Boost Team Communication with Back-to-Back Drawing!

What is Back to Back Drawing?

Have you ever heard of the Back to Back Drawing icebreaker activity? If you're looking for a fun and creative way to break the ice with a group of people, this could be just the thing you need! The idea behind this activity is to encourage teamwork and communication, while also sparking some creativity and laughter.

To play Back to Back Drawing, you'll need to pair up your participants and have them sit back-to-back. Give one person a picture or image to describe, while the other person receives a blank sheet of paper and a pen or pencil. The person with the picture will describe what they see to their partner, without actually saying what the object is. Their partner will then attempt to draw the picture based on these verbal descriptions, without looking at what they're drawing. After a set amount of time, the pairs can compare their pictures to see how close they were to the original image.

The goal of Back to Back Drawing is to encourage clear communication and teamwork. Without being able to see what their partner is drawing, the person describing the image has to be very clear and precise in their instructions. Meanwhile, the person doing the drawing has to trust their partner and rely on their descriptions to create an accurate image. This can be a great way to spark creativity and get people laughing as they see how different their drawings can be from the original image.

This activity is a great choice for a group that is just starting to get to know each other, or for a team that needs to work on their communication skills. However, it may not be the best choice for a group that includes people with visual impairments, or for groups where there are significant language barriers. To make the activity more fun, consider using silly or abstract images to describe, and encourage participants to be creative with their drawings. With a little creativity and laughter, Back to Back Drawing can be a great way to break the ice and build relationships.

Materials needed for Back to Back Drawing

• 2 Pieces of Paper (Per pair)
• 2 Pencil or Pen (Per pair)

How to play Back to Back Drawing

• Gather participants: Bring together a group of participants who will be playing the Back to Back Drawing icebreaker game. Make sure each person has a partner.
• Pair up participants: Pair up each participant with someone else in the group. Make sure each pair is facing opposite directions and standing back to back.
• Provide drawing materials: Give each pair a sheet of paper and a pen or pencil. Make sure they have enough space to comfortably draw.
• Explain the rules: Explain to the participants that one person in each pair will be the 'drawer' and the other person will be the 'describer'. The drawer will listen to the describer's instructions and try to draw what they say.
• Start the drawing: Tell the describers to describe a simple object or shape to their partners, without revealing what it is. The drawers should listen carefully and try to draw what they hear.
• Switch roles: After a designated time, ask the pairs to switch roles. The describers will become drawers, and the drawers will become describers.
• Continue with more rounds: Repeat steps 5 and 6 for multiple rounds. Each time, the describers should choose different objects or shapes to describe to their partners.
• End the game: Once all the rounds are completed, gather the participants and have a fun discussion about the drawings. Encourage them to share their experiences and any funny or surprising moments.

Benefits of Back to Back Drawing

Team building activities are far more than just fun and games. They pack a punch when it comes to the range of benefits they can deliver. Some of the benefits of Back to Back Drawing include:

• Improves Communication Skills: Playing Back to Back Drawing requires team members to communicate effectively to achieve a common goal.
• Encourages Collaboration: This activity involves working together towards a shared objective, which encourages teamwork and collaboration.
• Enhances Creative Thinking: Back to Back Drawing requires participants to think outside the box and come up with unique solutions to drawing challenges.
• Boosts Problem-Solving Skills: This game involves solving problems in a fun and interactive way, which can help build problem-solving skills in a non-threatening environment.
• Fosters Trust and Relationship Building: This game relies heavily on trust between teammates, which helps build deeper relationships and connections within a team.
• Promotes Active Listening: Back to Back Drawing requires team members to actively listen to instructions and feedback from their partner.
• Reduces Stress and Improves Morale: This game can be a fun and lighthearted way to break up a monotonous workday and boost team morale.

Why we like Back to Back Drawing

We like Back to Back Drawing because it highlights the importance of clear communication and active listening. It's also a fun way to engage in creative collaboration while building trust and understanding.

Reflection questions for Back to Back Drawing

Reflection questions are a great way to help your team process their experience after playing Back to Back Drawing.

1. What challenges did you face during the Back to Back Drawing activity? This question is designed to prompt participants to reflect on the difficulties they encountered during the icebreaker, whether it be communication barriers or disagreements between partners.
2. What did you learn about yourself during the activity? This question asks participants to reflect on any personal insights they gained during the exercise, such as their communication style or how they handle frustration.
3. How did you work with your partner during the Back to Back Drawing activity? This question encourages participants to think about how well they collaborated with their partner and if there were any effective or ineffective communication strategies used during the exercise.
4. What could you have done differently during the activity? This question prompts participants to identify any areas for improvement in their communication or collaboration skills.
5. What did you enjoy about the Back to Back Drawing activity? This question allows participants to reflect on any positive experiences they had during the exercise or what they found amusing.

Which skills does Back to Back Drawing build?

• Communication - Communication skills are essential for icebreakers and team building because they facilitate effective and open dialogue, allowing team members to connect and understand each other better, which leads to improved collaboration and problem-solving.
• Listening - Listening skills in icebreakers and team building promote effective communication, understanding, and empathy among participants, fostering a positive and cohesive team dynamic.
• Interpretation - Interpretation skills are great for icebreakers and team building because they help to bridge communication gaps, encourage understanding, and foster a sense of unity among team members.
• Teamwork - Teamwork skills are crucial for icebreakers and team building because they foster effective communication, encourage collaboration, and promote a sense of unity among team members, leading to better problem-solving and increased productivity.