The Subway Game Team Building Exercise

Overview: The Subway Game is a team building exercise that can help team members prioritize their goals and focus on what truly matters. This exercise is based on the principles outlined in the book “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” by Mark Manson.

Objective: The objective of this team building exercise is to help team members identify their personal values and prioritize their goals accordingly.

Materials Needed: Paper, pens, a timer, and a whiteboard or flipchart.

Instructions:

1. Start by introducing the concept of the “Subway Game” to the team. Explain that the game involves imagining that they are on a subway train and have only three stops left to reach their destination. At each stop, they have to eliminate one item from their to-do list until they are left with only the most important item.
2. Ask each team member to write down their top three goals or tasks they need to accomplish in the next week on a piece of paper.
3. Set a timer for 5 minutes and ask the team members to review their lists and rank them in order of importance.
4. After the 5 minutes are up, ask each team member to share their top three goals with the rest of the team. Write each goal on a whiteboard or flipchart.
5. Explain that the team now has only three stops left until their destination and they need to eliminate one goal at each stop until they are left with only the most important goal.
6. Set a timer for 3 minutes and ask the team to deliberate and discuss each goal. The team should consider the impact of each goal, the resources required to achieve it, and the potential consequences of not achieving it.
7. After the 3 minutes are up, ask the team to vote on which goal they should eliminate at the first stop. Repeat this process at the next two stops until the team is left with only the most important goal.
8. Once the team has identified the most important goal, discuss the reasons why they chose that goal and how it aligns with the team’s values and objectives.
9. Encourage team members to prioritize their tasks and goals based on the insights gained from this exercise and work towards achieving them.

Conclusion: The Subway Game is a fun and interactive team building exercise that can help team members prioritize their goals and focus on what truly matters. By identifying their personal values and aligning them with their goals, team members can work together more effectively towards achieving their objectives.