The Hostage

This is the colleague who clearly wishes they were anywhere else.

All it takes is one glimpse of fun to win them over. Within 10–15 minutes, they can go from disengaged to running up to the facilitator, proudly announcing they’ve finished the task.

The Hostile One

Unlike the hostage, they don’t just resist — they openly protest.

The trick? We don’t try to persuade them. We let the group’s energy, joy, and laughter work their magic. Once they find what excites them, they join in on their own terms.

The Competitive One

For them, every game is about winning.

This can clash with a cooperative game where there’s no individual victory. But once they realise the only way forward is as a team, their drive can become the engine that powers everyone.

The Sore Loser

They can’t stand losing and will go to great lengths to prove they’re right.

Here, the facilitator plays a big role in reframing the outcome: in some games, there are no true winners or losers. Helping them see this ensures they leave with a positive memory.