Blindfold Exercise

Introduction

In a team, the commitment of all persons is needed to succeed. If one of the persons in a team does not keep his commitment, the other persons will loose their trust and confidence. The work of the whole team will suffer and the team spirit will disappear.

This “Blindfold Exercise” will generate commitment from the participants for implementation of a common goal. It can be used on a moment when commitment to do certain tasks is very important, for example when everybody should contribute to the organization of a field day.

Objectives

  1. To generate commitment from the participants for carrying out an activity.

Duration

  • 45 minutes

Materials

  • Handkerchiefs or other cloth for blindfolding

Methodology

  1. The participants will be grouped in pairs.
  2. One person will blindfold the other person.
  3. Now ask the pair to walk a well-known route.
        For example: walk first from the place where you are sitting to the study plot, from there to the pot cages (insect zoo) and then back to the starting point.
  4. The person who can see is responsible for leading the blindfolded person by giving instructions. Unless it is really needed this should be done without holding him/her.
  5. During the walk they may talk about training-related experiences or about IPM / ICM.
  6. At the end of this first walk the persons change role and the other person will be blindfolded.
  7. Without letting 2 of the blindfolded persons know, ask their guides to leave them before they reach the classroom again.
  8. Observe the reactions of the blindfolded persons without guides. The facilitator will have to make sure that these blindfolded persons get to the room safely.

Some guidelines for discussion

  1. Ask the participants to parallel the blindfolded walk to the training program.
  2. Along the way, what obstacles did the blindfolded persons meet?
  3. Parallel these obstacles to problems in the training program.
  4. Ask who had difficulty in trusting their partners? Why was this so?
  5. Discuss the sense of commitment, trustworthiness and reliability of persons. Why is it important that others should be able to rely on you?
  6. How did the blindfolded persons feel when their guides left them alone?
  7. Relate this to situations where people fail to keep their commitments.
  8. Discuss commitment in the light of properly turning over responsibilities.
  9. Now, relate this exercise to an important group activity that is going to happen and in which everybody will have certain tasks to fulfill.
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