Hey, team builders of the world! Are you looking for some new and exciting team-building activities to spice up your next event? Well, look no further, because we’ve got you covered. From classic games to new and innovative ideas, we’ve got everything you need to make your event a success. So get ready to have some fun with your team!2
Chapters
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Chapter 1
Team Building Fundamentals
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Chapter 2
Qualities of a team
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Chapter 3
Benefits of team building
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Chapter 4
How to plan a successful team building event
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Chapter 5
Virtual Activities
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Chapter 6
Hybrid Activities
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Chapter 7
IN PERSON ACTIVITIES
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Chapter 8
FORMAL ACTIVITIES
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Chapter 9
Tools for team building
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Chapter 10
Team Building FAQ’s
Filter Team Activities
Chapter 1
Team Building Fundamentals
Humans are social animals. We’re built to live and work in groups. And yet, as much as we need team building, it doesn’t always come naturally. Perhaps it’s because we’re also competitive creatures, always looking to one-up our colleagues. Or maybe it’s because we’re just plain old lazy and would rather do things on our own than have to coordinate with others. Whatever the reason, team building is essential to the success of any organization.
Think about it this way: a group of people working together towards a common goal is always going to be more effective than individuals working independently.
Team building helps to foster collaboration and communication, two essential skills for any successful organization.
It also helps to promote problem-solving and creativity, as well as develop a sense of camaraderie and esprit de corps. In other words, team building is essential for the success of any business or organization.
A few statistics
We all know that team building is an essential part of business, but did you also realize just how much science goes into it? Here are some of our favorite stats on the topic!
• Virtual team-building has been one of the most popular trends since 2019. According to estimates from Upwork, by 2028, 73% percent of teams will include remote workers!
• 2500% more organizations are investing in virtual since COVID-19, it is clear that virtual team building is here to stay.
• Studies have shown that businesses that invest in team-building activities see an increase in revenue of 2.5 times.
• US companies lose a staggering $3 billion per year from negative attitudes at work.
• A study by Gallup found that employees who are engaged and committed are 20% more productive than those who are not and are 87% less likely to leave their current company.
• The feeling of isolation can make it difficult for employees to be productive. A recent study found that employees who feel like they’re alone at work have an average productivity reduction rate up 21%.
• When you socialize with your coworkers, it improves communication patterns by more than 50%.
• Virtual teams can work more effective than in-person ones if they have the right communication and support.
• Team members who are comfortable interacting with each other and sharing information in an informal manner tend to perform better as a team than those whose relationships suffer from miscommunication or lack of transparency.
• When employees are valued and their opinions count, the company could benefit from a 27% decrease in turnover rate as well as 40 percent fewer safety incidents. In addition to this, there will also be 12 percent more productivity created!
Chapter 2
Qualities of a team
There are a few key qualities that make up a good team:
• Good communication: Communication is essential. If team members are not able to communicate effectively, it will be difficult to work together toward a common goal.
• Mutual cooperation: Mutual cooperation is necessary. Each member of the team must be willing to work together and help one another.
• Strong Management: Strong management is essential. The team needs someone who can keep everyone on track and ensure that tasks are completed in a timely manner.
• Clarity and awareness: Each member of the team needs to be aware of the team’s goals and objectives. Without these qualities, it will be difficult for the team to function properly.
There are a few key qualities that make up a bad team:
• No Respect: A team that doesn’t work well together is like a group of toddlers trying to build a sandcastle. There will be a lot of fighting, crying, and ultimately, no castle.
• No Vision: A team that lacks cohesion is like a group of people trying to build a house with no blueprint. There will be a lot of confusion, frustration, and ultimately, no house.
• No Communication. A team without teamwork is like a group of people trying to solve a puzzle without working together. There will be a lot of frustration, wasted time, and ultimately, no puzzle solved
Being a team player is important if you want to be successful in any field. Whether you’re trying to win a sports championship or build the next great app, teamwork is essential. But what exactly makes a good team player? Here are some qualities to look for:
• Cooperative: A good team player knows how to work well with others. They understand that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, and they’re willing to work together to make the team stronger.
• Open: A good team player is open to new ideas and willing to change their opinion if it means the team can be more successful. They know that rigidity will only lead to failure.
• Reliable: A good team player can be counted on to do their fair share of the work. They understand that the team is only as strong as its weakest member, and they’re not afraid to pull their weight.
• Good listener: A good team player knows how to listen to others and take their input seriously. They understand that effective communication is essential for a successful team.
• Respectful: A good team player treats their teammates with respect. They understand that everyone deserves to be treated fairly and with dignity.
• Supportive: A good team player is supportive of their teammates, both emotionally and financially. They understand that a healthy team requires everyone to be working towards the same goal.
Chapter 3
Benefits of team building
• More trust: Trust is the foundation of any good team. Without trust, team members are constantly second-guessing one another, which can lead to miscommunication and conflict.
• Better Connection: Connection is another important element of a successful team. When team members feel connected to one another, they are more likely to be supportive and collaborate effectively.
• Increased Leadership: Leadership is another key ingredient in a successful team. Leaders set the tone for the team and provide direction and guidance.
• Better Communication: Communication is essential for any team to function properly. Without clear and concise communication, team members will quickly become confused and frustrated.
• More efficiency: When a team works together efficiently, there is less waste of time and resources.
• Less stress: Team building can help to reduce stress levels by promoting communication and collaboration.
• Better performance: With better performance, teams are able to produce high-quality work that meets or exceeds expectations. This is because team members are able to give and receive feedback, which leads to continuous improvement.
• Better service: Team-building can help to improve customer service. When employees feel like they are part of a team and that their input is valued, they are more likely to go the extra mile for customers.
• Boosts morale: Team building can boost morale. This is because when employees feel like they are part of a team and working together towards a common goal, they are more likely to feel invested in their work and have a positive attitude.
• Encourage creativity: Team building can encourage creativity by giving employees the opportunity to brainstorm and collaborate with others.
• Fosters Problem-solving: Team building can foster problem-solving by encouraging employees to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions.
• Better Culture: By creating an environment where everyone feels valued and appreciated, you can help to build a positive workplace culture. Any good team knows that culture is important.
Chapter 4
How to plan a successful team building event
So you want to build a team? Congratulations! You’re about to embark on a journey that will teach you the value of teamwork, communication, and compromise.
