Colourblind®

• Develop effective communication, team building, and problem solving skills
• Set up and manage an effective communication system that everyone understands and can use efficiently.
• Develop a dialogue which will lead to a common understanding of abstract concepts.
• Deliver a successful solution to the problem they face.
• To consider how to improve both communication systems and the quality of the messages which those systems support
• To practise effective listening and refine questioning skills
• To develop flexibility in communication skills, changing and adapting language to meet the needs of others
• To understand communication is culturally specific 
• Ensure we are using shared references to achieve common meaning

The materials supplied will enable you to work with the recommended group of up to 14 people. (If your group is larger then consider providing roles as observers rather than participants, or set-up another concurrent session).

You will need enough working space to ensure that the large team can work together and hear each other – the ideal arrangement is probably a ‘horseshoe’ shape of chairs, so that seated and blindfolded participants can receive the plastic pieces in their hands/laps.

Each participant is blindfolded and issued with a number of small plastic pieces. The team has to identify the colour and shape of two pieces that were removed from the complete set of plastic pieces. 

A period of between 20 - 30 minutes intense verbal information exchange and problem-solving approaches will typically be required depending on the abilities within the group.

The design of the Colourblind® activity and the complexity of the pieces can lead to confusion, ambiguity and uncertainty. To avoid this, precise descriptive language and careful feedback and checking skills must be applied. The use of only verbal communication mimics the amount of time we typically spend on email, telephone or other communications media when we don’t share the same visual frame of reference, and the resulting misunderstanding and even conflict that can develop when a truly shared meaning is not developed.

The activity itself is simple:
Teams of 6 - 14 gather knowledge to identify 2 coloured abstract shapes that are missing from a complete set of up to 30. The communication processes involved are much more complex and take participants through increasingly sophisticated patterns of communication until the task is achieved.

Individuals draw on their experience and descriptive skills to explain to each other abstract shapes that they can hold in their hands, whilst blindfolded. They use feedback and clarification skills to ensure that their understanding is accurate.

Origin

Colourblind® was developed in 1991 when our colleague, Dr. Geoff Cox, designed and delivered the first week of an induction training programme for Air Traffic Control cadets. Each cadet facing an intensive, demanding training programme in which teamwork and communication skills would be fundamental to success. Each, ultimately, would accept professional responsibilities which allow absolutely no margin for communication error, misunderstanding or ambiguity.

Colourblind® enabled participants to rehearse every communication skill which Air Traffic Controllers need and to highlight the problems and pitfalls which communication breakdown inevitably brings when there is no visual common ground

Since 1991 Colourblind® has been used worldwide across languages, cultures and business backgrounds, to focus on the fundamental skills of great communication.

Colourblind is also part of our Education Sector Package for those who wish to use it with students or young people in an educational setting.

Delivery

Product prices shown do not include delivery costs  (these will be shown when you add the product to the basket).
We use international and local courier services to provide a fast, secure and traceable shipping service to our customers.
Typically we will ship within one working day of receiving your order (if received by 14.00 local time), and your goods should be with you wherever you are in the world within one week!

Returns

We provide a 12 month unconditional guarantee.
If you have any problems with our materials, we will replace any defective parts, or you can return the product for a refund.