5 Similarities Between Construction Projects and Escape Rooms
My family recently talked me into attempting a new escape room in Bozeman. Now, I love a good puzzle, and I love my family, so I nervously agreed. When I first entered the escape room, I felt a mix of excitement and dread. I was eager to dive in but also wary of the unknown challenges ahead. It was like staring at a blank canvas, knowing we had to work together to create a masterpiece under a ticking clock. Yes, we solved it, and the feeling was relief and euphoria. We were high-fiving, laughing, and basking in the glory of our collective genius. It was a moment of triumph, much like an awards event or a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the end of a construction project.
While managing a large construction project and working with a team to escape from a locked room might seem worlds apart at first glance, they share surprising similarities. Both require teamwork, problem-solving, and a dash of creativity and humor. Here are five similarities between construction projects and escape rooms from which we can draw.
1. Lessons for Project Teams
I believe Project Teams can learn a lot from escape rooms. Quick thinking and adaptability are paramount in both settings. Escape rooms teach the value of curiosity, looking at problems from different angles, and thinking outside the box—invaluable skills when unexpected issues arise on the construction site.
2. The Design and Structure for Communication
In both scenarios, having a plan is crucial. This means detailed design drawings, work plans, and budgets for a construction project. In an escape room, your plan is more of a mental map, piecing together clues and puzzles to find your way out. While the drawings and specs are tangible documents, the escape room plan is often scribbled on a whiteboard or, more likely, exists in the chaotic minds of your teammates. On very large projects, teams struggle because plans exist in team member’s brains but may not be articulated across the team. We need structures like the three-week look ahead, pull planning sessions, or other forums where we can review the entire plan together, or we will really struggle when an unanticipated issue arises. Team members can feel locked in a room with no escape! If the team fails to communicate and problem-solve effectively, valuable time and trust can be lost.
3. Team Dynamics
Teamwork is the cornerstone of success in both arenas. In an escape room, you have the puzzle solvers, the clue finders, and the timekeeper. Each person’s strengths must be leveraged to crack the code. In construction, we have experts in architecture, engineering, construction management, and implementing the work in the field.
We need to realize that our titles are just the starting point. Great teams take the diverse group of subject matter experts and determine the best way to work on problems and reveal solutions for the project as a whole. What is different are the stakes. In an escape room, a miscommunication might just mean an extra five minutes of frantic searching. In construction, poor problem-solving can delay a project by days or weeks, leading to frustration or wasting tens of thousands of dollars.
4. Problem-Solving Under Pressure
Both environments thrive on problem-solving. Escape rooms are designed to test your problem-solving skills under pressure. The clock is ticking, and every second counts. Project Teams must navigate unexpected challenges like supply chain issues or weather delays. They need to think on their feet and adapt plans accordingly. The key difference is the nature of the problems. While escape room puzzles are designed to be solvable (albeit sometimes infuriatingly tricky), construction issues can be complex, costly, and involve multiple stakeholders.
5. The Satisfaction of Success
Finally, escaping a room offers only immediate gratification and a burst of adrenaline, the sweet taste of success. On the other hand, completing a construction project brings a sense of accomplishment that can last a lifetime. You’ve created something tangible, enduring, and ideally, built some great relationships along the way!
So, while it is true that the worst outcome in an escape room is a bruised ego and a missed opportunity for a celebratory photo, they can be instructive. Complex projects require teamwork, problem-solving, and a big dose of forgiveness and humor. Whether you’re building bridges or breaking codes, how the team undertakes the journey goes a long way to determining when and how the team reaches the destination.
~ Kate
Kate Stewart’s distinguished career spans 25 years as a professional neutral and organizational development consultant for numerous large organizations. Her expertise includes Partnering facilitation on high-profile projects, such as the Kansas City International Airport mega program. She has served as a coach, trainer, researcher, and thought leader across various industries and disciplines on both domestic and international fronts. Kate is based in the picturesque Paradise Valley, Montana, where she enjoys hiking, gardening, and reading.
For more information, please contact Kate Stewart, katestewart@orgmet.com / (406) 414-9922 (cell) or OrgMetrics RobReaugh@Orgmet.com / (925)449-8300