work together to untangle a human knot.

• Participants gather in a circle.
• Each individual grabs two other hands.
• Without letting go, teams must unravel the knot.
• To make this game more challenging, you can set a timer.

This game has no winner, but it does encourage teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. In addition, teams will learn to work together toward a common goal.

This activity is similar to the human knot .

4. Bridge Build

Bridge Build is one of the top cooperative games that improves problem-solving skills. The objective of this game is to construct a sturdy bridge using limited resources.

• Split players into teams.
• Give groups building materials, such as cardboard, twine, and glue.
• Set a timer for ten to 15 minutes.
• Teams must work together to build a sturdy bridge.
• Judges can test the construction by placing a small object on the bridge.
• Whichever bridge remains standing wins!

If multiple bridges stand up during the object test, then you can test the bridges with heavier items until they fall over.  By working in teams, players learn the importance of effective communication and creative problem-solving.

Here are more problem-solving games .

5. Minefield

Minefield is one of the best communication games. This exercise teaches players to overcome obstacles and achieve a common goal. The game’s objective is for the team to complete a maze without touching the mines.

• Set up an obstacle course.
• Place “mines” along it, represented by traffic cones.
• Split players into pairs.
• Blindfold one player.
• The non-blindfolded player has to lead their colleague through the maze using verbal instructions.
• If the blindfolded player touches the cones, then the pair must start over.
• Whichever team gets through the course in the fastest amount of time wins!

To complete this challenge, team members must communicate effectively and strategize.

This game promotes essential teamwork skills such as communication, trust, and collaboration. By relying on verbal instructions and active listening, teammates learn to trust each other’s guidance.

6. GPS-Based Treasure Hunt

GPS-Based Treasure Hunt is among the best games for improving teamwork. This activity involves using GPS to find hidden treasures or clues.

• Before the game, create a set of clues that lead to a final location.
• Place a treasure at the final destination.
• Give teams the starting clue. Clues should require folks to use their GPS.
• Each new location should include a clue leading to the next one.
• The team that reaches the treasure first wins!

To make this game more challenging, clues can be in the form of riddles, puzzles, or math problems.  Participants need to coordinate, share information, and strategize to solve the challenges. This process helps build trust among team members and fosters stronger bonds.

7. Board Game Design

Designing a board game together is a great way to promote teamwork. Participants need to work together to brainstorm ideas, design rules, and develop strategies.

Here is how to do this activity:

• Split large groups into small teams.
• Teams will brainstorm board game ideas.
• Participants will design boards, make pieces, and write rules.
• Bring the group back together.
• Take turns playing each new game.

This process allows teams to use their collective creativity. Plus, in the end, your team will have several new games to add to their board game nights!

Here is a list of the best team building board games .

8. Card Tower Construction

If you are looking for a teamwork game that improves teamwork, then check out Card Tower Construction!

• Divide your team into small groups.
• Give each group a deck of playing cards.
• Teams must build a tower only using the cards.
• Whichever team has the tallest tower when time runs out wins!

Teams must carefully plan and coordinate in order to create tall structures. Additionally, card towers may fall over. In that case, players must be able to pivot and approach the issue from a new angle. Ultimately, building card towers is a simple activity that develops many teamwork skills.

9. Reverse Engineering Challenge

The Reverse Engineering Challenge is among the top collaboration games for improving teamwork.

Here is how to run this activity:

• Split participants into small groups.
• Give teams a finished product.
• Participants must analyze the product. Then, teams will create a plan on how they would recreate the item.
• Groups can present their solutions to their fellow colleagues.
• Whichever team gets closest to the correct answer wins!

You can adjust the difficulty of this challenge based on what product you give the team. Items could be as simple as a paper plane or as complex as a radio. You can also base the item on your industry.

During this challenge, teams will need to use their innovation and creative problem-solving skills. Also, participants will work together to come up with a solution they can agree on.

10. Spider Web

Spider Web promotes collaboration and problem-solving skills among team members.

• Set up a spider web using ropes or strings. Tie these items to trees or poles at various heights and angles.
• Split players into groups.
• Give groups 20 points each before the game.
• One at a time, send players through the web.
• Every time a participant touches a string, they lose a point.
• The team with the most points left in the end wins!

Once a player successfully gets through the web, they can share routes or tips with their colleagues. Additionally, teams can share words of encouragement with one another.

11. Cultural Exchange Game

The Cultural Exchange Game is one of the top group bonding games for promoting diversity and teamwork.

• Have participants bring in items that represent their culture. Examples include clothes, artifacts, or food.
• Without players in the room, set out each item.
• Let participants look at the items.
• Folks can guess which culture the item belongs to and who brought it in.
• Whoever gets the most correct answers wins!

After the game, have participants explain the significance behind their objects. This activity enhances cultural awareness. Additionally, playing this game creates a sense of appreciation for different backgrounds within the team.

Here are more diversity and inclusion activities .

12. Team Jigsaw

Team Jigsaw is a fantastic teamwork game. This exercise promotes collaboration and problem-solving skills.

• Divide the team into small groups.
• Give each group a different part of the same jigsaw puzzle.
• Folks must work together to complete the picture.

To make this game more challenging, you can set a timer. Alternatively, teams can try to solve more than one puzzle at a time.

Check out more team puzzle games .

13. Blanket Name Game

The Blanket Name Game is a fantastic teamwork activity that promotes collaboration and communication within a group.

