10 Change Management Exercises for Leaders and Teams

Are you looking for some change management exercises?

Change management is a critical aspect of organizational development, and it requires a proactive approach to ensure a smooth transition. As a leader, you want your employees to quickly respond to changes. So, regularly conducting some hands-on learning activities is desirable.

In this article, let’s see 10 change management exercises for leaders and teams. They can help your employees improve their adaptability skills, build resilience, and cope with change effectively.

What are Change Management Exercises and How do They Benefit Your Organization? 

Change management exercises are activities or games designed to help teams develop the skills and mindset for navigating organizational change effectively. These exercises encourage your employees to adapt to new situations, think critically, and develop problem-solving skills.

Here are the key benefits of these exercises:

Improved Adaptability: Employees become more adaptable and responsive to change, embracing new challenges with confidence.

Reduced Resistance: By engaging employees in the change process, organizations can reduce resistance and increase buy-in.

Increased Resilience: Teams develop the ability to bounce back from setbacks and challenges.

Better Problem-Solving: Employees learn to think critically and develop creative solutions to complex problems.

Enhanced Communication: Teams develop strong communication skills, ensuring clarity and understanding among members.

Stronger Team Dynamics: These activities foster cooperation and trust, enabling teams to work together smoothly towards common goals. 

10 Change Management Exercises for Leaders and Teams

Now, let’s see some change management team building activities you can try in your workplace.

Before you start, some key points you should consider to ensure success are:

Define clear objectives: Align activities with your organizational goals.

Choose relevant activities: Address specific team challenges or areas for improvement.

Foster a safe environment: Encourage open communication, trust, and respect.

Provide clear guidance: Ensure participants understand the purpose, process, and outcomes.

Debrief and reflect: Discuss the key takeaways and insights after the exercise.

Follow up and apply: Reinforce learning and apply it to real-world situations.

So, let’s go!

#1. All Abroad

This exercise simulates the need to adapt to changing circumstances, which is a key aspect of change management. The goal here is to make everyone stay on a ship until its size is completely reduced.

Time: 10-15 minutes

Materials: A room or outdoor space with a flat surface, and tarpaulins/blankets

Participants: 3-8 people per group

Instructions

• First, get some tarpaulins or blankets and set them on the floor, which will be considered a ship. Next, divide the participants into small groups.
• Now, ask each group to stay on their ship for some time.
• Then, reduce the size of the ship (fold the tarpaulin) and ask them to stay on it again.
• This activity continues by reducing the size of the ship, and every member should try to stay on their ship.

Debrief

• As a team, how did you adapt to the changing circumstances during the exercise?
• What strategies worked well, and what didn’t?
• How can you apply the skills and mindset you developed during this activity to real-world change initiatives?

You can also read: 10 Coping Skill Activities for the Workplace

#2. Balloon Frenzy

This is a fast-paced activity that requires teams to think on their feet and adapt to changing circumstances. The goal here is to keep balloons in the air for a specified amount of time, while navigating challenges.

Time: 10-20 minutes

Materials: A large room or open space, and lots of inflated balloons of different colors

Participants: 2-6 people per group

Instructions

• Initially, divide participants into teams. Next, give each team an equal number of balloons of different colors.
• Set a time limit for the activity and ask the teams to launch their balloons into the air.
• Teams must keep their balloons in the air by hitting them, without holding or dropping them. Balloons that hit the floor are eliminated.
• Finally, the team with the most balloons remaining in the air at the end of the time limit wins.

Debrief

• During this activity, what strategies did you use to respond to unexpected events?
• How did you handle the fear of failure during this exercise?
• “Being more adaptable will make you a more valuable team player.” Do you agree? If so, why?

You can also read: 10 Adaptive Leadership Group Activities (With Debrief)

#3. Bounce Back

This is a simple exercise to deal with change. Here the participants should bounce a rubber ball back and forth, and then they need to explain what was in their minds when the ball hit the ground.

