Back-to-Back Food Plating: Enhancing Teamwork and Communication

What is Back-to-Back Food Plating?

Back-to-Back Food Plating is a variation of the popular icebreaker activity known as 'Back to Back Drawing.' In this version, participants are paired up and given the task of plating a dish while being back-to-back with their partner. The catch is that they cannot see each other or the dish they are plating.

The activity aims to enhance communication, teamwork, and trust between participants. It requires creative thinking and effective verbal communication skills to successfully plate the dish without any visual cues.

Materials needed for Back-to-Back Food Plating

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

How to play Back-to-Back Food Plating

• Form Pairs: Divide participants into pairs, ensuring an even number of participants. Encourage diversity in pairing, allowing individuals from different departments or backgrounds to work together.
• Seat Pairs Back-to-Back: Instruct each pair to sit back-to-back, with enough space between them to move and work comfortably.
• Explain the Task: Introduce the task to the participants. Let them know that they will be given a dish and its components, and their goal is to assemble and plate the dish without seeing each other or the ingredients. Emphasize the importance of effective communication.
• Provide Materials: Distribute the necessary materials to each pair. This may include a dish, ingredients, utensils, and any other required items.
• Start the Activity: Begin the activity by announcing the start and setting a specific time limit for completion. Observe and encourage participants as they work together to plate the dish.
• Reflect and Discuss: After the activity, gather the participants and facilitate a discussion. Ask them about their experiences, challenges faced, and lessons learned. Encourage open sharing and provide feedback on effective communication strategies.

Benefits of Back-to-Back Food Plating

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 Food Plating include:

• Improves Communication Skills: Participants must rely on verbal communication to convey instructions and coordinate their actions.
• Enhances Teamwork: The activity requires collaboration and trust between teammates to successfully plate the dish without visual cues.
• Encourages Creativity: Participants need to think creatively to communicate effectively and overcome challenges of plating a dish without seeing it.

Why we like Back-to-Back Food Plating

We love this activity because it encourages collaboration, improves communication skills, and adds an element of fun and challenge to team-building exercises.

Reflection questions for Back-to-Back Food Plating

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

1. What were the main communication challenges you faced during the activity? This question encourages participants to reflect on the difficulties they encountered and identify areas for improvement in their communication skills.
2. How did you adapt your communication strategies during the activity? Participants can share the approaches they took to improve their communication and problem-solving abilities.
3. What lessons can you apply to improve communication in your work or personal life? This question prompts participants to reflect on the broader applications of effective communication skills beyond the activity.

Which skills does Back-to-Back Food Plating 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.
• 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.
• Creativity - Creativity skills can greatly enhance icebreakers and team building by allowing participants to think outside the box and come up with unique solutions and ideas. This promotes collaboration, boosts morale, and fosters a positive and innovative environment within a team.
• Problem-solving - Problem-solving skills are essential for icebreakers and team building as they help break down barriers, foster creativity, and encourage collaboration, resulting in stronger relationships and more effective problem-solving within the team.