Hammer and nails

by Tolla Pieterse
(Heidelberg GP)

The hammer and nails activity is aimed at showing people that the way we approach one another might require different styles to accommodate different personalities.

How does it work?

Prepare three nails, one very small, one regular size and a third a very very big nail. Then prepare three hammers for the activity. Again small, regular and huge. Finally, prepare three blocks of wood to hammer the nails in.

Issue one member of the team with the smallest nail and the largest hammer. The next member with the regular nail and hammer. Then issue the next team member with the biggest nail and the smallest hammer.

Then instruct them all to hammer their nails in the wood.

Most probably the person with the biggest hammer and the smallest nail will destroy the nail without getting it in the wood. The person with the regular nail and hammer will perform very well doing a good job. The person with the huge nail and small hammer would most probably never get the nail in the wood.

Then change the nails and hammers to suit one another and then let them do the same exercise. Now you will see that all the nails go in more effectively.

So What? Strong personalities require strong leadership approaches. "Softer" personalities require softer leadership approaches for teams to be effective.

Facilitate the groups emotions and debrief points.

Enjoy this activity, it is a powerful reality check.