Teambuilding

One of the major goals of the retreat was to create Community Outreach Groups, two- or three-person teams who will brainstorm, initiate, and coordinate relationships with other organizations.

This is a hard task. Cold calling is hard. Networking is hard. Giving presentations is hard. While better organizational skills and a better understanding of homeless issues will help, I figured we needed every resource at our disposal.

Another key ingredient: trust.

Trust between people is powerful. Speaking apprehension research finds that it is rare to have a person who is always nervous about public address. Also, few people are never nervous about speaking. Rather, there are particular situations that cause anxiety. While some speaking coaches try to address the trait of speaking anxiety, another angle is to try to alter situations to control anxiety.

So, for instance, many people would be uncomfortable going out to ask for money on their own, but if you send them in a small group, things get easier. Send them out in a small group of people they deeply trust, and things get even better.

In my experience, the best way to foster trust is through activities and games. Not sure what it is, really. Maybe it's because people like to win games and creating scenarios where they have to work together to succeed invites them to take "trust risks." Maybe it is because games and activities reveal personality, and we trust more because we understand better. Or maybe it's the bodily component. Games facilitate positive physical touch, which often leads to mutual liking, increased disclosure, and more trust.

Also, games are micro-myths. Consider. You are sitting there ordinarily, when suddenly you are called into an adventure (purpose of the game). There are obstacles (created by restrictive rules), but you are also granted special powers (created by enabling rules). While using your special powers, you often fail to overcome the obstacles until you gain revelation (figure out a strategy). Through revelation, you transform into a hero (because you figured it out), save the world (win the game), and return to the ordinary world (the world before the game). It is almost as though it never happened, but you are forever transformed and continue to carry your special knowledge. (For a lot more about heroes and the structure of their adventures consider reading Campbell's Hero With a Thousand Faces: classic.)

When the narrative of the game gets enacted, it becomes a living story, a literal chronotope, an embodiment of meaning through time and space.

As we move, we entangle the tale in sinew, draw it out of its diembodied rules, and craft it into the present.

Whatever the reason, it works. Get a group together, play some games, do a few activities, and after a day and a half, they start trusting each other. It isn't a given, as participants set on not getting along won't. I've seen leaders mess it up, too. But generally, it works.

If you are looking for games, here's a solid resource. I cut my teeth running Snowball retreats back in high school. My "go to" activities/games include: the Human Knot, Elbow Tag, and the Slap Game.