Tied In Knots

What it is

5 - 20 (more participants are possible, but require a special kit not seen here. Please call for details 800-513-8759)

60 Minutes for entire decision-making, consensus building process & discussion. 10-15 Minutes for each individual level

Decision Making, Group Consensus, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking

Can you solve the puzzle to the right?

Look at the small metal rings on the bottom left corner of the picture. As you can see there are 5 total pieces. Four identical rings and the one that connects them together.

This is how the ropes on the right are connected (and the object of this team building exercise).

Identify the one rope that connects all the others.

Want to know the right answer? You can call us to find out at 800-513-8759.

This is the simplest version of the exercise.

Brief Overview of Tied In Knots

Participants are shown a series of ropes, as in above. Without touching them they must decide, as a group, which is the one rope that is holding the rest together.

Using an increasingly difficult series or ropes, this incredible exercise is most commonly used to help participants discover the best decision making techniques that work for them and to help build consensus speed. The success of the team will be evident as they begin to solve problems and brainstorm alternative decision-making techniques that may work.

Once a group is using a good technique to solve the activity, it is time to build consensus speed. This is especially fun as you now put time limits on the group decision.

You will see this exercise help groups make better decisions faster. Anyone group that sits through long meetings needs this exercise!

With 10 levels of difficulty, this game will stay challenging for the participants while they are discovering their strengths and applying them as a team.

Translating this team building game back to work is quite simple as participants will quickly see the ropes as metaphors: computer networks, paperwork or processing flow, individual tasks of a large project, independent departments of the same organization, etc.

Using a series of increasingly difficult rope combinations, the participants will learn which is the best technique for the group in making decisions. The varying levels of difficulty will allow them to test several ideas from group members and see which of the processes withstand the test.

Upon completion of the exercise, participants now have a much better understanding of how to make decisions as a group.

Consensus Building

Now the group knows what works well for them, or perhaps they have a good process in place. But how long does it take to come to group consensus?

Everyone hates sitting in meetings and covering the same ground over and over. A decision has to be made, but the group can't decide. This exercise is designed to help groups speed up the process of building consensus.

Although the main function of this exercise is normally to help the group in their decision making or group consensus building, it works equally well as a stand-alone problem solving activity. With the right combination of ropes, the event can appear to be impossible to solve, much like many of the problems in life today at first glance.

The exercise materials include enough specifically colored rope to run a minimum of 7 levels of difficulty.

Who should purchase Tied in Knots?

If your objective is to significantly improve team decision making skills and to help your group discover the best decision making techniques that work for them, then Tied in Knots is the most commonly used exercise to develop this expertise.

What the group learns

from Tied in Knots?

Making decisions within the framework of team consensus

Exploring alternative decision making approaches

To make the decision process quicker within tight deadlines

In a lighter vein, if you and your team have ever had the opportunity (or misfortune!) of sitting through long drawn out meetings, then you will certainly appreciate the need for this exercise!