Vertigo

Choose this exercise

Purpose: To coordinate movement and communication within physical space constraints under timed conditions.

Use it when: Use as a physical energizer during an in-person session when a group needs to reset their attention through active movement and quick team problem-solving.

Skip it when: Skip when participants have limited mobility, when close physical proximity causes discomfort, or when running an exclusively virtual session.

Group arrangement: Single whole group or two competing subgroups of 6 to 8 people

Timing: UWT suggested duration based on source time band of 5 to 15 minutes

Materials and tools

• 1 roll of painter's masking tape
• 1 stopwatch or digital timer
• 1 flip chart and marker to record round times

Before participants arrive

1. Before participants arrive, tape a rectangular boundary on the floor.
2. Size the taped area so all participants fit comfortably standing shoulder to shoulder with minimal empty room to walk around freely.
3. Ensure the floor surface is non-slip and clear of trip hazards.

Say this to open

Welcome everyone. Please step inside this taped boundary on the floor. Imagine we are suspended high in the air on a platform, and the ladder just came down. Your goal is to rearrange your line according to specific prompts without anyone stepping outside the tape boundary. I will time each round. If someone steps across the line, your team receives a five-second penalty added to the round clock.

How to run it

1. Step into boundary and learn the rules 3 minutes

   Direct everyone inside the taped shape. State the opening script. Announce the safety boundaries: no pushing, stepping on feet, or reckless balancing. Establish that stepping outside the boundary incurs a five-second penalty rather than elimination. If groups exceed 8 participants, split into two separate taped platforms.

2. Run round one: calendar sort 4 minutes

   Announce the first sorting challenge: order the line from January 1 to December 31 by birthday month and day. Start the timer. Group members must maneuver past each other without setting foot on the floor outside the taped lines. Stop the timer when the group signals completion and stands steady. Check the sequence verbally and write the elapsed time on the flip chart.

3. Run round two: tenure sort 4 minutes

   Announce the second challenge: sort in order of organizational tenure from newest hire to longest serving. Challenge the group to beat their round-one time while keeping all feet inside the perimeter. Start the timer immediately. Stop the clock when the line stabilizes. Confirm the order and post the new time.

4. Debrief coordination strategies 4 minutes

   Gather the group just outside the taped area for a brief discussion. Ask two focused questions about how the group coordinated navigation in a tight space. Conclude on schedule.

Debrief questions

• What specific tactic helped people maneuver around each other without stepping outside the line?
• How did time pressure affect the clarity of your communication during the second round?

Finished output: A completed sequence of timed sorting trials logged on the flip chart.

Remote

This physical spatial game requires in-person presence on a taped floor. For a remote team, run a separate digital coordination drill: have participants arrange a list of names or rearrange camera order in a gallery view using designated chat commands within a two-minute timer.

Hybrid

Do not attempt to blend remote and in-person participants into the same platform mechanic. In-person participants run the taped platform exercise while remote participants run a digital sorting challenge in parallel, followed by comparing their coordination methods during the joint debrief.

Access and participation choices

• Offer the official timekeeper, safety spotter, or alignment judge role to anyone who prefers not to stand in close proximity or balance in tight spaces.
• Participants may step off the platform at any moment without penalty or explanation.

If the session gets stuck

The taped area is too large, making movement trivial with no physical challenge.

Pause between rounds and pull the tape boundaries inward to reduce available surface area.

Participants bump into each other or risk tripping while rushing against the clock.

Halt the timer immediately, remind the room that physical safety overrides completion speed, and restart the round.

Terms used here

• Tenure: Length of time a participant has worked at their current organization or team.