Life Skills and Leadership Manual - Peace Corps

Life Skills & Leadership: Unit 4, Session 2: Team Leadership | Page 20 of 91

Note: Any of these questions could inspire deeper discussion. You can discuss some of them now if you have plenty of time

scheduled for this session. Some of the issues will also surface in the Information, Practice, and Application activities. Also,

look for cultural differences in the understanding of the role of leaders and followers. Be sensitive and look for ways to affirm

differences while also making a ‘space’ for participants to explore new ideas about being a leader and a team member.

For example, in some cultures, “followers” will not speak up until the “chief” or person of higher rank has spoken. Then

it’s a challenge to know what the followers really think without causing the leader to “lose face.”

B. Summary

Summarize by saying:

“Thank you for sharing your opinions about leaders and followers. I can see that there are some

differences in how we all think about these questions and I’m sure it will be important to keep

sharing those different ideas as we continue with this session.”

II. Information ( 35 minutes)
Materials:
Prepared puzzle pieces in envelopes (See Facilitator Preparation)

A. A Puzzling Problem
Participants discover ways to influence a group project even if they are not the leader.

1. Divide participants into groups of four to six. Say:

“I would like you to take just a few seconds to decide upon a name for your team.”

2. Give people a few moments, then ask each team to shout its team name. Give each team an envelope
   with puzzle pieces. Say:

“I’ve given each team an envelope with puzzle pieces. Please write your team name on your envelope,

then distribute the puzzle pieces as evenly as you can to all the members of your team. Make sure each

person has at least one piece.

“Once each person individually receives her or his piece(s), they belong to that person. No one else may

touch them at any time.

“You win when your team has all of its pieces in the right place. Ready? Begin!”

Note: It is important that you say the above underlined instructions exactly as they are written. If participants ask questions

about what you mean, simply repeat the instructions.

3. Move among the teams and watch for interesting actions and behaviors that you can reference during
   the discussion that is to follow. Eventually, teams will realize that they are missing some pieces and
   that some members have pieces that they don’t need for their team’s puzzle. Give participants several
   opportunities to solve these problems. If people are confused about what to do, begin by restating the
   instructions: “You win when your team has all of its pieces in the right place.” If they need another hint,
   say, “Everyone has all the pieces they need.” If people are still having trouble, suggest that they visit
   other teams and see how they are doing.