What are some effective team accountability games for agile projects?

1 The Moving Motivators Game

This game is based on the concept of intrinsic motivation, which means that people are driven by their own values and interests rather than external rewards or punishments. The game helps team members identify and share their personal motivators, such as autonomy, mastery, purpose, recognition, or fun. By understanding what motivates each team member, you can align their tasks and goals with their preferences and create a more satisfying and productive work environment. To play the game, you need a set of cards with different motivators on them. Each team member ranks the cards according to their importance and then discusses their choices with the rest of the team. You can also use the game to explore how changes in the project or the organization affect the team's motivation and how to cope with them.

2 The Sprint Review Game

This game is a variation of the traditional sprint review, which is a meeting where the team showcases the results of their work during a sprint and collects feedback from stakeholders. The game adds an element of gamification and fun to the review process by using a scoring system, a timer, and a leaderboard. The game encourages the team to deliver high-quality work, demonstrate value to the customers, and improve their presentation skills. To play the game, you need a scorecard with different criteria for evaluating the team's work, such as functionality, usability, design, innovation, and customer satisfaction. You also need a timer to limit the duration of each presentation and a leaderboard to display the scores. The team members take turns presenting their work and getting feedback from the stakeholders and the other team members. The stakeholders and the team members rate each presentation using the scorecard and add up the scores. The team with the highest score wins the game and gets a reward, such as a trophy, a badge, or a pizza party.

3 The Feedback Loop Game

This game is designed to improve the team's communication and feedback skills, which are essential for agile projects. The game helps team members practice giving and receiving constructive feedback in a safe and positive way. The game also helps team members recognize their strengths and areas for improvement and create action plans for their personal and professional growth. To play the game, you need a set of cards with different feedback scenarios on them, such as a peer review, a customer complaint, or a performance appraisal. Each team member picks a card and acts out the scenario with another team member, who plays the role of the feedback giver or receiver. The rest of the team observes and evaluates the interaction using a feedback checklist, which includes criteria such as clarity, specificity, timeliness, empathy, and actionability. The team then discusses the feedback and provides suggestions for improvement. The game can be repeated with different scenarios and roles until all team members have participated.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?