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Don't Touch Me!

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A GREAT ACTIVITY for distinguishing between continuous improvement and innovation/breakthrough improvement. Promotes thought and discussion on how perceptions or assumptions can limit choices.

Group Size: 10 - 100 Important: An even number of participants - whatever the group size.

Props:

An 8" spot for for 6 - 16 people; a cone for 18 to 26 people; or a hoola-hoop for larger groups.

Objective:

The objective of this activity is for everyone to touch the object in the middle and switch places with their partner as fast as possible without touching anyone. Common issues: Shifting Paradigms, Brainstorming, Continuous Improvement, Integrity, Cooperation, Coordination, Communication, Benchmarking.

Time: 30 Minutes to 1 Hour with processing

Preparation: Locate an open area large enough for a loose circle of players. Make sure you have at least six players.
Place your spot, cone, or hoop on the ground in the center of the circle of people.

Instructions:

Pick a partner from across the circle. Each person should have his own partner.

The object of this activity is for everyone to touch the spot and switch places with their partner as quickly as possible without touching anyone in the process. While you are in motion, say "Don't Touch Me!" (Like you mean it!) Until you have reached your partner's position.

I will be timing the group for the overall time it takes the group to accomplish the task. Each time someone touches someone else, one second is added to the group's overall time.

As soon as someone says "START!" and the group starts, I will begin the time and then stop the clock when everyone has reached his or her new position and someone has said "STOP!".

So, the rules are that everyone has to touch the spot, switch places with your partner while saying "DON'T TOUCH ME!" because each time someone is touched it adds a second to the group's overall time.

What questions do you have?

Facilitator Notes:

Questions from the group usually come from everyone - eventually. Answer their questions by restating the parameters of the task. "The rules are that everyone has to touch the spot, switch places with their partner while saying "Don't Touch Me!" because each time someone is touched it adds a second to the groups overall time."

Let the group try to decrease their time until they are satisfied. If their best time is fairly long (6 - 10 seconds), gently state a shorter time achieved by a previous group and see if they want to try again. A benchmark of 1.45 seconds is a good time.

A common process groups go through in getting from a 12 - 15 second process to a 1.45 second process involves a few distinct discoveries. 1) Move closer to the spot. 2) We can moved the spot. 3) Work smarter not harder. 4) You can stand next to your partner. 5) How do we define "changing places with your partner?"

There is one potential problem with this activity. It is a "eureka" problem (It has a limited number of final solutions.) If someone in your group has played it before, he or she might diminish the effect of the activity by jumping in with a final solution.

(* Don't Touch Me! is from Feeding the Zircon Gorilla, by Sam Sikes)
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* Sam Sikes, Author of Feeding the Zircon Gorilla, credits Karl Rohnke, author of Bag of Tricks publication #50, page 514 in the history of "Don't Touch Me!"

* DiSC, Everything DiSC, and EPIC are registered trademarks of Inscape Publishing, Inc. DiscUnlimited.com is a Division of Learning Unlimited Corp., an Authorized Distributor of Inscape Publishing, Inc.
	©2012 - Learning Unlimited Corporation.

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