• Spread out a large blanket.
• Participants sit in a circle around the blanket.
• One player stands in the middle of the circle.
• One sitting player says their own name and the name of a player across from them.
• Both named players switch places while avoiding being tagged by the standing player.
• If a participant gets tagged, then they must stand in the middle of the circle.

This game improves teamwork skills by requiring participants to actively listen and remember names. Additionally, avoiding the tagger in the center encourages camaraderie. This icebreaker is a great way to build bonds.

14. Silent Team Building

Learning to work together, even in silence, is a great skill for teams to learn. During Silent Team Building, folks will collaborate on a shared goal without talking.

• Divide the group into pairs.
• Give each pair a task or challenge. For instance, building a structure or finishing a puzzle.
• Teams must complete their tasks without talking.
• If members talk, then they are out of the game.
• Whichever team can finish their task first wins!

Working together without speaking requires team members to learn to communicate creatively. Folks can use gestures or body language to complete tasks.

15. Parallel Thinking

In this game, teams can use the concept of Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats to solve problems. The six thinking hats each represent a different perspective. Examples include facts and information, emotions and feelings, and critical judgment.

• Explain the concept of de Bono’s thinking hats to the team.
• Share a problem the team needs to solve together.
• Give each member a different “hat” to think with.
• Players share thoughts based on which hat they have.
• Groups work together to come up with a solution.

After finding a mutual solution to the problem, teams can discuss the insights learned from each point of view. You can play Parallel Thinking several times and assign different hats during each round. This game is a great way to learn about different modes of thinking.

16. Crossword Puzzle Relay

Doing a crossword puzzle together is a great way for teams to connect. This process encourages quick thinking and collaboration.

• Create crossword puzzles related to company values, goals, or terms.
• Split teams into small groups.
• Give each group a different part of the puzzle.
• Players solve their portion of the puzzle before passing it on to the next team.

Once folks complete the puzzle, they can review all the answers to ensure they got them right. To make this game more challenging, you can set a time limit for each round or the entire race.

17. Collaborative Drawing Challenge

During the Collaborative Drawing Challenge, folks will work together to make art.

• Give teams art supplies, such as paper, markers, and crayons.
• Hand out supplies to each participant.
• Assign a drawing task, such as making a team mascot.
• Set a short timer.
• Have participants start drawing.
• When the timer goes off, players pass their drawings to the right.
• Repeat the process until teams finish each drawing.

This activity is a lighthearted way to see each team member’s thought processes. Additionally, this creative activity is a nice way to unwind.

Here are more online drawing games .

18. Human Chess

Human Chess is a fun spin on the classic game. Folks familiar with Wizard Chess from Harry Potter might recognize this game, but this version does not include swords!

• Set up a life-sized chess board on the floor.
• Assign team members to become different pieces.
• Split the remaining players into two teams.
• Competitors will take turns making chess moves.
• Whichever team takes out their opponents’ king first wins!

To make this game more interesting, you could allow the human pieces to ignore instructions. This rule could test players’ abilities to follow instructions and work with their colleagues.

19. Office Supply Jam

Music is a great way to bring folks together, and you can add music to your team building list with Office Supply Jam.

• Gather office supplies, such as rubber bands, staplers, and shredders.
• Each team member can pick an office supply.
• Folks will work together to create a short song using the supplies as instruments.
• After discussing, players will perform their songs with their instruments!

This activity is a great way to learn to coordinate with others. After the performance, players can talk about their collaboration process.

20. Paper Bag Challenge

The Paper Bag Challenge puts a fun twist on classic improv games! When looking for fun team exercises, consider this challenge.

• Before the game, fill paper bags with items from around the office.
• Split the group into teams.
• Each team member will reach into the bag and grab an item.
• Team members will work together to create a skit based on their objects.
• Once folks plan their skits, they will perform them for the whole group.

Optionally, you can give out awards or prizes for the best performances. This activity combines improv with teamwork to boost collaboration skills.

Final Thoughts

Teamwork games offer an effective tool for enhancing employee cooperation. These activities can help the team bond and have fun at the same time. Many of these games work great in person or online. This flexibility makes the whole learning experience easy and inclusive.

Next, check out our posts on 15-minute team building activities , team building for large groups , and online team building exercises .

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FAQ: Teamwork games

Here are frequently asked questions about teamwork games.

What is the purpose of teamwork games?

The purpose of teamwork games is to improve communication skills among employees. Boosting these skills also improves conflict resolution. Colleagues will better understand teammates’ perspectives and foster a cooperative culture.

How can teamwork games improve performance?

Teamwork games enhance performance by breaking down barriers between individuals. This process leads to a better understanding of strengths and weaknesses. Leaders can use this information when assigning tasks, which can make teams more efficient.

What are some benefits of teamwork games?

Some benefits include improved morale due and increased camaraderie. Plus, these games encourage new team members to connect with their teams.

Can teamwork games be used for remote teams?

Yes, teamwork can be beneficial for remote teams as well. For instance, some games promote effective online communication skills.

Are there any virtual teamwork games?

Many of the games on this list would work well online, including parallel thinking or the reverse engineering challenge.

Author: Michael Alexis

CEO at teambuilding.com. I write about my experience working with and leading remote teams since 2010.

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CEO at teambuilding.com.

I write about my experience working with and leading remote teams since 2010.

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