Here are a few tips to get started:
1. Define your goals
Without a shared vision, it’ll be difficult for team members to stay focused and motivated. Once you’ve got your goal in mind, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll work together to achieve it.
Examples:
- Have fun
- Strengthen communications
- Build relationships
- Experience connection
- Boost morale
2. Create an objective
Start by answering the five W’s
- Who: Sales team of 45 people
- What: Fun activity
- Where: New York City
- Why: Reward event for an awesome quarter
- When: August
Put that all together with your goal for a clearly defined objective for your team building event:
We want to reward our sales team of 45 people for an awesome quarter with a fun activity this August in New York City.
3. Establish a Budget
4. Choose the right activity with Matilda’s activity filters
When choosing a team-building activity, it’s important to consider the goals you want to achieve and the size and personality of your team. You should also make sure that the activity is appropriate for the time and budget you have available.
5. Find a Date & Time that suits everyone
6. Chose a venue or location to coordinate logistics
In Person/Formal:
- Will you be hosting an indoor or outdoor team building activity?
- Are there extra amenities, such as Internet access, audio, or visual equipment?
- Do you need a special permit or permission for outdoor areas?
- Is parking available, either for employees’ cars or a company-hired bus service?
- Will you need food & drinks
- Liability Waivers?
- Think of a List of items to bring to send to the team before hand
Virtual:
- Which meeting platform can I use (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.)?
- How many participants can fit in the meeting room?
- Does everyone have Internet access, audio, or visual equipment?
- Do you need a special permit or permission for certain activities?
7. Develop an event agenda and send to all participants
It’s a good idea to give people the option of opting out from team building. If you’re looking into how best handle this situation, we recommend an approach where people can opt out or opt in to just pairing up with others.
Give encouragement during the event:
When it comes to encouragement, be intentional about offering support – both online and off. A few kind words can go a long way toward making someone feel appreciated and valued during an activity.
8. Collect feedback to improve for the next one
Send out a google form or email to collect feedback.
Here are some questions to consider
- Was the objective of the event clear?
- Did you enjoy the activity?
- Did you feel like you got to know your teammates better?
- What was your favourite part of the event?
- What could we do to improve the event?
- Do you have any suggestions for future events?
Happy Team Building!
Chapter 5
Virtual Activities
1. Virtual escape room
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Virtual -
Creative Thinking -
4-10 members -
30min+ -
Mix -
Moderate
SUPPLIES: Puzzles, Video conferencing with screen sharing
PURPOSE: Promote problem-solving, team collaboration, and creative thinking.
If you’re looking for a team-building activity that will get everyone thinking, consider a virtual escape room.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Each team is given a set of clues that they must use to solve a series of puzzles.
2. The first virtual team to correctly solve all the puzzles wins!
3. To make things more challenging, you can set a time limit or add additional objectives.
With a little creativity, you can tailor the game to the interests and skills of your team. So go ahead and give it a try – you might just find yourself hooked on escape rooms!
Check out some puzzle ideas here: https://teambuilding.com/blog/escape-room-puzzles
2. Office Trivia: Remote Team Edition
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Virtual
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Team Collaboration
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4-10 members
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30min+
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Extraverts
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Challenging
SUPPLIES: A list of quiz questions & answers, Video conferencing with screen sharing
PURPOSE: Break the ice and get people to know each other better, improving team cohesiveness.
Office Trivia: Remote Team Edition game is designed specifically for teams working remotely, and it’s a great way to get everyone interacting and team bonding in a virtual conference room.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To play Office Trivia, simply gather your team members in a video call, and then divide them into two teams.
2. One person from each team will be the “quizmaster,” and they will ask questions from the provided categories (e.g., pop culture, history, geography, etc.).
3. The first team to answer correctly gets a point, and the team with the most points at the end of the game wins! So gather your team and get ready for some fun with Office Trivia: Remote Team Edition!
Here you can play: https://teambuilding.com/events/virtual-team-trivia
3. Standups Over Coffee
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Virtual
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Team Communication
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4-10 members
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30min+
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Extraverts
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Easy
SUPPLIES: Cup of Coffee, Video conferencing with screen sharing
PURPOSE: Build camaraderie and improve team communication.
Welcome to Standups Over Coffee! This team-building activity is designed to help your team get to know each other better and to promote open communication.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Each team member will take turns sharing something they’re grateful for, something they’re struggling with, and something they’re looking forward to.
2. To make things more interesting, you can use coffee mugs as props – just be sure to avoid hot beverages! Thanks for playing, and we hope you have a great time!
4. Online Gaming Sessions
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Virtual
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Team Communication
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2-4 members, 4-10 members
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30min+
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Introverts
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Moderate
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, laptop or desktop computer
PURPOSE: Improve team communication and organization.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. First, everyone must find a comfortable spot to sit or recline.
2. Next, each player must log into their respective gaming account on their laptop or desktop computer.
3. Make sure everyone has their headset on and the volume is set to an appropriate level.
4. Once everyone is logged in and ready to go, it’s time to choose which game you’ll be playing.
For this activity, we recommend something that is relatively fast-paced and relatively easy to learn. Once the game is chosen, it’s time to start playing! Work together as a team to achieve the objective, and have fun!
Check here the online gaming library and start to play: https://www.ea.com/en-gb/games/library
5. True Lies (Remote Edition)
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Virtual
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Team Collaboration
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4-10 members
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30min+
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Extraverts
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Moderate
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing
PURPOSE: Build relationships, and break the ice in new teams.
True Lies (Remote Edition) is a team-building activity that is best played with at least four people. The objective of the game is to lie about something to deceive the other players. The game can be played in the virtual conference room.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To start the game, each virtual team member will choose one person to be the “liar” for the round.
2. The chosen liar will then make up a lie about themselves. For example, they could say that they are an expert in some field or that they have a secret talent.
3. The other team members will then have to try to convince the other team that the liar is telling the truth. This can be done through Acting, Bluffing, and Deception.
4. The game is won by the team who manages to convince the other team of their lie.
6. Share Your Bucket List
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Virtual
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Team Collaboration
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10+ members
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15-30min
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Mix
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Easy
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, Paper, Pen/Pencil
PURPOSE: Break the ice and team bonding.
Grab your employees, log into Zoom, and get ready to have some fun! It’s time to share your Bucket List!
No matter what our age, most of us have a bucket list of things we’d like to do before we “kick the bucket.” This can be a fun team retreat that helps everyone get to know each other better and dream about the future virtually.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To play, each person writes down 5-10 items from their bucket list on slips of paper.
