Numbing the Noise and Remaining Focused

One of the activities my team and I deploy for team building sessions is an activity called Blindfold Search. In this activity, the team is split into smaller teams (depending on the class size) and each team is required to identify a member to be blindfolded as well as another to act as a guide. The blindfolded individual is to be guided to pick up certain items in the room (by verbal instructions only) and drop in a basket placed somewhere in the room. The team with the greatest number of items in the basket at the end of the allotted time wins the game.

The individuals to be blindfolded will be required to leave the room while the course is setup- could be anything like plastic bottles scattered around the room and one prize item (could be a ball) also placed somewhere in the room. He/she is to pick the prize item lastly- after all other items have been picked up and dropped in the basket.

The twist to the game is while each team is playing, the other team can be allowed to ‘distract’ by providing counter instructions or some noise to confuse the blindfolded individual.

This game serves to strengthen team work. So, there’s a team task; the team has to decide who is best suited to being blind-folded, who will be the best person to provide directions, etc. these decisions can be made on the basis of the team member with the most distinct voice should give directions, the colleague best at directions should be blindfolded, etc. this mimics life situations where teams play to the strength of its members.

In the most recent session we facilitated, the first opposing team provided- B8* distraction- such that when we were debriefing; the blindfolded individual said he actually thought he was part of the team. The ‘distractor’ started out by giving similar instructions to the original guide such that when he started giving misleading instructions, the blindfolded colleague thought it was the right instructions. His team had to double down to ensure he remains on course. When it was the turn of the opposing team, they came in with the market/bus garage variety distraction- noise!!! Such that the blindfolded individual had to strain to listen for the distinct voice of his guide/ team members.

In this game, like in life; a lot of times we have to numb the noise, silence and close our eyes to all distractions and remain focused. In life, we aren’t always successful at remaining focused- we sometimes get lost in chasing shadows, edged on by what we think is the right instructions or sometimes, we stop to smell the roses (which is good by the way) but then we get into conversations with the gardener or passers by and lose sight of the destination, etc. etc. ?

Distractions may also come in form of rest. So, we stop for some rest- given that rest is equally a productive activity; the problem though is sometimes because our rest point is a significant improvement on the start point, we lull ourselves into believing the rest point can be the destination (I am very guilty of this).

We must never lose sight of the destination. Focus is one big determinant to success.

It is also true that there isn’t any one path to achieve an aim (except maybe in mathematical problems and science experiments). There’s a Yoruba saying that says- ??nà kan ò w?jà.

This literally means there are many ways to access a market. There are many ways to achieve an aim, but what you must not do is stop at a hair salon and brand it a market- even if hair products are sold there.

Remain focused, numb the noise and distractions and ensure you achieve your aim.

Enjoy the rest of your week.??

*Ever noticed B8 together are almost alike? It’s the letter ‘B’ and the number 8 placed together. I bet some of you missed it above. A B8 distraction is just like that, very similar but different.?