Bridging the Communication Divide
by The HRDQ Development Team
Bridging the Communication Divide is a stand-alone activity. It is also a great companion game to the best-selling assessment Whatâs My Communication Style?
Have you ever wondered why itâs so easy to work with some people yet so painful to collaborate with others? Well, it has just about everything to do with personality style. Itâs the main reason some people can establish immediate rapport, and it can be the root cause conflict too. But now thereâs a fun and effective solution that will clear the road to effective communication.
Your blueprint for effective communication.
Not your ordinary communication training programme, Bridging the Communication Divide is an adventurous role-play game that lifts participants out of their everyday, four-walled environment and immerses them in a powerful combination of learning and practice. There isnât a better tool for exploringâor experiencingâpersonality style and how it shapes the way people interact. From identifying âWho am I?â and learning the ins-and-outs of personality to discovering how to flex your style and building an action plan for improvement, Bridging the Communication Divide is full-distance learning. As a trainer, you will witness an amazing transformation happen between Parts One and Two!
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the four principle communication styles
- Recognize each styleâs strengths and trouble spots
- Learn how communication styles are perceived by others
- Discover how to flex oneâs style to better communicate with others
The Bridging the Communication Divide Complete Game Kit is packed with all of the tools you need to plan for and deliver a learning experience that achieves immediate results, from a comprehensive facilitator guide and takeaway participant workbooks to reusable game parts, support materials, a professional MicrosoftÂź PowerPointÂź presentation, and more.
How it Works:
More than a year in the making, Bridging the Communication Divide is the latest in a long line of classic games HRDQ has produced, including Tall Ships, Jungle Escape, and the award-winning Mars Surface Rover.
With the tried and true HRDQ Style Series Model serving as the overarching framework of Bridging the Communication Divide (the same model that is responsible for the development of more than one million people), the adventure starts when participantsâa group of Peace Corps volunteersâare dropped into a remote location with a mission to build a bridge. Working in two teams, they must use sound communication with each other and their partner teams to complete the construction. But little do they know their teams are made up of opposing personality stylesâand thatâs when the real challenge begins.
Teams debrief after their first attempt at building the bridge, recognizing that certain behaviours made the task difficult to complete. Before they are asked to make a second go at building the bridge, they are introduced to the HRDQ Style Model and its four personality styles: Direct, Spirited, Considerate, and Systematic. Participants learn about the strengths and trouble spots associated with each style, and discover how they can âflexâ their behaviour to improve interactions. Now with new skills in their pockets, they attempt the exercise yet again, this time with much greater potential for success. Youâll be amazed at the marked difference in communication between Parts One and Two of the game.
The game is delivered complete with all of the tools you need to prepare for and deliver the 3.5-hour experiential learning experience for two or four teams of 4-6 participants each. Most materials are reusable; additional participant workbooks and game packs are available for individual purchase.
Uses and Applications
Bridging the Communication Divide is an excellent way to introduce, explore, and understand communication styles. Use it as a standalone 3.5-hour activity or a complement to the HRDQ Style Series assessments such as Whatâs My Communication Style?
It's also extremely useful for:
- Intra- and inter-team development
- Supervisory skills training
- Individuals or teams experiencing communication breakdowns
Product Content:
- A comprehensive facilitator guide
- 24 participant workbooks
- Bridge blueprints
- Team name cards
- Role-play cards
- Visual cue cards
- Game parts for 4 teams of players
- Facilitator support materials on USB flash drive
- Sturdy tote bag
Target Audience
Individuals at any level
Dimensions
Personality Styles: Direct, Spirited, Considerate, Systematic
Time Required
3.5 hours
Complete Game Kit:
The complete game kit is packed full with everything you need to train up to 4 teams of 4-6 players at one time.
Neatly packaged in a sturdy tote bag, the Complete Game Kit is filled with all the tools you need to prepare for and deliver a 3.5-hour experiential learning programme for up to 24 people.
Each kit includes:
- Facilitator guide
- 24 participant workbooks
- 4 sets of reusable game parts
- Blueprints
- Team name cards
- Role-play cards
- Visual cues cards
- Facilitator support materials on USB flash drive
- Sturdy tote bag
Facilitator Guide Table of Contents
- Section 1: Getting Started
- Section 2: Theoretical Background
- Section 3: Experiential Learning Methodology
- Section 4: Facilitating the Game
- Section 5: Picture Resources & Instruction
- Appendix
- Additional Features
- Sample Participant Workbook
- HRDQ Style Model
- Four Communication Styles
- HRDQ Experiential Learning Model
Participant Workbook Table of Contents
- Who Am I?
- Tutorial Phase
- Construction Phase Part One
- Debrief Part One
- The Four Communication Styles
- Bridging the Communication Divide Part Two
- Debrief Part Two
- Personal Action Planning