2. Then, everyone takes turns drawing a slip of paper and sharing the item with the group over a video call.
3. As people share, others can ask questions and offer advice or suggestions.
4. At the end of the game, everyone will have a better understanding of what makes their teammates tick and what they hope to achieve in life.
Who knows, you might even get some inspiration for your bucket list!
7. Virtual game show
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Virtual
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Problem Solving
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2-4 members, 4-10 members, 10+ members
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30min+
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Extraverts
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Challenging
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, a Series of questions
PURPOSE: Problem-solving, creative thinking, and teamwork.
Welcome to the Virtual Game Show! We’re excited to have you here as we test your knowledge on a variety of topics.
This game is designed for teams of 4-6 players, so get ready to team up and show us what you know!
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Each virtual team will be asked a series of questions, and the first team to answer correctly will earn points.
2. The team with the most points at the end of the game will be declared the winner!
Here you can start to play: https://teambuilding.com/events/ultimate-game-show
So, without further ado, let’s get started! Good luck, and have fun!
8. Virtual happy hour
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Virtual
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Team Collaboration
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4-10 members
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30min+
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Mix
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Moderate
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, Beverages
PURPOSE: Improve team relationships.
Gather your team for a virtual happy hour! This is a great way to socialize and improve team bonding, especially if you’re all working remotely.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Each person must find an alcoholic beverage (of their choice) and a non-alcoholic beverage.
2. Take a sip of your alcoholic beverage whenever someone says something work-related.
3. Take a sip of your non-alcoholic beverage whenever someone says something unrelated to work.
4. The goal is to finish your drink before the end of the happy hour. If you finish your drink early, you can either refill it or start munching on some snacks. Have fun and stay safe!
9. Pictionary
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Virtual
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Creative Thinking
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4-10 members
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15-30min
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Introverts
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Challenging
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, List of words or phrases, Paper, Pen/pencil
PURPOSE: Creative thinking and team collaboration.
Virtual Pictionary is a great team retreat that can be played online using a video conferencing platform like Zoom.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To set up the game, each team will need a list of words or phrases.
2. The first player on each team will choose a word or phrase, and then they will have 60 seconds to draw a picture of the word while their teammates guess what it is.
3. If the team can guess the word within the time limit, they get a point.
4. The game can be played in rounds, with each team taking turns choosing words. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins!
Virtual Pictionary is a great way to bring people together for some fun and laughter.
10. Show and Tell
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Virtual
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Team Communication
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10+ members
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30min+
-
Mix
-
Challenging
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, Any object
PURPOSE: Trust Building and team communication.
Show and Tell is a classic team-building exercise with a simple objective: to learn more about your teammates.
But in the age of social distancing, how can you play Show and Tell when you’re not in the same room? The answer is simple: by taking the game online!
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Each team member will choose one object from their home that they want to share with the group.
2. Once everyone has chosen their object, each person will take turns giving a presentation about their object, explaining why it’s important to them.
3. After everyone has had a turn, the virtual team can discuss what they learned about their teammates and how they can use that information to work better together.
So go ahead and give it a try – virtual Show and Tell is a fun way to build teamwork skills and get to know your colleagues better, all from the comfort of your own home!
11. A peek into each other’s homes
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Virtual
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Team Collaboration
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4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Extraverts
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Moderate
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing
PURPOSE: Build rapport and enhance team relationships.
If you’re looking for a remote team activity that will give you a peek into each other’s homes, virtual home tours are the way to go!
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To get started, simply choose a starting point and then have each participant take turns leading the group through their homes via video call.
2. Be sure to set some ground rules beforehand, such as not going into bedrooms or bathrooms, so that everyone feels comfortable sharing their space.
And don’t forget to have some fun with it – ask everyone to share their favorite room in their house or to show off any pets they might have.
Virtual home tours are a great way to get to know your team members on a whole new level!
12. Online Team Building Bingo
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Virtual
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Team Collaboration
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4-10 members
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15-30min
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Introverts
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Moderate
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, Computer or mobile device
PURPOSE: Team morale and cohesion.
Playing Online Team Building Bingo is a great way to build team morale and cohesion.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To play, each team member will need a computer or mobile device. Once everyone has joined the game, the fun begins!
2. The goal of the game is to collect as many bingo squares as possible. To do this, teams must work together to complete tasks and earn points. 3. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins!
So, what are you waiting for? Get your team together and start playing Online Team Building Bingo today!
Check out the free game board: https://teambuilding.com/blog/online-team-building-bingo
13. Virtual Trash Challenge
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Virtual
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Creative Thinking
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4-10 members
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5-15min
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Introverts
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Challenging
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing
PURPOSE: Creative Thinking and teamwork
The object of the game is to collect as much virtual trash as possible in the allotted time. The team that collects the most trash wins!
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Each team gets a virtual dumpster.
2. The game starts with a “trash pickup” period, during which teams have 2 minutes to collect as much trash as possible.
3. After the trash pickup period, teams have 1 minute to compact their trash in their dumpsters. This is done by selecting the “compact” button on the game screen.
4. The team that has collected and compacted the most trash at the end of the allotted time period wins!
You can play Virtual Trash Challenge with groups of any size, and the game can be played for any length of time you wish. It’s a great way to promote team building and environmental awareness!
14. Quarterly Christmas
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Virtual
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Creative Thinking
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10+ members
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30min+
-
Introverts
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Moderate
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing
PURPOSE: Critical thinking and teamwork.
Christmas is a time for giving, and what better way to show your team spirit than by playing Virtual Quarterly Christmas?
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Each player will need a sheet of paper and a pen.
2. Choose one person to be Santa, and provide them with a list of Christmas-themed items (e.g. candy canes, presents, etc.).
3. Santa will then send this list to all players via email or chat.
4. Players have two minutes to find as many items on the list as possible.
5. Once time is up, everyone will share what they’ve found and Santa will award points for each item.
6. The player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner!
So get into the Christmas spirit and give Virtual Quarterly Christmas a try – it’s sure to get everyone on the team feeling festive!
15. A Slack Channel To Post Cute Pictures of Pets
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Virtual
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Team Collaboration
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4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Introverts
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Easy
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing
PURPOSE: Team morale and engagement.
Looking to add some fun and levity to your workday? Why not set up a virtual slack channel dedicated to cute pictures of pets? This is a great way to connect with co-workers and build team morale.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. First, create a new channel in your slack workspace and call it something like “Cute Pets”.
