Team building activity
Washing Machines
Washing Machines is a low-energy team building activity for groups of 8–35 people.
Group size8–35 people
EnergyLow
Time45–60 min (incl. debrief)
SettingIndoors or outdoors
Best for
What it is
The team gets an impossible-sounding brief: sell 10,000 old washing machines in a 30-second pitch. It is a fast, funny lesson in creativity under pressure, and a vivid demonstration of how much more a group invents together than any of its members would alone. Great early in a workshop, before a brainstorm or planning session, wherever creativity matters.
What to watch for
- How did your team arrive at the marketing plan?
Variations
- Instead of giving it to the group immediately, have each individual come up with ideas on their own for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Let each team decide if the washing machines are operable or not.
- For highly competitive groups, rule that participants may not vote for their own group.
- Rather than a 30-second commercial, each group creates a full-page magazine ad for their products on a piece of flipchart paper.
- Try other objects – almost anything – old monitors, old televisions that were hidden away in a bunker, 1994 Manhattan phone books.
- Individuals controlling their particular group.