For 30 years, I have been believing that The Search for The Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine is The Perfect Team Building Game.

And I am loving the fact that Perplexity is so good at gathering and summarizing information. Here is what the AI said when I asked about the game, something needing only a few tiny edits and the inclusions of some images:

The Search for The Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine is an ideal game for discussing inter-team competition and the need for collaboration due to its design and objectives. Here are the reasons why it is perfect for this purpose:

1. Emphasis on Collaboration Over Competition

The primary goal of the game is to “mine as much gold as WE can,” highlighting the importance of collective success over individual team achievements. This setup encourages participants to think beyond their immediate team’s success and consider the overall outcome for all teams involved.

2. Realistic Simulation of Organizational Dynamics

The game mirrors real-world organizational challenges where different departments or teams must collaborate to achieve common goals. It provides a safe environment to explore the consequences of both cooperative and competitive behaviors, making it easier to relate the lessons learned to workplace scenarios.

3. Structured Debriefing

The debriefing session is a critical component of the game, allowing participants to reflect on their actions and decisions. This structured reflection helps teams understand the impact of their strategies and behaviors on overall performance, reinforcing the value of collaboration.

Here are 20 slides from a short engaging debriefing focused on strategic planning and alignment and asking for personal commitment to doing collaborative things differently.

4. Resource Management and Strategic Planning

Teams must manage limited resources such as food, water, and fuel while navigating different routes to the mine. This aspect of the game teaches the importance of strategic planning and resource sharing, which are crucial for successful collaboration.

5. Flexibility and Scalability

The game is designed to be flexible and can be scaled to accommodate groups of various sizes, from small teams to large organizations. This makes it suitable for a wide range of contexts, from deep discussions in team-building workshops to large corporate retreats and the goals of alignment to shared missions and visions. My group deliveries have happened for as few as 7 participants in 3 teams) up to 250 in 50 teams, a common large group size. 

Example Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine teambuilding game room layout for 24 teams of 6 players each.

6. Engaging and Interactive Gameplay

The game’s engaging and interactive nature keeps participants motivated and involved. The use of cowboy-themed props and a competitive yet collaborative environment adds an element of fun, making the learning experience more memorable

7. Focus on Leadership and Communication

The game emphasizes the importance of leadership and effective communication within and between teams. Participants learn to trust their leaders and communicate openly to achieve the best possible outcomes, which are essential skills for fostering collaboration in any organization.

Six slides often used in our debriefings on teamwork and collaboration and the negative impacts of competition on overall performance.

8. Proven Track Record and Positive Feedback

The game has been used worldwide for over 30 years, receiving positive feedback for its effectiveness in improving teamwork, communication, and leadership skills. Testimonials from various organizations highlight its impact on fostering collaboration and breaking down silos.

Testimonials Highlighting Collaboration

• Steve Welland, Strategic Development Institute: “Works in all types of companies and drives organizations toward Collaboration and Teamwork! The debrief options allow you to fully customize the delivery to any audience. Well designed and easy to deliver”.

• David Simpson, Team Building Asia: “Our clients love the activity and are always greatly impressed with its great metaphors and linkage to their day-to-day business. These are then used to create meaningful Action Plans with real and tangible outcomes that aid strategic planning, closer collaboration, and more”.

In summary, The Search for The Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine is an excellent tool for discussing inter-team competition and the need for collaboration due to its emphasis on collective success, realistic simulation of organizational dynamics, structured debriefing, and engaging gameplay. It effectively teaches participants the value of working together towards a common goal, making it a powerful experiential learning tool for any organization.

For me, playing with the design and continuous improvement of the game and the materials over the past 30 years, all this is pretty amazing. It is neat to know that we have designed one of the very best team building simulations in the world and that we have been able to impact over a half-million people.

We CAN improve collaboration and decrease all the negative impacts of competition if we use good experiential learning tools to make the experience memorable and actionable by committed players.