2. Then, invite all of your colleagues to join the channel.
3. Once everyone has joined, start posting pictures of cute pets! Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs – anything goes.
4. Encourage everyone to participate by liking and commenting on each other’s posts.
5. To keep things fun, you can even set up weekly photo challenges with themes like “Best Dressed Pet” or “Funniest Pet Photo”.
So go ahead and give it a try – your co-workers (and your pets!) will thank you!
16. Guess the Emoji Board
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Virtual
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Team Communication
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4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Mix
-
Challenging
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, Laptop, tablet, or smartphone
PURPOSE: Build teamwork and camaraderie.
Virtual Guess the Emoji Board is a great way to get your team to work together and have some fun. Here’s how to play:
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Divide your group into teams of 4-6.
2. Each team will need a laptop, tablet, or smartphone with the Virtual Guess the Emoji Board game installed.
3. One player from each team will start the game while the other players watch.
4. The goal is to correctly guess the emoji clues as quickly as possible.
5. Teams will have one minute to guess each emoji clue. If they don’t know the answer, they can skip it and come back later.
6. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins!
17. Pancakes vs Waffles
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Virtual
-
Team Communication
-
2-4 members
-
30min+
-
Mix
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing
PURPOSE: Teamwork and communication
Virtual Pancakes vs Waffles is the perfect game for team building with groups of all sizes. The objective of the game is to guess which pancake is which by looking at a series of photos.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. The game can be played in two rounds, with each round lasting about 10 minutes.
2. In the first round, teams will have to identify the pancakes by their toppings.
3. In the second round, teams will have to identify the pancakes by their shape.
4. The team that guesses correctly the most times in each round will be declared the winner!
This game is sure to get everyone laughing and thinking, making it the perfect way to break the ice and build team unity. So gather your colleagues and friends, and get ready to play Virtual Pancakes vs Waffles!
18. Typing Speed Race
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Virtual
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Team Communication
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4-10 members
-
15-30min
-
Introverts
-
Challenging
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, Laptop or computer
PURPOSE: Team building and keyboard proficiency
Typing is not just for English class anymore! In fact, it can be a fun way to build team spirit and boost morale. That’s why we’ve created Virtual Typing Speed Race, an exciting game that anyone can play.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. First, gather your team of 5-10 people. You’ll need at least one person with a laptop or computer.
2. Next, choose short text passages (around 200-300 words) from a book, website, or article.
3. Each player will then have 2 minutes to type the passage as fast and accurately as possible. The goal is to see who can type the most words in 2 minutes!
4. After everyone has finished typing, the results will be tallied and the team with the most words typed will be declared the winner!
So what are you waiting for? Get your team together and start typing! Virtual Typing Speed Race is a great way to build team spirit and have some fun!
19. Virtual Pub Crawl
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Virtual
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Team Collaboration
-
4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Mix
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, Laptop or computer
PURPOSE: Team spirit and boost morale
Do you and your coworkers love spending time together at the local pub? Well, now you can take your team bonding to the next level with a virtual pub crawl!
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Each team member logs into the game from their own device. Then, using the in-game map, players navigate their avatars to different “pubs” (or checkpoints) around the city.
2. At each pub, players must complete a series of challenges in order to earn points for their team.
3. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins! And don’t worry, there’s no need to actually drink any alcohol – this is a virtual pub crawl after all!
So round up your coworkers and get ready for some fun (and maybe a little friendly competition)!
20. Arm’s Reach Show & Tell
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Virtual
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Creative Thinking
-
4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Extraverts
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing
PURPOSE: Team morale and creativity
You’ve seen Virtual Arm’s Reach Show and Tell on The Office, now it’s time to bring it to your team! This hilarious game is perfect for team building and can be played with groups of any size.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Each player comes up with an object that they would like to show and tell the group.
2. The catch is that the object must be something that can fit in their virtual arm’s reach, without them actually having to move from their seat!
3. Once everyone has decided on their object, the first player begins by showing and telling the group about their object.
4. The other players then have one minute to come up with their own creative interpretations of the object.
5. At the end of the minute, the second player begins their show and tell, and so on. This continues until everyone has had a turn.
The Virtual Arm’s Reach Show and Tell is a great way to get everyone laughing and thinking creatively.
Chapter 6
Hybrid Activities
Chapter 7
IN PERSON ACTIVITIES
1. Code of Conduct
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In-Person
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Team Communication
-
4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: None
PURPOSE: Team communication & values
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. In each round, one player will be the ‘caller’ and the rest will be the ‘responders’.
2. The caller will read out a scenario from the code of conduct, and the responders will have to decide whether they are breaking the code or not.
3. If they break the code, they lose a point. The team member with the most points at the end of the game wins!
Code of Conduct is a fun way to teach players the importance of following rules and regulations. It also helps to promote teamwork and communication within a group.
2. Guess Who?
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In-Person
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Team Communication
-
4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: Piece of paper, Pen/pencil
PURPOSE: Problem-solving & communication
The objective of this team-building game is to guess which team member is the designated secret person.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To start, each team member will need to write down the name of one team member on a piece of paper.
2. Once everyone has written down a name, fold up the papers and put them into a hat.
3. Next, have one person from each team draw a name out of the hat.
4. Whichever name they draw is the person they will need to guess.
3. Form the Order
-
In-Person
-
Team Collaboration
-
10+ members
-
15-30min
-
Easy
SUPPLIES: None
PURPOSE: Team communication & collaboration
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Each team member must line up in order from shortest to tallest. But there’s a catch – you can only communicate through charades!
2. To get started, have everyone stand in a circle.
3. Then, choose one person to be the first guesser.
4. The first guesser will stand in the middle of the circle and act out a clue for their team, without speaking or making any noise.
5. The rest of the team must try to guess who the first guesser is trying to indicate.
For example, if the first clue is ” taller than the Eiffel Tower,” then the team must try to figure out who is taller than the Eiffel Tower.
6. Once someone has guessed correctly, they will join the first guesser in the middle of the circle and act out the next clue.
7. The game continues until all team members are in order from shortest to tallest. So get ready to brush up on your charades skills – it’s time to form the Order!
4. Memory Wall
-
In-Person
-
Team Collaboration
-
4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Challenging
SUPPLIES: Blank wall, Paper, and pen
PURPOSE: Team Bonding & Icebreakers
Memory Wall is a classic team-building activity that is perfect for groups of all sizes.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To play, you will need a blank wall and a marker.
