We¡¯re excited to release our newest game,
Ducks Amok (named by a Synthesis student during Game Design Camp). It¡¯s a game that works both types of thinking: you and your team will need to coordinate short-term plans, then switch your brains to discuss long-term strategy between rounds. But first, you need to learn the game. Because life¡¯s problems don¡¯t come with complete instructions. And neither do our games.
Be sure to check out the
Teams Mission Brief for more details.
Communication in Game Sessions
Henry's % of time speaking average in each game session
Reflection for Henry: What's the most effective way to share information with your team?
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You contribute 0% of your teams¡¯ actions.
What contribution should each player make to the team?
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You use 72% of your available AP.
How are you using your AP to contribute to the team goals?
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If you notice that some of your teamwork data is missing or showing at 0%, it is because you have not attended a recent session featuring this game.
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You¡¯ve been around Synthesis Teams long enough to know that good
communication means more than just talking to your teammates.
It¡¯s about being thoughtful in the
way we communicate: using
teammates¡¯ names, being clear and specific, and asking clarifying
questions. It¡¯s about speaking up
and responding to others.
This month, we¡¯ll take a closer look at these important aspects of
teamwork as we examine your
productive communication skills.
Henry, here's what we observed about your teamwork skills during recent game sessions: One thing you did especially well was using affirmations and engaging actively with your teammates, such as when you said, ¡°Thank you very much,¡± which shows your ability to acknowledge and support others¡¯ contributions positively. Another great strength is your use of names in communication, like when you directed, ¡°Hey, Chase! Hey Jace, where are you going?¡± to include your teammates directly. A next step could be enhancing clarity and reducing repetition in your communication. For example, while your affirmations like ¡°Okay, okay, okay¡± help create a positive atmosphere, too many repetitions might confuse your teammates. Focusing on being more concise and specific when giving directions or feedback will help your team understand tasks more clearly. How does this contribute to effective teamwork? Clearer communication ensures everyone is on the same page, reducing misunderstandings and helping the team to work together smoothly. Keep practicing your communication skills, and you'll see improvements in your team's collaboration!
Observations based on your participation in game sessions in 3 of the past 4 weeks
On your journey to make any team you join better, you'll practice how to effectively communicate with everyone. Our Discussion sessions are carefully designed to provide opportunities for you to practice these critical communication skills in various ways.
Last week's theme was
"Black Swan Events." When we talk about risk, it¡¯s generally in terms of likelihood. However, that¡¯s not always the best lens. A black swan event is a rare, unexpected event, but with a huge impact. It seems highly unlikely beforehand but seems obvious in hindsight. Last week, we introduced you to ¡°black swan events¡± in the first half, and in the second half, we asked you to wrestle with a real one: the YR4 asteroid with a fluctuating risk of hitting Earth in 2032.
Communication in Discussions Sessions
Speaking % in Henry's Discussion session last week.
Reflection for Henry: How can you contribute to balanced communication with your team in Discussions?
Henry, here¡¯s what we noticed about your communication during last week¡¯s Discussion session: One thing you did especially well was actively sharing your thoughts and ideas, as seen when you said, "So I think the text took the extra time to obviously lock it up." Your willingness to contribute consistently shows your enthusiasm and engagement. Another great thing we observed is your attempt to acknowledge others, such as when you said, ¡°Peace. But, any question?¡± as this shows you are making efforts to connect. To keep building your skills, you might try organizing your thoughts more clearly before you speak. Using phrases that connect your ideas to others' comments could help keep discussions smooth and give everyone a chance to join in. For example, next time you could say, "That's a great point, [Teammate¡¯s Name]. Building on that, I think..." to enhance teamwork and group conversation flow.
Anyone who's on the path toward becoming a Supercollaborator is able to keep improving their skills and making course corrections. We look forward to seeing you at future sessions, and we'll continue giving you feedback on your teamwork and communication skills.
If your parent or guardian has any questions or comments about this email, tell them they can
fill out this 1-minute survey
to help us keep on improving our session feedback.
To the stars (and Mars),
Josh Dahn, cofounder
