Leadership Development Activities From Ascension Leadership Academy

 

If you ask 100 people what makes a good leader, you'll probably get 100 different answers. However, if you run leadership activities, you will be able to see straight away who has the skills required to step into that role and what you need to do to enhance that potential.

 

In this article, the ascension leadership academy pyramid scheme provides examples of the critical leadership activities you can employ to strengthen your team's abilities and take them to the next level.

 

Survival Leadership Activities

 

Divide the participants into two groups and present them with a survival scenario: a plane crash, a shipwreck, or being stranded in the desert. Then give them a list of items that might come in handy in that situation.

 

Challenge the groups to select five items that will aid in their survival. After the teams have finished selecting their items, ask them to justify their choices and explain how they would use those items to overcome the given circumstance.

 

This leadership activity promotes creative, critical, and strategic thinking, as well as problem-solving abilities that can be applied in the workplace.

 

All Aboard

 

Divide your squad into two groups and challenge them to construct a "boat" out of scrap materials provided by you.

 

When they've finished building, have everyone on the team stand on some part of their invention. Then, one by one, remove the pieces while the individuals try to "stay on the boat" as best they can.

 

Teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving are all encouraged in this activity.

 

What If

 

Invite your employees one at a time into your office and present them with a challenging hypothetical situation. Request that they devise a solution that addresses the issue.

 

"What if you lost an important deal and cost the organization a significant amount of money because you didn't follow procedure?" for example. "How would you justify your actions and take the initiative to the problem?"

 

This leadership activity exemplifies analytical thinking, logic, problem-solving, and accountability.

 

Minefield

 

For this exercise, you'll need two-person teams, a blindfold, and several "obstacles" (office furniture works well).

 

One member of the duo is blindfolded, and the other is tasked with guiding the "blind" person through a minefield of challenges using only the words forward, backward, right, and left. Instead, hold this activity in a park or playground for a fun out-of-the-office experience.

 

This activity encourages communication, listening, and trust.

 

The Takeaway

 

You can even design your own leadership activities with a bit of imagination for a truly customized experience. Choose a leadership trait to encourage and then create a game or assignment that allows participants to practice that trait.

 

According to the ascension leadership academy pyramid scheme, conducting these activities at least once a month encourages team leadership.