Estimated Time: 25–30 minutes

Group Size: Teams of 5–9 participants

Best for: Creativity, innovation, leadership style awareness

Introduction

Understanding how different leadership styles influence creativity and problem-solving is essential for effective team management. This challenge gives participants firsthand experience of how structure, freedom, and group dynamics impact innovation—and how leaders shape these environments.

Materials Needed (Per Team)

• 1 large envelope containing 25 identical small items, such as:
  • Commemorative postage stamp
  • Plastic spoon
  • Highway map
  • Ketchup packet (sealed in plastic)
  • Sugar packet
  • Coin, Stone, Small pine cone
  • Aspirin tablet, Candle, Piece of plastic
  • Key, Piece of wire, Screw or nail
  • Hair pin, Pencil, Telephone memo slip
  • Needles or pins (safely packed)
  • Button, Small piece of cloth, Matches
  • Beer can opener, Coping saw blade (blunt or wrapped)
• Flipchart paper or large sheet
• Marker pen
• Printed instruction sheets for:
  • Supervisor A (Unstructured leader)
  • Supervisor B (Structured leader)
  • Group participants
• (Optional) Observers with note-taking materials

Setup & Roles

• Divide participants into equal-sized teams of 5–9 people.
• Assign one team leader per team. Half the leaders get the Supervisor A instructions (unstructured leadership), the other half get Supervisor B instructions (structured leadership). Leaders keep their instructions confidential.
• If possible, assign observers to silently monitor group dynamics and leadership impact.

Supervisor Instructions

• Supervisor A (Unstructured): Give a brief, encouraging statement to motivate free thinking, then step back and allow the group independence with minimal interference. Facilitate focus gently if needed.
• Supervisor B (Structured): Deliver a 4–5 minute detailed “pep talk” emphasizing classification importance with real-world examples (libraries, supermarkets, HR). Hand out objects and instructions, then start the activity without taking questions or interruptions.

Participant Instructions

• Your team has 10 minutes to come up with as many different ways to group or classify the 25 objects as possible.
• Groupings can be based on material, use, shape, color, cultural significance, or other creative criteria.
• Record each grouping clearly on the flipchart.
• There are no wrong answers—as long as each grouping has a clear rationale.

Observer Guidelines (Optional)

• Silently monitor and take notes on:
  • Leader behavior (supportive, dominant, passive, overbearing)
  • Participation balance—whether a few dominate or the group collaborates evenly
  • Group atmosphere (relaxed, tense, collaborative, chaotic)
  • Creativity breakthrough moments and triggers
  • Signs of increased engagement or confusion, verbal and non-verbal

Timing & Agenda

• 5 mins: Private briefing of leaders and team setup
• 10 mins: Classification task
• 5–10 mins: Review and count number of groupings created
• 10 mins: Facilitated group debrief and reflection

Sample Classification Ideas

• By Material (e.g., plastic, metal, organic)
• By Function (e.g., cutting, writing, storing)
• By Color or Shape
• By Cultural or Emotional Significance (e.g., nostalgic items)
• By Real-World Example (e.g., supermarket categories, office supply types)

Debrief & Reflection Questions

• Which teams generated the most groupings, and which leadership style were they under?
• How did structure impact creativity—did it help by providing focus, or limit free flow of ideas?
• Were any team members frustrated by the leadership style?
• How do these leadership dynamics relate to real workplace scenarios?
• When might structured guidance be necessary and when can it stifle innovation?
• What did this activity teach you about your own leadership preferences and adaptability?

Expected Insights

• Unstructured leadership often encourages more diverse groupings through freedom and experimentation.
• Structured leadership may focus effort and yield fewer, but more targeted, groupings.
• The best leadership style varies with task complexity and team maturity.
• Creativity blockers include excessive control, unclear goals, or lack of psychological safety.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand how leadership styles affect team creativity and collaboration
• Recognize when and how to flex leadership approaches to match task type and team needs
• Learn to identify and overcome creativity blockers in groups
• Reflect on personal leadership styles and potential growth areas

Suggested Similar Activities

• Word Association Circle
  Boost mental agility and team energy with a circle game where players link words rapidly, promoting lateral thinking and playful connection.
• Innovation Constraint Game
  Practice creative problem-solving under strict resource and time limits by building prototypes from random materials and pitching ideas.

Related Training Material Packages

• Team Building Training Package
  Develop connection and collaboration skills essential to high-performing teams.
• Communication Skills Training Package
  Enhance verbal and non-verbal communication for clearer, more effective teamwork and leadership.
• Emotional Intelligence Training Package
  Strengthen self-awareness and empathy to support dynamic leadership and innovation environments.

Get Started with the 25 Objects Creativity Challenge

Experience how leadership influences innovation and team dynamics firsthand. Use this proven activity combined with our expert training packages to cultivate flexible leadership and unleash your team’s creative potential.

Training resources from TrainingCourseMaterial.com — instant download, fully editable, trainer-friendly.