You’ve heard of team building activities, the ones where participants are made to work hand-in-hand---sometimes literally--to achieve a goal. Team building activities are usually physically demanding, mentally stimulating, and emotionally charged, and in the end, everybody lets out laughs, tears, and sighs of fulfillment. These group activities run on metaphors: what seem to be simple and fun games turn out to be a source of powerful insights about cooperation, community, and commitment.
The world simulator game takes this team building structure to the next level. In a world simulator game, the aim is the same: after it ends, participants gain valuable wisdom that helps themselves and their peers. The difference, though, is that the scope is wider, and the metaphors are weaved more closely to reality than ever.
The mechanics sound simple at first: participants assume the role of a world leader who is tasked to interact with other global figures to solve a global problem. But participants later learn that there’s more to it than meets the eye.
What makes a world simulator game truly effective in transforming its participants’ perspectives? Read on to learn about its benefits.
As mentioned above, We R One World is an activity where participants take on the role of a country or global organisation’s representative. It’s meant to accommodate a large group of people, around a hundred or more, more or less the same number of people you’ll see in major international conventions. These participants are armed with information about their designated countries or organisations, which they use as they interact with their peers. They have a day to solve the problem and reach their individual as well as group goals.
The aim of the world game is to teach cooperation through give-and-take. With the information that they have, they make agreements to distribute resources among each other, support each other, and tackle their differences so they can make unique contributions to the solution.
Managing differences is important in any group setting, whether that be at school, work, or in any organisation. When organisations realise and accept that no two members are exactly the same, they are able to first appreciate their common ground, and then use their differences to their advantage. By bringing out what makes each member unique, they are able to reach fair and doable compromises and harmonise action plans where each member’s contribution complements the other.
The world game is quite clear and direct with its message: people all over the world are different, but if we work together, we can make the world better. The arena that the game happens on, therefore, can be seen as a microcosm of the larger society.
Beyond cooperation among peers, one of the main focuses of the game is on leadership. By making participants perform as leaders, they organically realise what it means to be a leader. Imagine if our world leaders didn’t have any hang-ups or undesirable vested interests? What if everyone just had a genuine heart for leadership and service? Many of our global problems would be solved by now. They then take on a new perspective as they choose their leaders, whether that be at work, school, or in the communities they belong in outside.
Because a world simulator game is relatively less physically demanding than the usual sports-inspired team building activities, participants can dedicate more energy to their mental and emotional processes. It is a simulation, which means they get to “practise”, if you will, what they could be like in high-pressure situations. Are they calm and open-minded? Or do they get stressed easily? What feelings come to them as they try and solve a problem, and do they have the emotional tools to navigate these feelings? This is how the world game hits closer to home.
It’s a perfect opportunity to debrief, to pause and reflect, to identify which attitudes are worth celebrating and which ones need to be worked on. It’s the perfect way to step forward and grow as a person, colleague, or friend.
At We R One World, we introduce teams to a one-day live action role play simulation activity that is unlike anything they have ever experienced. Inspired by known visionary Buckminster Fuller’s ideas, this activity takes place on an arena the size of a basketball court. Participants stand on the Dymaxion Map, a world projection created by Buckminster Fuller that sees the world as one big, connected island. This reinforces the truth that we are truly one world, and for as long as we keep reaching out, we can form and strengthen bonds that allow us to act in harmony.
To start your journey towards this experience, get in touch with us today. Call us at +61 414 303 511. Email us at the following addresses:
You may also leave us a message via our website’s online enquiry form.