2. Write a list of instructions on the wall, such as “touch your nose,” “sing a song,” or “dance.”. As each instruction is completed, team members must remember what came before it in the order.
4. The game continues until someone makes a mistake or the list runs out.
5. To make things more challenging, try using harder instructions or adding more team members to the game.
Note
5. Minefield
-
In-Person
-
Team Communication
-
4-10 members
-
15-30min
-
Challenging
SUPPLIES: Paper plates or cups filled with water, Timer
PURPOSE: Critical thinking & team communication
The object of this team-building game is to reach the finish line without stepping on any of the mines.
Minefield is a great way to get everyone critically thinking and working together.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To set up, simply place mines (paper plates or cups filled with water work well) in a path leading from start to finish.
2. Then, have teams take turns sending one person at a time through the minefield.
3. The goal is to reach the finish line as quickly as possible without setting off any of the mines.
4. If a mine is hit, the team must start over from the beginning.
5. The first group to reach the finish line will be the winning team!
So give it a try next time you’re looking for a team-building activity.
6. Building a Storyline
-
In-Person
-
Team Collaboration
-
10+ members
-
30min+
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: None
PURPOSE: Trust, cooperation, and creative thinking.
This game is all about creating a hilarious story as a team, and it’s sure to get everyone laughing and working together.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. First, you’ll need to divide your group into multiple teams of three or four.
2. Then, each team will choose one person to be the storyteller.
3. The storyteller will start by making up a plotline for the story, and then the other members will take turns adding to the story.
4. The goal is to see who can come up with the funniest, most outrageous tale.
Best of all, it’s guaranteed to provide some good laughs along the way. So if you’re looking for a fun & simple team-building exercise, give Building a Storyline a try!
7. Charades
-
In-Person
-
Team Collaboration
-
4-10 members
-
15-30min
-
Easy
SUPPLIES: None
PURPOSE: Team communication & creativity
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. One player on the team will be the “actor” while the other team members are the “guessers.”
2. The actor will choose a word, phrase, or pop culture reference, and then act it out for the guesses.
3. The guessers can ask questions, but they cannot use any words that are part of the answer.
For example, if the actor is trying to act out the phrase “eating out,” the guessers could ask if it is a verb or a noun, but they could not say any words that have to do with food.
4. The first group to guess correctly will be the winning team! So get out there and start acting!
8. Birthday Line Up
-
In-Person
-
Team Collaboration
-
4-10 members
-
5-15min
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: Piece of paper, pen
PURPOSE: Problem-solving, communication
The object of the game is to guess which order the birthdays fall in.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To start the game, each player will write their name and birthday on a piece of paper.
2. The papers are then shuffled and handed out so that each player has a paper with someone else’s name and birthday on it.
3. Team members should not look at their papers.
4. The group then lines up in order from January 1st to December 31st.
5. The player who is first in line starts by saying “Happy Birthday” to the person next to them.
6. The next person then says “Happy Birthday” to the person next to them, and so on until the last person in line says “Happy Birthday” to the first person in line.
7. If the group gets it right, they win! If not, they can try again. Have fun!
9. Salt N Pepper
-
In-Person
-
Team Communication
-
4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: None
PURPOSE: Presentation, negotiation, creative thinking, and communication skills.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. The objective of this team-building game is to sprinkle salt and pepper on another player’s nose, without them noticing.
2. To do this, you will need two players to be the ‘salt’ and ‘pepper’, and the rest of the team to form a circle around them.
3. When the game starts, the salt and pepper must stand back-to-back in the middle of the circle.
4. The object of the game is for the salt to sprinkle pepper on the other player’s nose, and for the pepper to sprinkle salt on the other player’s nose. If either of them gets caught, they are out!
5. The last player standing is the winner. So, if you’re looking for a hilarious team-building activity, be sure to give Salt N Pepper a try!
10. All Adrift
-
In-Person
-
Team Collaboration
-
4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: a bucket full of balls, slippery floor
PURPOSE: Decision-making skills.
This hilarious team-based activity is sure to provide hours of fun and laughter.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Form two teams and line up behind the starting line.
2. On “go,” the first player from each team must race to the other side of the room, where they will find a bucket full of balls.
3. Using only their feet, they must then kick as many balls as possible back to their teammates.
4. The catch? The floor is slippery, so they must be careful not to slip and fall!
5. Once all the balls have been kicked back, the next player in line can go. The first group to finish wins!
11. Don’t Smile
-
In-Person
-
Team Collaboration
-
2-4 members
-
5-15min
-
Easy
SUPPLIES: None
PURPOSE: Team encouragement & laughter.
The objective of the game is to not smile while the opposing team tries to make you laugh.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To start, one person from each team will be the “smiler” while the rest of the team stands in a line behind them.
2. The first person in line will then start making funny faces at the other team’s smiler in an attempt to make them smile.
3. If the smiler smiles, they are out and the next person in line becomes the smile.
4. The game continues until one team has no more players left or the time limit expires.
12. Low-Tech Social Network
-
In-Person
-
Team Collaboration
-
4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: Cell Phone
PURPOSE: Team relationship & communication.
Looking for a fun way to team bond with your coworkers?
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. First, gather your team in a circle. Then, have each person take out their cell phone and place it in the center of the circle.
2. Next, everyone will take turns sharing something about themselves with the group.
3. It can be anything from their favorite TV show to where they went on vacation last year.
4. After everyone has had a chance to share, each person will choose one other person to add as a “friend” on their low-tech social network.
5. To finalize the game, each person will share one thing that they learned about someone else in the group.
Pro Tip
13. Spectrum Mapping
-
In-Person
-
Team Collaboration
-
4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Easy
SUPPLIES: Color Wheel
PURPOSE: Teamwork and communication.
The object of the game is to see which team can maintain the longest line without breaking hands or losing focus.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. First, gather your team in a circle. Make sure everyone has plenty of personal space and can see the center of the circle.
2. Next, have each team member close their eyes and choose a color.
3. Once everyone has chosen a color, have each person open their eyes and look around the circle.
4. The goal is to find the person who chose the color that is directly opposite of yours on the color wheel.
For example, if you chose red, you are looking for someone who chose green.
5. Once you have found your partner, stand next to them and holding hands, form a straight line across from the rest of the team.
