I spoke to a First Aid trainer who trains large corporate groups and she said that while suggested for ‘comfort’ reasons, getting students to remove their shoes to do the exercises breaks down the hierarchical barriers between colleagues and personal defences between student and teacher.

I have found in teaching that when trying to get a class to open up and share, sitting down is really helpful. Being at the same ‘level’ is a physical way to show equality and appear less intimidating. I remember at secondary school that teachers seemed like giants in the classroom when we were in our seats, even if we knew we were taller standing side by side.

In the workplace, I believe this holds true for manager employee relationships. Sitting down next to the employee when viewing something on a computer screen conveys a team vibe where literally looking over one’s shoulder or talking across a desk may lend itself to tension, or add ‘distance’.

The reverse of this is also useful of course. An employee hoping to appear more assertive may choose to stand in a superior’s office rather than sit, or a teacher may choose certain moments to stand up and walk around the classroom to assert some discipline or dominance.

I believe there are many ways to physically communicate a desired persona in working relationships, and also ways to manipulate the environment to support desired behaviour (more on this in a later post). I have always appreciated the beach as a great equaliser, as it really brings everyone back to the same level through dress, activity and mood:

• Dress – everyone is in board shorts or bathers; Very little conspicuous branding and we are more ‘naked’
• Activity – beach cricket, swimming, jogging, soccer etc are available to all cheaply or for free; there are low ‘barriers to entry’ unlike golf, cycling, motorsports etc. To paraphrase comedian Jimeoin, beach sports are all non-competitive. Frisbee you throw it, you catch it, and say “Good one”. In beach cricket, if you’re caught or bowled out, you just say “I’m not out”, and that’s okay!
• Mood – everyone is at the beach for relaxation. In some spots you may find surf/wave rage but for the most part everyone is in a relaxed state and friendly towards others.

For a manager looking to break down barriers for a team building activity, a unique activity such as barefoot bowling (lawn bowls) could be perfect as it is unlikely there will be experts (non-competitive), the barefoot nature brings everyone back to a more vulnerable state and the ‘team within a team’ nature of playing a few ‘ends’ in a pair within a smaller group fosters chit chat and bonding.