Avoiding Catastrophe: The Role of Individual Accountability in Team Effectiveness

Abstract

The Avoiding CATastrophe exercise helps participants understand the importance of the individual in the success of the team. In this engaging exercise, participants use an interactive children’s game, called “cat-a-pult” to explore their own role in successful team functioning. In addition to learning about personal accountability, participants also learn how clear intragroup communication is integral to team success. The exercise is of benefit to instructors and trainers working with traditional-aged college students, adult learners, and corporate trainees. It can be used to demonstrate individual accountability, effective teams, and interpersonal and intragroup communication.