The Empower Leadership Podcast episode #17 focuses on the Pipeline activity, a foundational team-building initiative used to teach leadership, collaboration, trust, and accountability.

Activity Overview

The primary objective of Pipeline is for a group to transport an object (typically a golf ball) from a starting line into a finishing bucket using sections of halved PVC tubes.

●       Group Size: Ideally suited for teams of 6 to 12 people.

●       Setup: The distance between the start and finish must be greater than the total length of the tubes combined, forcing participants to move and reconnect their sections.

●       Standard Rules:

●       Each participant receives one tube.

●       While the ball is in their tube, a participant can rotate their upper body but cannot move their feet.

●       The ball cannot stop, roll backward, or fall.

●       The ball may only touch the inside of the tubes or the bucket.

●       Any rule break requires the entire team to restart at the beginning.

Common Mistakes and Facilitation Points

The speakers highlight several common behavioral patterns that emerge during the activity, which serve as key teaching moments:

●       Speed vs. Control: Teams often rush, creating a "rocket launcher" effect that makes the ball impossible to catch. Facilitators use this to teach that control and visibility are often more important than raw speed.

●       The "Observer" Mentality: Participants often watch the ball roll past rather than immediately moving to the end of the line. This highlights a lack of trust and a failure to perform one's specific role.

●       Failure to Plan the Finish: Groups frequently plan for the transport but neglect the actual drop into the bucket, often overshooting it due to excitement or crowding.

●       Credit vs. Team Success: Sometimes an individual will try to "steal the glory" by inserting their tube at the last second, often causing a failure. This leads to discussions on whether the individual's accolades or the team's success is the priority.

Modifications and Variations

The activity is highly flexible and can be adjusted for different difficulty levels:

●       Terrain: Adding slopes or slalom courses with cones increases the challenge.

●       Objects: Using balls with more friction (whiffle balls) makes it easier, while smaller or faster objects (marbles, super balls) make it harder.

●       Pipeline Pandemonium: A competitive version using multiple objects and targets with varying point values.

●       DIY Options: For those without PVC, the activity can be replicated using pool noodles cut in half or even manila folders.

Episode Timeline:

●       Introduction to Pipeline: The speakers introduce "Pipeline" as a staple team-building activity they have referenced many times in previous episodes. (00:01)1

●       Activity Setup: The goal is to transport an object, usually a golf ball, from a start line to a finish bucket using sections of PVC pipe cut in half. (03:45)2

●       Core Rules: Participants cannot move their feet while holding the ball, and the ball must never stop, roll backward, or touch anything except the tube. (05:24)3

●       The "Speed" Trap: A common initial mistake is groups trying to go too fast, which often leads to losing control of the ball. (06:51)4

●       Trust and Observation: A lack of trust is shown when players watch the ball instead of moving immediately to the end of the line to extend the pipeline. (09:18)5

●       Operational Breakdowns: Failures at the end of the line are often a result of how the ball was  handled earlier in the pipeline, rather than just the last person's fault. (14:56)6

●       Planning the Finish: Groups frequently fail because they plan for the start and transport but do not coordinate how to actually drop the ball into the bucket. (18:08)7

●       Distance and Terrain Mods: The difficulty can be adjusted by changing the distance (from 30 feet to 200 yards) or using sloped terrain. (26:47)8

●       Equipment Variations: Using different objects like marbles (faster/harder) or tennis balls (slower/easier) can scale the challenge. (31:22)9

●       Pipeline Pandemonium: A competitive version involves multiple targets and objects with different point values to introduce strategy. (33:18)10

●       DIY Pipeline: The activity can be replicated cheaply using pool noodles cut into sections or even manila folders in an office setting. (36:47)11

●       Conclusion: The speakers emphasize that the game's value lies in teaching individual accountability, focus, and setting teammates up for success. (41:24)

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