6. Now, without letting go of hands, back up until you are standing on either end of the circle.
7. You should now have four lines of colors stretching across the room.
8. The final step is to have each team member shout out the name of their color as loud as they can! RED! BLUE! YELLOW! GREEN!”
14. Back of the Napkin
-
In-Person
-
Team Collaboration
-
2-4 members
-
15-30min
-
Easy
SUPPLIES: Napkin and a pen/marker
PURPOSE: Creative thinking and working together.
Back of the Napkin is a great game for team-building exercises and brain stimulation.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. The game is to draw a picture on the back of a napkin that represents a given topic.
2. The catch is that you can only use three lines and three dots!
3. This may sound easy, but it can be quite challenging to come up with a clever drawing that represents the topic.
4. To make things even more challenging, you can set a time limit for each round.
15. Magazine Story
-
In-Person
-
Team Collaboration
-
4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Easy
SUPPLIES: Magazine
PURPOSE: Team motivation, encouragement, visualize future success.
Now that you’ve assembled your team, it’s time to get started on your project.
But before you can begin, you’ll need to choose a team-building activity. And what better way to bond with your teammates than by playing Magazine Story?
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To play, each team member will take turns telling a story from their life.
2. The catch is that the story must be based on a magazine article.
3. So if you have a story about getting lost in the wilderness, you’ll need to find an article about someone who got lost in the wilderness and tell your story from their perspective.
4. Not only is this game a great way to get to know your teammates, but it’s also a lot of fun. So go ahead and give it a try!
16. Two Truths And A Lie
-
In-Person
-
Team Collaboration
-
2-4 members
-
30min+
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: None
PURPOSE: Build affinity & communication.
Two Truths And A Lie are great team-building games that can be played with groups of any size.
The objective of the game is to determine which statements are true and which is the lie.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To play, each player takes turns making three statements about themselves, one of which is a lie.
2. The other players then have to guess which statement is the lie.
3. The game is quick and easy to learn, and it’s a great way to get to know your teammates better. Plus, it’s just plain fun!
17. Coin Logo
-
In-Person
-
Team Collaboration
-
4-10 members
-
5-15min
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: Coins of different countries
PURPOSE: Team communication, promote self and mutual awareness.
Coin Logo is a great team-building activity that can be played with groups of any size. The objective of the game is to correctly guess the logo on the coin.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To play, each team will need a supply of coins and a timer. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
2. Each team will take turns flipping a coin. If the team guesses the correct logo, they earn a point. If they guessed incorrectly, they lose a point.
3. The game is played for a set amount of time (usually 5 minutes). At the end of the time, the team with the most points wins.
4. If there is a tie, each team will flip one more coin. The first group to guess correctly wins.
Note
18. Team-Made Puzzle
-
In-Person
-
Creative Thinking
-
4-10 members
-
15-30min
-
Challenging
SUPPLIES: Puzzle, a pencil, and a timer
PURPOSE: Team communication skills and teamwork.
Team-Made Puzzles are perfect team-building activities for groups who want to test their teamwork and problem-solving skills.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To play, each team will need a copy of the puzzle, a pencil, and a timer.
2. The goal is to be the first group to correctly solve the puzzle.
3. To start, each team will elect a team leader. The team leaders will then choose one team member the team to begin working on the puzzle.
4. The rest of the team must stand behind the designated solver and can offer advice, but they cannot touch the pieces or work on the puzzle themselves.
5. If at any point the team feels stuck, they can use the timer to call a timeout.
6. During this break, the team can discuss strategy and make any necessary changes. The key to success is effective communication skills and creative thinking.
7. With that in mind, teams should start working on their puzzles and see who can come out on top!
19. Simulated Problems
-
In-Person
-
Creative Thinking
-
4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Challenging
SUPPLIES: None
PURPOSE: Encourage teamwork and critical thinking.
Looking for a team-building activity? Look no further than Simulated Problems! This game is perfect for groups of all sizes and can be played anywhere.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To begin, each team will need to choose one team leader to be the designated problem solver.
2. The rest of the team will then take turns acting out various scenarios that the problem solver must figure out.
For example, one player might pretend to be a car that won’t start, while another player might act out a broken printer.
3. The goal is for the problem solver to figure out the cause of the problem and come up with a solution.
Note
20. Shark Tank
-
In-Person
-
Entrepreneurship
-
2-4 members, 4-10 members
-
30min+
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: None
PURPOSE: Promote unconventional thinking, collaboration, entrepreneurship, and teamwork.
Welcome to Shark Tank! In this team-building session, your team will have a chance to pitch their best business ideas to a panel of ruthless investors.
But beware – these sharks are looking for big returns, and they’re not afraid to tear your business apart to get it. So make sure you’re prepared before you enter the tank!
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Each team will appoint one member to be their ‘shark.’ This person will be responsible for assessing the other teams’ pitches and deciding whether or not to invest.
2. The other members of the team will be the ‘entrepreneurs,’ and they will have three minutes to pitch their business idea to the shark.
3. After the pitch is finished, the shark will decide whether or not to invest, and how much they’re willing to invest.
4. The team with the most successful pitches at the end of the team-building event will be declared the winner!
Good luck – and remember, no business is too small for a shark attack!
Chapter 8
FORMAL ACTIVITIES
1. Standups
-
Formal
-
Team Communication
-
2-4 members, 4-10 members, 10+ members
-
15-30min
-
Mix
-
Easy
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, Digital project board, Meeting space, Display screen
PURPOSE: Creativity and Communication
Do you ever find yourself wondering how the skills you use in your hobbies can translate to the workplace? Well, wonder no more! Today we’re going to show you how the popular team-building game of Standups can help improve your work performance.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. The first step to running a successful stand-up meeting is planning. Before you start the discussion, make sure that everyone on your team knows what will be discussed in advance and prepare some prompts for them so they have something worth talking about during their turn at bat!
It’s time for another Stand-up meeting! As the week begins, I want you all to reflect on what has happened since our last gathering.
-What are your biggest projects?
-How is progress being made towards achieving goals that were set out at this session?
-Who needs more support or guidance with their work , and why does someone need it instead of others ?
2. It is time to Stand Up! Even if you’re on a video conference call, this will keep the meeting focused and ensure everyone’s aware of what others have been up too. Each person should share their progress since last Stand-Up (15 minutes), as well as any plans for future ones – be they obstacles or opportunities; these things need addressing so we can move forward together towards our goals.
