Team-building games that foster creative thinking skills and creative connections are a great way to spur innovation and collaboration.
The “make the connection between two things” game pushes teams to find links between seemingly unrelated concepts, strengthening out-of-the-box thinking.
Background on Training Games for Teams
Training games apply game elements like scoring, competition, and rewards to teach skills and behaviors. They make learning interactive and engaging.
For teams, games build trust, communication, creative thinking in the workplace, and problem-solving skills.
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Popular examples are scavenger hunts, improv exercises, concept maps, digital games, and design challenges. Well-designed games combine learning new capabilities with fun social interactions.
Rationale for the “Make the Connection Between Two Things” Game
This game flexes creative thinking muscles in a social team setting.
By identifying connections between random concepts, teams practice lateral thinking and metaphorical association. We hear this from customers that have ordered our full set of courses.
This builds the ability to innovate solutions and see situations from new angles.
The unpredictable interactions stretch teams beyond normal thought patterns.
Finding similarities between disparate ideas also fosters listening, communication, and finding common ground.
Exercise: How creative are you?
Features and Benefits of the Game
Features:
- Pairs random concepts
- Encourages “out of the box” thinking
- Short, interactive rounds
- Works for all team sizes and environments
- Requires no special materials
Benefits:
- Boosts creativity and innovation thinking
- Builds critical thinking and problem solving
- Develops communication and listening
- Promotes finding similarities and connections
- Energizes and engages teams
Step-by-Step Instructions
Set Up
- Gather team members together. For large teams, break into smaller groups.
- Explain the goal is to identify connections between two random concepts.
- Establish ground rules like listening generously and no judgment of ideas.
- Designate someone to facilitate if needed.
Game Play
- The facilitator or a volunteer provides two random concepts, like “pineapple” and “airplane.”
- Going around the circle, each person shares how the two concepts could be related or connected. There are no wrong answers.
- Examples for pineapple/airplane: Both have prickly exteriors. Pineapples are flown on airplanes for export. Airplanes serve pineapple juice.
- After everyone shares an idea, the facilitator introduces two new concepts.
- Continue rounds until time runs out.
Wrap Up
- At the end, debrief insights, observations, and reactions as a group.
- Discuss what connections stood out as clever or creative.
- Talk about what new perspectives were gained about collaborating.
Resources Needed
- A meeting room or video call platform
- 10-30 minutes of meeting time
- A facilitator or volunteer to introduce concept pairs
- Engaged team members
30 Examples of Concept Pairs
- Skyscraper / Pancake
- Telephone / Alligator
- Flower / Robot
- Race car / Turtle
- Cloud / Cell phone
- Ice cream / Rocket
- Light bulb / Penguin
- Television / Donut
- Tree / Skyscraper
- Computer / Yo-yo
- Marshmallow / Monster truck
- Basketball / Peanut butter
- Paper clip / Elephant
- Scissors / Rainbow
- Watch / Tomato
- Crayon / Pillow
- Keyboard / Seashell
- Headphones / Butterfly
- Camera / Banana
- Paint brush / Football
- Kite / Ice cube
- Spoon / Moon
- Sock / Police car
- Chair / Starfish
- Clock / Snake
- Flashlight / Pizza
- Balloon / Submarine
- Stapler / Birdhouse
- Paper airplane / Fish
- Glue stick / Guitar
With 30+ years of training experience, I founded Oak Innovation (oakinnovation.com) in 1995. I help busy training professionals and business managers deliver better training courses in less time by giving them instant access to editable training course material. I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from University College Cork. I hold qualifications in Professional Development And Training from University College Galway. Clients include Apple, Time Warner, and Harvard University.