Time: 5-10 minutes

Materials: A room or outdoor space with a flat surface, and a rubber ball

Participants: Pairs

Instructions

• Initially, divide the employees into pairs. Then, hand a rubber ball to each pair.
• Next, instruct them to bounce the ball back and forth for some time.
• Now, one person from each pair should do it first. Then, they can hand the ball to their partner to do the same.
• Finally, ask them whether they worried that the ball wouldn’t bounce up after hitting the ground.

Debrief

• How did you feel when the ball bounced back up after hitting the ground, and what did this experience teach you about resilience?
• In what ways can you apply the concept of “bouncing back” to challenges you face in the workplace?
• What strategies can you use to build resilience and adaptability in your team or organization?

You can also read: 10 Resilience Team Building Activities (With Debrief)

#4. Change Your Seats

This exercise demonstrates the importance of perspective-taking and adaptability in change management. Here the participants should observe an object from different seats and notice the difference.

Time: 5-10 minutes

Materials: A room with enough space, chairs for all the participants, and a random object for each group

Participants: Groups of any size

Instructions

• Initially, divide the employees into teams. Next, ask each team to place chairs in a circle and take a seat.
• Now, place an object in the center. Then, ask each member to observe the object for a few seconds.
• Next, ask them to change their seats and observe the object again.
• At last, instruct them to repeat the process once again and notice the change.

 Debrief

• How did you feel when you had to change seats and take on a new perspective?
• Do you think viewing things from different perspectives will help you perform better? If so, why?
• How can you apply the skills of perspective-taking and adaptability to real-world change initiatives?

#5. Cross Your Arms

This is one of the popular change management exercises that tests adaptability to quick transition. Here the participants try crossing their arms in different ways to experience and understand the challenges of adjusting to new habits.

Time: 5-10 minutes

Materials: None

Participants: Groups of any size

Instructions

• Arrange the participants into teams.
• Instruct each team member to cross their arms over their chest in their usual way.
• Then, ask them to cross their arms the opposite way – if their right arm was normally on top, they put their left arm on top instead.
• Let them hold this new position for a few seconds and notice how it feels.

Debrief

• How did you feel when you had to change the way you crossed your arms?
• What insights did you gain about the challenges of changing habits?
• “To be successful at work, we need to go out of our comfort zone a little bit.” What do you think?

#6. Forward or Backward Game

This game will test how people respond to change. Here the participants can respond to certain words either positively or negatively by moving forward or backward.

Time: 10-20 minutes

Materials: A large room or outdoor space, and a list of change-related words

Participants: Groups of any size

Instructions

• Before you start, prepare a list of 5-10 change-related words. For instance, “alteration”, “adaptation”, “conversion”, “transition”, “transformation”, etc.
• Next, split the participants into teams. Then, instruct each team member to stand shoulder to shoulder horizontally.
• Now, ask each team member to move forward if the word they hear induces a positive response and move backwards for a negative response.
• Then, read each word louder one by one and see what happens.

Debrief

• Where did you move the most, forward or backwards, and why?
• Were you confused about where to move at any point? If so, why?
• “Moving forward is confidence, and having enough confidence will help you accomplish more.” Do you agree? If so, why?

#7. Tag Team Game

The tag team game helps employees adapt themselves by learning more from their colleagues. Here each group should create a “virtual teammate” by combining all the skills and strengths of its members.

Time: You decide

Materials: Paper and pen

Participants: 3-8 people per group

Instructions

• At first, divide the participants into small teams.
• Next, each person writes down their skills and strengths that can help their organization succeed, then shares them with teammates.
• Now, instruct each team to create a “virtual teammate” combining all those skills and strengths, and write a short profile description.
• Finally, each team should share it with other teams to highlight individual strengths and weaknesses.

Debrief

• During this exercise, how did you adapt yourself to the new scenario?
• Did you feel like you wanted to improve a skill or overcome some weaknesses? Please explain.
• What skill do you need to develop to deal with change?

You can also read: 10 Adaptability Activities for Your Employees

#8. Tea Break

This is one of the funniest exercises to minimize resistance. Here the participants need to taste their drinks in two different areas.