The meeting is a great way to stay on top of team progress. It also allows members time for side conversations without interruption from others in the call or meetings being scheduled while they’re trying their best work!
No more wasting time in pointless meetings or trying to track down that one person who always seems to disappear when there’s work to be done. So go out there and give Standups a try – your team will thank you for it!
2. Elevator Pitch
-
Formal
-
Creative Thinking
-
2-4 members, 4-10 members, 10+ members
-
30min+
-
Mix
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, Digital collaboration tool, Meeting space, Whiteboard or large sheet of paper, Markers, Timer
PURPOSE: Team communication and cooperation
When it comes to teamwork, few activities can teach you as much as the classic game of Elevator Pitches. Originally designed as a way to help salespeople hone their skills, this simple game can also be a valuable tool for building communication and cooperation within a team.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. For remote teams, start by creating a collaboration document like an account on Trello or Confluence. You can use the templates provided if you’d like but it is also possible to make your own! For in-person meetings take charge with sticky notes and markers and set up five columns:
-As A [Target Customer Type]
-Who Wants To [Customer Need]
-Which Is A [Product / Feature Of Services ]
-What Is The [Market Category]
-[Key Benefits] to solve Problem X And Give Y Value Through Z
It is important to have evidence for your product. If you are able, please share any information that would validate the need such as market research or customer feedback before sharing with teams.
2. It’s time to set the stage for the exercise! Let’s start by telling everyone what we’re going to cover in this session.
-Let them know that this exercise will be about our customers and how their projects fill a need for someone else by providing value through one of these four categories: innovations (new ideas), improvements, or sustainment efforts which help maintain what’s been done before; extensions are attempts to extend an existing service into new areas.
-The idea behind fill-in-the-blank exercises like these ones is simple – it forces individuals into thinking outside.
3. Why not ask everyone to add their ideas for filling in the information in brackets? You could do it either through your collaboration document or by placing sticky notes on a board. The brackets are like containers for ideas! You can put sticky notes in them, or write down what needs to be done. The possibilities of how you’ll use this information is endless because it’s open-ended – meaning there isn’t any wrong answer when filling these things out.”
4. It is important to have a clear idea of what your project stands for, so it’s best if the team votes on which ideas they believe represent this. One vote per column should do it!
5. Once all votes are in, use the cards with the most votes to complete the phrase “As a [target customer type] who want(s) ____ is an ___that can help them achieve their goals.”highest-voted cards capture project’s value given format or any changes needed.
Collaborating as a team, we need to determine if there’s anything wrong with the process and make any necessary changes.
6. It’s time to finalize your elevator pitch! As a team, verify that it captures the value of what you offer. In this final stage, you’ll document your pitch. As a team member, it’s important that we make sure the most concise way possible captures what value does our product offer or service provide?
3. Goals, Signals, Measures
-
Formal
-
Team Collaboration
-
2-4 members, 4-10 members, 10+ members
-
30min+
-
Mix
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: Whiteboard, Sticky notes, Markers, Timer, Rubber Chicken, Magic 8 Ball™, Confluence Template
PURPOSE: Teamwork and Creativity
In the business world, it’s all about working together as a team to achieve success. But what if your team isn’t exactly…shall we say, cohesive? One way to get everyone on the same page is by playing the Goals, Signals, Measures team-building activity. It’s a fun and interactive way to get everyone thinking about their goals, signals, and measures in terms of working together.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. The key to making this play work for you is understanding your team’s purpose. Do they want more customers? New market space, perhaps an entirely different type of business altogether – whatever it may be find out where the goalposts are and make sure that everybody knows what those goals entail before getting started on playing!
Also, prepare a project timeline as it is an essential tool for any team working on a collaborative venture. The time frame should be clear and concise so that everyone understands when they need to start or stop working in order to reach completion with all necessary tasks completed successfully!
2. The project stage is a crucial time for Full-time project owners. It’s important that everyone starts out on the same page, so let them know what they need to do in order to accomplish their goals. This is your chance to shine! Take charge and be the leader that everyone knows you can truly become. As project owners, it’s our responsibility not only for us but also those who depend on us – so set up some good old-fashioned brainstorming sessions with each member of the team in order both understand their goals as well as provide clarity around how these align or conflict within a larger mission statement/priority direction together.
3. Now that everyone has been grounded in the greater purpose, it’s time for some mental exploration! Brainstorming with your team is a great way to come up with creative and innovative outcomes. Spend five minutes individually brainstorming possible goals while posting them where all members can see what you’re thinking about or coming up with as responses from their own ideas on sticky notes so they don’t get lost among others’ contributions.” Remember that each goal should speak directly toward achieving its outcome (the entire picture), not just outputs such as creating an attractive iconography package–it might require rephrasing but keep at this until eventually tasting success!)
One way to ensure that your goals are achievable and not too difficult is by making them granular. This allows you to track their progress with specific Jira issues, which makes it easier for everyone involved in the project.
For example, say you’re trying to create the best-looking mobile app in business
The first step would be coming up with an attractive icon for it—a puzzle piece! Once that’s done then all we have left is increasing installs by as much as possible so people can find out how awesome our product really are (outcome).
A goal should not be so broad as to require tracking on an entire software suite but also cannot become microscopic either – if this sounds about right then great!
4. Prioritize your goals! You’ve brainstormed a dozen or more worthy aspirations. The next step is to narrow down all of those lofty desires into only three that you truly want to be fulfilled for yourself and/or the people on this planet we call home, so they can find happiness too in our increasingly complex world…but how? On your digital whiteboard (and large sheet) make one simple 3-column table labeled “No,” and another with responses maybe like “Yes” but no hurry – take time as well decide what’s most important because urgency does matter sometimes 😉 then go back over both columns again making sure each point aligns perfectly with the team’s purpose before moving ahead which will require some reflection.
5. Next, take your three goals and think about what “signals” can help you measure whether or not those are being achieved. These signals will be similar to key performance indicators (KPIs), but instead of measuring something like downloads they’re going to focus on outcomes-specific things such as conversion rates for example; these measurements provide insight into how well we’re doing at achieving our desired end result! So while thinking through the different types of successes that might occur along this journey ahead–like increasing installs via better marketing efforts than ever before!–each goal must have its own set signal associated with it.
We have been focusing on increasing installs, but now it’s time to shift gears. Remember that “creating an attractive mobile app icon” is a poor way of thinking about the goal itself because it speaks more towards what you want rather than how your project will perform in terms of actual outcomes–both downloads and ratings are important signals though!
