25 Objects Creativity Challenge

Category: Games & Activities
Estimated Time: 25–30 minutes
Group Size: Teams of 5–9 participants
Best for: Creativity, innovation, leadership style awareness

Objective:

This activity explores how different leadership styles influence creativity within a group. Participants are given a set of 25 miscellaneous objects and asked to classify them into as many groupings as possible—under either structured or unstructured leadership. Through this task, teams experience firsthand how direction, freedom, pressure, and group dynamics affect idea generation and problem-solving.

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 a plastic bag)
  • 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 for safety)
• Flipchart paper or large sheet for each team
• Marker pen
• Printed instruction sheets for:
  • Supervisor A (unstructured leader)
  • Supervisor B (structured leader)
  • Group participants
  • Optional: Observers

Setup & Roles:

1. Divide participants into equal-sized teams (5–9 people each).
2. Assign one person as the team leader. Half the leaders receive instructions as Supervisor A (unstructured), and the other half as Supervisor B (structured). These instructions are private and must not be shared between leaders.
3. If available, assign an observer to each team to take silent notes on group behavior and leadership impact.

Instructions for Supervisors:

Supervisor A: Gives a short encouraging statement, then steps back and allows the group to approach the task freely, with minimal interference.

Supervisor B: Delivers a short 4–5 minute “pep talk” on the importance of classification using real-world examples (libraries, supermarkets, HR departments, etc.), then hands out the objects and instruction sheets and starts the activity—without taking questions.

Participant Instructions:

These are handed out by the team leader only after their introductory remarks:

• Your team has 10 minutes to come up with as many different groupings or classifications of the 25 objects as you can.
• Groupings can be based on material, use, shape, color, cultural significance, or any criteria you define.
• Write down each grouping on the flipchart provided.
• There are no wrong answers—as long as each grouping has a clear rationale.

Observer Instructions (Optional):

Observers should silently monitor and take notes on:

• Leader behavior (supportive, dominant, passive, overbearing, etc.)
• Group participation – balanced vs. dominated by a few voices
• Atmosphere – relaxed, tense, collaborative, chaotic, etc.
• Breakthrough moments and what triggered them
• Verbal or non-verbal signs of increased creativity or confusion

Trainer Script for Launching the Activity:

“We’re going to test your group’s creative potential using a challenge involving 25 everyday objects. Team leaders, please step forward to receive your private instructions.”

Once leaders are briefed and ready:

1. Each leader gathers their team around the table.
2. The leader delivers their pre-written intro speech.
3. Then, they hand out the instruction sheets and dump the envelope of objects onto the table—this signals the start of the 10-minute classification task.

Timing:

• 5 minutes – Private leader briefing and team setup
• 10 minutes – Main classification task
• 5–10 minutes – Review group output (number of groupings)
• 10 minutes – Facilitated debrief

Debrief & Key Discussion Points:

• Which teams created the most groupings? What leadership style did they work under?
• Did structure help or hinder their ability to think creatively?
• Was anyone frustrated by the lack of direction or by too much guidance?
• How does this reflect real-life leadership scenarios in the workplace?
• When is structured guidance valuable, and when can it limit innovation?

Expected Outcomes:

• Teams led by unstructured supervisors typically generate more groupings.
• Structure, while well-intentioned, may limit free-form idea generation.
• However, occasionally structured teams outperform if the leader delivers inspiration without over-controlling.
• The ideal leadership style often depends on the task and team maturity.

Learning Outcomes:

• Experience firsthand how leadership style affects team creativity
• Discover the power (and risks) of structure in problem-solving
• Learn to recognize creativity blockers and enablers in group settings
• Reflect on personal leadership preferences and flexibility

Suggested Similar Activities:

Related Training Material Packages:

• ✅ Team Building Training Package
• ✅ Communication Skills Training Package
• ✅ Emotional Intelligence Training Package