Pub quiz rules - Liz Copeland

Last night I took part in a pub quiz with a number of colleagues. Apart from a lot of fun and hilarity, I learnt that the game subbuteo gets its name from a bird 'subbuteo falco' (bird of prey) and that items that used to be called  Hanways are actually umbrellas.

Amidst all of this fun and games and while waiting for the 80s music round (which never materialised unfortunately - otherwise I'm sure we'd have won), I got to thinking how a Knowledge Hub group is a bit like a pub quiz team... Which in turn led to my KHub pub quiz rules...

More heads are better than one

I know we did better in the quiz as a team than I would have done if I were on my own. Our collective knowledge was much more powerful than any one of us taking part on our own.

Work together to find the answer

It helps to bounce ideas and thoughts off others. Something someone else says can trigger your memory and thought processes, which helps you come up with the answer - or vice versa. Working together to develop something often produces a more rounded, complete product at the end.

Say sorry if you get it wrong

OK I admit it... I convinced my team mates to give an incorrect answer on the sizes of the Olympic ski jump hills as 90 and 120m. Oops! Should have listened to the colleague who said it's actually 70 and 90m. (Sorry Nick!) The point is that we're all human and we all get things wrong sometimes. If you do, hold your hands up and apologise. People will respect you for that.

Celebrate if you get it right

I think everyone was surprised (including me) at my rather uncanny knowledge of songs from musicals. (I don't even like musicals that much.) However it was great cause for celebration in the team when we got most of the answers in that round right! Recognising the strengths of others and celebrating individuals' contributions is important for team morale and engagement.

Communicate, communicate, communicate

You'll never get anywhere in a pub quiz if you don't communicate with each other. Sometimes communication needs to be quiet and discrete so that others don't hear your answers (a bit like a KHub restricted or private group). Other times answers need to be shouted loud and shared with everyone (especially when you got the answer right) - like a KHub open group.

Pub quiz lessons

I guess the comparison between a Knowledge Hub group and a pub quiz team is simplistic. But the lesson here is not to underestimate what a group of engaged, interested people can achieve together. After all, sixth place in the pub quiz last night wasn't bad, but imagine what we could have achieved together if we were all experts in trivia (and musicals!). Knowledge Hub groups are full of skilled professionals and experts in their fields - that collective knowledge working together is extremely powerful and can create amazing value for the public sector.

Check out some of the most active groups on knowledge hub here.

Find a whole range of tips and advice on running a group here.