Who doesn’t love a great murder mystery game? Whether it’s Agatha Christie, Cluedo (Clue if you’re in America), a dinner party game, or the latest TV mini-series, we seem to have a collective passion for trying to work out who did it, and why.
With a rich, comedic storyline that revolves around a social gathering with characters like Betty Dunnit, Eileen Dover and Paul Doften, participants love it. And, as they try to sort through the evidence and piece together the clues, they quickly forget they’re in a training environment. Which means you (and they) get to see real behaviours, real strengths and areas where they could really improve!
Most importantly, the skills they’ll need to solve the puzzle are those they’ll need to be effective in the workplace, with success dependant on their ability to:
- Run a focused, structured and disciplined meeting.
- Work effectively as a team.
- Communicate effectively.
- Avoid making assumptions (about each other or the ‘suspects’).
- Ensure everyone is involved and heard.
- Gather information and piece together vital evidence.
- Solve problems using logic and creative thinking.
- Manage challenges and differences of opinion.
- Manage their time effectively.
It’s this combination of fun and workplace relevance that has earned the activity a five-star rating from L&D professionals, and comments like:
“One team solved the murder - just in time. One nearly got there and the other two were way off. None of that really mattered though, it was the discussions we had afterwards that really emphasised the value of the exercise…. At the end of the event, the team all went to the pub and took me along with them. It was interesting how much the conversations related to the exercise and the fun they had whilst working on it.”
“I have run this brilliant activity a handful of times now, each time the groups had a different spin on the activity. It is so versatile and such a fun way of getting the groups really working together and solving the murder! The session allows for a brilliant wrap up at the end, with it providing some brilliant talking points to draw out some success/best practice and also some areas to focus on for growth.”
“People were so engaged they carried on working through their break! The presentations generated a huge amount of debate and humour. Although one of the groups was close to solving the murder, no one managed to find the solution, which really helped with the discussion about collating information and communicating within teams. This is another really clever and well-designed exercise.”
“I love this activity. Used it many times, particularly in my talent development programmes. Really highlights the importance of sharing information and asking great questions. Also, the pitfalls of making assumptions and jumping to conclusions.”
So, if you’re a Trainers’ Library member who’s not yet used Murder at Glasstap Grange, why not give it a go?
And not just in training – it’s a brilliant Assessment Centre activity too!
If you have used it, tell us how it worked for you, by leaving a review of it
here. Remember, every time you review a Trainers’ Library activity you’ve used, you’ll earn a virtual ticket in our quarterly prize draw.
And, finally, if you’re not yet a
Trainers’ Library member, why not contact us today to find out how to gain access to our incredible library of innovative training activities, games, icebreakers, review exercises, case studies and more, all backed up with comprehensive trainer notes and all the support you need to generate brilliant results.
p.s., As with most of our team building games, you can buy an optional
game pack for Murder at Glasstap Grange. It includes an A1 laminated roll-up floor plan and stand-up character cards, allowing participants to track the story visually, and adding extra ‘wow’ to the learning experience.