Facilitation Game – Conquering Heights

A Facilitation Game For The Mountain Bridge Challenge

Objective of the Game

The Mountain Bridge Challenge is a facilitation game designed to help teams identify obstacles and leverage resources as they work toward a collective goal. By envisioning their progress as a journey across several mountains, participants define specific challenges on each peak. They then identify the resources that can help bridge gaps between these challenges and lead to the final flag of success. This game is structured to enhance team alignment, resource allocation, and strategic problem-solving skills.

When to Use This Game Play

Use the Mountain Bridge Challenge:

• When tackling complex projects with multiple hurdles.
• For strategic planning sessions where team members need to assess risks, resources, and pathways to success.
• During retrospectives to reflect on past challenges and prepare for future milestones.
• When team members must collectively plan, identify resources, and agree on strategies to overcome obstacles.

This game is highly effective for any goal-driven session where resource alignment and hurdle anticipation are key to success.

Game Setup

Materials Needed:

1. Mountain Bridge Challenge Template (with illustrated mountains labeled “Challenges,” a tower on one side, a flag on the other, and a rope connecting both ends with spots labeled for “Resources”).
2. Post-its (for listing challenges and resources).
3. Timer (for pacing each game phase).
4. Dot stickers (for voting).
5. Dice (for task assignment and random selections).
6. Markers
7. Flipchart or board (for summary notes).

This game is even more engaging with our facilitation charts, available for purchase at Visual Thinking School Charts.

Game Phases

1. Scaling the Peaks (Challenge Identification Phase)

Objective: Identify and label each mountain with a unique challenge that the team expects to face.

Game Mechanics:

• Hand out post-its to participants, asking each to write down one or two potential challenges they foresee in the project or task.
• Each participant shares their ideas, then places their post-its on a designated mountain on the template, ensuring each mountain has a specific challenge label.
• Set a timer for 10 minutes to keep this phase focused and efficient.

This step allows the team to collectively map out and align on what the primary challenges are as they journey toward the goal.

2. Crossing the Bridge (Resource Allocation Phase)

Objective: Identify resources available for overcoming each challenge and list them along the rope connecting the tower to the flag.

Game Mechanics:

• Ask participants to brainstorm resources they believe are necessary or available to address each challenge. These resources might include skills, tools, external support, or knowledge bases.
• Using post-its, each person writes down one resource per post-it and places it along the rope on the Mountain Bridge template.
• Participants can roll a dice to take turns in sharing and placing resources, adding an element of anticipation to this step.

To dive deeper into the role of resource management in achieving team goals, see this effective resource management.

3. Rope Tightening (Prioritization Phase)

Objective: Prioritize the resources that are crucial for success by voting with dot stickers.

Game Mechanics:

• Each participant is given three dot stickers to vote on the resources they believe will be the most critical.
• The timer is set for 5 minutes to encourage participants to vote quickly and thoughtfully.
• Resources with the most dots are highlighted as priority resources and will be discussed further in the action planning phase.

This phase visually demonstrates the team’s consensus, highlighting where to focus attention to reach the goal effectively.

4. Action Planning (Execution Phase)

Objective: Develop action steps for utilizing the prioritized resources to overcome the identified challenges.

Game Mechanics:

• Each priority resource is reviewed, with participants collaboratively discussing how to deploy it against specific challenges.
• Assign owners and deadlines for tasks that utilize each resource, documenting them on a flipchart or board to ensure follow-through.
• Roll the dice to select who will take responsibility for each action item, adding a touch of gamified randomness to the assignments.

Encourage participants to consider how each resource can directly counteract the challenges and move the team closer to the goal.

Wrap-Up and Reflection

In a reflection round, ask participants to share insights they gained from the game and any unexpected observations. This debrief reinforces the importance of proactive resource planning and collective problem-solving.

The Mountain Bridge Challenge is a highly visual and interactive facilitation game that brings focus to overcoming obstacles while maximizing team resources. By connecting challenges to resources across a metaphorical bridge, participants build a clear, shared understanding of the path ahead. For more structured facilitation tools and techniques, consider our Visual Facilitation Certification Course at Visual Thinking School Courses. And if you’re ready to add this visual facilitation chart to your toolkit, you can get it at Visual Thinking School Charts.

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Piyuesh is the founder of Visual Thinking School, Netherlands. He is passionate about empowering organizations and classrooms with Visual Thinking Skills. He conducts trainings onBusiness Sketchnotes™ , Classroom Sketchnotes™, Visual Business Storytelling™, Graphic Facilitation™

In his free time, piyuesh likes practicing Aerial Yoga, Acro yoga, Krav Maga and Pole workouts.

He can be reached out at his Instagram and Linkedin