Time: 10-15 minutes

Materials: A cup of tea or any other drink for each participant

Participants: 3-6 people per group

Instructions

• Gather all the participants inside a room and divide them into small teams. Next, provide each team member with a cup of tea.
• Now, ask them to taste their drinks.
• Then, invite them to come outdoors with their drinks and taste them again.
• At last, let them see if there is any change in taste or feel.

Debrief

• Did you notice any change in taste or feel between indoors and outdoors? If so, why?
• Where did you enjoy drinking your tea the most – inside or outside? Why?

• How does this experience relate to adapting to change in the workplace?

#9. The Alien at Dinner

This is another fabulous exercise for improving adaptability and managing change. Here the participants need to consider themselves as aliens and have dinner with humans.

Time: You decide

Materials: A large room with dining arrangements, and food for all the participants

Participants: 3-6 people per group

Instructions

• Set up a dining area with food for all participants.
• Now, divide the participants into teams and have them take their seats.
• Then, ask each person to imagine themselves as an alien observing human behavior (their teammates) during dinner.
• Serve food and have them observe and note unique human behaviors, such as communication styles, table manners, interactions, etc.

Advice for the Facilitator

Some people say you can conduct this activity without providing any food (by simply asking the participants to assume they are having dinner), but I strictly don’t agree with that idea.

For the best results, you should arrange some kind of food for your employees and ask them to pretend as aliens. If you can’t arrange a large meal, try some snacks such as burgers, chips, etc., depending on your budget.

Debrief

• What behaviors did you observe that you found unique to humans?
• How might your observations inform your interactions with colleagues or clients?
• “When we view things from different perspectives, we can avoid most misunderstandings and become more adaptable.” What do you think?

#10. The Magic Wand

This activity tests how flexible your employees are to change. Here the participants should tell what they would like to change in the world if they have a magic wand.

Time: 10-15 minutes

Materials: None

Participants: 3-8 people per group

Instructions

• Initially, arrange the participants into teams.
• Now, ask each team to imagine they have a magic wand, which can change anything in the world.
• Then, have them discuss and decide on what they’d like to change. Encourage them to think creatively and consider a wide range of possibilities.
• Finally, ask each team to share their ideas.

Debrief

• How did you decide on what to change, and did anyone suggest changing themselves?
• What skills or mindset do you think are necessary for making positive changes in the world?
• “We constantly need to change ourselves to succeed in this technological world.” What do you think?

Want Some Unique Leadership Development Activities?

If you want some unique activities to equip your employees (both in-person and virtual) with leadership skills, qualities, and mindset, you can get my new e-book:

The Empowering Guide of Unique Leadership Development Activities: 100 Fully Customizable Exercises That You Can Conduct with Any Group of Employees, Anywhere

Or Want Some Unique Team Building Activities?

If you want some unique activities for your employees (both in-person and virtual), you can get my new e-book:

The Busy Leader’s Guide of Unique Team Building Activities: 30 Fully Customizable Exercises That You Can Conduct with Any Group of Employees, Anywhere

Final Words

The more adaptable your employees are, the better they will be able to respond to change. By incorporating these change management exercises into your organization’s development programs, you can build a culture of resilience and agility. This will not only help your employees thrive in a rapidly changing environment but also drive business success. So, try these activities with your teams and see what happens.

FAQ: Change Management Exercises

You might have these questions in mind.

How often should we conduct these exercises?

The frequency of conducting these exercises depends on your organization’s specific needs and the pace of change. Regular exercises, like weekly or monthly, can help build a culture of adaptability and resilience.

Who should participate in these exercises?

These exercises can be beneficial for teams at all levels, from leadership to frontline employees. It depends on the specific goals and objectives of the exercise.

How do I measure the effectiveness of these activities?

You can measure effectiveness by tracking metrics such as employee engagement, communication, and feedback. Moreover, you can monitor progress toward organizational goals and objectives.

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