John Maxwell Leadership Game
Interactive Team Session
In-Person | Local Hickory, NC | & Virtual Options
Most team-building activities are forgettable. You do a trust fall, everyone laughs, and by Monday nothing has changed.
The Leadership Game is different, and the reason is simple: it gets your team talking about things they don't normally talk about. Not in a forced way. In a way that feels like a good conversation you didn't expect to have at work.
The John Maxwell Leadership Game for teams throughout Hickory. Serving areas in Catawba, Statesville, Alexander, Caldwell, Lincoln, Gaston, Burke counties, and throughout the Catawba Valley region. Also available virtually for teams anywhere! Sessions run 1–2 hours, group sizes 4+, and start at just $400.
What Actually Happens in a Session
Your team sits around a table. The game moves through a series of questions and discussion prompts built on John Maxwell's leadership principles, and each one opens a door.
Some questions are practical. Some are personal. All of them are designed to get honest answers out of people who normally give safe ones.
Here's what makes it work: nobody is being lectured. There's no slide deck. Your team does the talking, and my job is to keep the conversation moving, draw out the quieter voices, and notice the things that are worth noticing.
That last part matters. Throughout the session, observing how your team communicates, who defers to whom, where the energy rises, where it goes flat. As a facilitator this tells me where to steer conversation to dig in deeper. You'll walk away knowing something about your team you didn't know when you walked in.
By the end, two things have usually happened. People understand each other better than they did two hours ago and a few leadership ideas have landed that will still be there next week.
Who It's For?
The Leadership Game works for almost any group that needs to function well together:
Small teams looking for a meaningful team-building experience
Leadership teams who want to get on the same page
Office teams and departments working on communication
Non-profit boards building cohesion around a mission
Church staff and ministry teams
Youth groups, school groups, and church youth ministries (Youth Edition)
Anyone who needs an interactive team activity that people actually remember
You do not need any leadership training or experience to participate. Leadership skills are life skills, communication, listening, working with people who see things differently. Everyone in the room has something to contribute.
Two Editions
Corporate Edition
Built for teams, groups, and professional settings. Despite the name, it's a good fit for any group that's college-age or older. It doesn't have to be a corporation. Questions cover leadership, working in groups, communication, and workplace scenarios.
Great for: businesses, small teams, church staff, non-profit boards, municipal teams, and groups of any kind.
Youth Edition
Two setups depending on the age of your group. One is built for school-age children, roughly 8 to 12. The other is for teens, ages 13 to 18. Questions focus on school, friendships, and relationships with others rather than the workplace.
Great for: church youth groups, school groups, student leadership programs, and youth organizations.
What's included?
- A fully facilitated session led by a Maxwell Leadership Certified Trainer
- No materials needed — you don't need to bring anything other than a willing to learn attitude
- Guided discussion throughout the session
- My observations on your team's communication and dynamics, shared during the session
- Flexible format: on-site at your location or fully virtual
Combine it with Other Training
The Leadership Game works well on its own. It works even better as part of something larger.
Pair it with a DISC Workshop and your team goes from "we had a good conversation" to "we understand why we communicate the way we do." The game surfaces the dynamics; DISC explains them.
Or build it into a longer engagement using any of our workshops and training programs. Teams that use the Leadership Game as a kickoff tend to get more out of the training that follows, people have already loosened up and started talking honestly.
Bundling also brings the cost down. If you're planning multiple sessions, let's talk about what makes sense together.
FAQs
How long does the John Maxwell Leadership Game take?
A session lasts as long as you want it to, but most are scheduled for 1 to 2 hours depending on your group and what you're trying to accomplish.
How many people can play?
As many as you like. The game is designed for small teams of 4 to 12, but with slight modifications we can run it with hundreds! Larger groups play in parallel at multiple tables.
Do you travel to our office or location?
Yes. I'm available locally in Hickory, Conover, Lenoir, Taylorsville, Newton, Lincolnton, and the surrounding area. If you're farther away, contact me and we'll discuss potential travel costs.
What's the difference between the Corporate and Youth Editions?
The Corporate Edition is designed for teams, groups, and professional settings. While it's called "Corporate," it's a good fit for any college-age or older group. Questions cover leadership, groups, communication, and work-related topics. The Youth Edition has two setups: one for school-age children (roughly 8–12) and one for teens (13–18). Youth Edition questions focus more on school, friends, and relationships with others.
Do we need any leadership experience to participate?
Nope. This is a great activity for teams because leadership skills are life skills. Communication, working with others, and the various aspects of leadership will be impactful for your team regardless of anyone's title or experience.
What does it cost?
Sessions start at $400 and cap at $1,000 for a two-hour session with a large group of 50 or more. Discounts are available for non-profits, churches, military branches, first-responder agencies, and schools to further reduce the cost.
Can it be combined with other training?
Absolutely. Combining the Leadership Game with DISC assessments or building it into a training series is a more cost-effective way to include this kind of activity, and it makes the whole engagement stronger.
Can you run it virtually?
Yes. There's a full virtual version of the game that can be facilitated using virtual meeting software.