Tower of Power
In this activity, participants collaborate to build a tower using wooden blocks and a crane. They must communicate effectively and plan together to accomplish the task while following specific rules, which fosters teamwork and coordination.
How to run it
- 1
Prepare a space of approximately 10m x 10m and set up 8 wooden blocks upright on the floor.
- 2
Provide each participant with one of the ropes connected to the crane.
- 3
Explain the task: use the crane to stack the blocks without touching them directly.
- 4
Ensure participants keep their lines under tension and only use their own ropes.
- 5
Set a timer for 20 minutes and start the exercise.
- 6
When time is up, stop the activity and lead a review discussion.
- 7
Ask participants to rate their collaboration and discuss what went well and what could improve.
Tips
Encourage participants to create a clear strategy before starting.
Observe the group dynamics and step in if they rush or drop blocks.
Remind participants to communicate throughout the task to maintain coordination.
Variations
You can challenge the team to build a more stable structure, like a three-storey house, to reduce the chance of the tower collapsing.
Where it fits
Related methods
Frequently asked questions
When should I use Tower of Power?â–¾
Use Tower of Power when you want to: team building exercise; strategy planning session; leadership training; collaboration workshop.
How long does Tower of Power take?â–¾
Tower of Power typically takes 20–60 minutes.
How many participants does Tower of Power work for?â–¾
Tower of Power works best for groups of 6–24 participants.
What materials do I need for Tower of Power?â–¾
To run Tower of Power you will need: 8 wooden blocks, ropes connected to a crane, timer.
How difficult is Tower of Power to facilitate?â–¾
Tower of Power is rated intermediate — some facilitation experience is helpful.
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from SessionLab. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.