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
Mowgli's % of time speaking average in each game session
Reflection for Mowgli: 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 75% 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.
Mowgli, here's what we observed about your teamwork skills during recent game sessions: One thing you did especially well was actively using your teammates' names, like when you called out to Jack, ¡°Hey Jack, where are you going?¡± This helps build a strong team connection and ensures that your teammates feel included. Additionally, your direct acknowledgment, as in ¡°Okay, Bia, let's go, go, go!¡± adds energy and enthusiasm, maintaining high team morale. A next step could be to work on reducing redundancy in your speech, as repeating phrases like ¡°Okay, okay, okay,¡± without adding new insights can sometimes make communication less clear. Asking follow-up questions or confirming your understanding, like saying, ¡°Can someone explain this part?¡± can help make sure everyone is on the same page. How does this contribute to effective teamwork? Clear, concise, and varied communication helps everyone stay focused and understand the team's strategies, creating a more effective and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
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 Mowgli's Discussion session last week.
Reflection for Mowgli: How can you contribute to balanced communication with your team in Discussions?
Mowgli, here¡¯s what we noticed about your communication during last week¡¯s Discussion session: You show a great initiative and desire to keep discussions active, often suggesting changes and encouraging others to participate, as seen when you encouraged, "Leave chances to others." This shows your strong intention to ensure everyone is involved. Another instance where you demonstrated engagement was by expressing gratitude with, "Thank you very much," acknowledging contributions from your teammates. To keep building your skills, you might try focusing on maintaining the flow of conversation by connecting your ideas more directly to the topics being discussed. This could include elaborating on your thoughts or asking questions to engage your teammates meaningfully, which would help keep the conversations smoother and more productive for everyone.
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