The goal is to be at the top of search engines and have more people download our app. We know that it’s not easy, but we also believe in ourselves!
Signals: – We know that more and more people are looking for our app in the stores, which means we’re on a steady or increasing rise.
– More people are downloading our app, which means the number of downloads per day is steadily or increasingly increasing.
6. Now, Measuring your progress can seem like a daunting task at first, but it doesn’t have to be. For starters: what does success look like? How will you know if this goal has been accomplished or not successful in achieving the desired outcome?” measures should also allow room for stretch outside one’s comfort zone so avoid overly restrictive yes/no outcomes when possible; measure boldness by missing just ahead of schedule rather than waiting until after an estimate date.
Avoid binary measures that only have a yes/no outcome – they don’t allow or encourage you to stretch outside of your comfort zone. Speaking of which, be bold! A narrowly missed measure is better than an ultra-conservative one whose deadline has passed with no progress made at all.
We can use our mobile app as an example to illustrate some measures.
Now that we have a better understanding of what our app needs to do and be like, let us look at how you can make it more successful.
-From January through March this year (Q1) as compared with last quarter: Your target audience is searching for your product 20% less often;
-They are downloading 15% fewer apps each day – not just on their own devices but also when shared via social media channels such Twitter or Facebook which greatly impacts traffic visibility over time periods where those users come into contact high-converting promotions.
-Our star rating is at least 3.5 out of 5.
7. You’re almost done! There’s just one more thing to do before your project can be wrapped up and presented for review. Your team will need some time, so make sure you set aside an entire day or two where everyone on the squad is available—this includes all stakeholders who have been involved from start-to finish (meaning Step 3).
Once they’re ready get down into detail about what needs doing with each person accountable according their role within this step: gather resources by asking them how best would they like us reach out if there were any issues during execution; agree upon tracking methods and report.
By identifying and confirming each signal with the assigned owners, you will be able to start your project.
You’ll need a task list for gathering resources as well as an agreed-upon way of tracking signs/measurements; begin these steps now so that they can finalized before beginning work!
4. Problem Framing
-
Formal
-
Creative Thinking
-
2-4 members, 4-10 members, 10+ members
-
30min+
-
Mix
-
Moderate
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, Digital collaboration tool, Meeting space, Whiteboard, Sticky Notes, Markers, Timer
PURPOSE: Problem-Solving and Creativity
If you’ve ever been in a brainstorming meeting that felt like it was going nowhere, you’re not alone. Brainstorming is one of the most common methods for generating new ideas, but it can also be one of the least effective. That’s because traditional brainstorming relies on individual creativity, which often leads to participants feeling pressure to come up with ideas that are both original and practical.
However, there is a way to make brainstorming more effective: by playing a game called Problem Framing. Problem Framing is a team-building activity that helps participants generate new ideas by looking at problems from different perspectives.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. For remote teams, it’s important to create a collaboration document so everyone can contribute and understand the information at hand. To make this easier on yourself (and your team!), use one of these templates as guidance
-For individuals working from home or another location that is not their office space; prepare sticky notes and markers in advance representing who they need notification about next steps for during meetings – sends relevant supporting data if available beforehand.
2. Next, Your team needs to understand the problem. They’re not trying to solve anything today, they just want an understanding of what’s happening. It’s not about solving the problem, it is understanding and defining what is causing concern for your team.
3. Mow, get your team think about the problem from a different perspective. Think of it as if you were one of those people affected by this issue, and put your ideas on sticky notes or in our notebook for discussion!
4. The customer is asking for a solution to their problem. The team needs an idea of what the issue could be in order that we can provide them with one concise statement summarizing everything they want solved, and then work on solving this overall concern first before moving onto anything else!
The problem statement should include who is affected (the customers), why this needs solving for those people in order make life easier on them; including details about where exactly these issues happen – such as an app that doesn’t work properly when YOU open it up instead of just being logged into your browser like most web browsers nowadays do.
5. Off-Topic
-
Formal
-
Creative Thinking
-
2-4 members, 4-10 members, 10+ members
-
30min+
-
Mix
-
Easy
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, Digital collaboration tool, Meeting space, Timer
PURPOSE: Team bonding and Creativity
Do you ever feel like you’re just playing games at work? If so, then you’re in luck! Off-Topic is a great way to get to know your coworkers and learn how to work together as a team. The object of the game is simple: to get through as many topics as possible without repeating any.
If you’re looking for a way to build team morale and get everyone bonding, try playing Off-Topic. It’s a fun new game that’s perfect for any office or group chat.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Create a group chat room specifically for sharing book/article/movie recommendations, cat gifs, recipes, etc. Set notifications as lowkey as possible so the room doesn’t become a distraction. Do this at any time.
2. Whenever someone in the group makes an off-topic comment in another chat, they get a point. The goal is to see who can rack up the most points by the end of the day/week/month.
3. At the end of the period, the person with the most points wins! You can even offer up a prize for the winner, like a gift card or extra vacation days.
So go ahead and give Off-Topic a try – it’s sure to get your team laughing and bonding in no time.
6. Retrospective
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Formal
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Team Communication
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2-4 members, 4-10 members, 10+ members
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30min+
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Mix
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Moderate
SUPPLIES: Video conferencing with screen sharing, Digital collaboration tool, Meeting space, Whiteboard or large sheet of paper, Markers, Sticky notes
PURPOSE: Team Bonding and communication
If you’re looking for an activity that will help your team bond and build trust, look no further than the Retrospective team building activity. This fun and interactive game are designed to help teams communicate more effectively and work together more efficiently. The goal of the game is to identify areas where the team can improve, and then brainstorm ways to address those issues.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. For remote teams, start by creating a new collaboration document like Confluence or Trello. If you’re not sure how to do this then we have templates (above) that can help!
The first step is deciding on what type of feedback group will work best for your situation – in-person versus online. Whiteboard vs Post-It notes at meetings etc. Once these details are set up make sure there’s someone neutral facilitating the discussion so everyone feels comfortable contributing without fear their opinion won’t be heard; when people feel listened to they speak more openly about problems
The retrospective is a fun and challenging game that can help teams to learn and grow together.
2. The first step to improving your team’s performance is not taking any of it personally. Listen carefully to what your team is saying. Take their feedback and criticism seriously, but don’t let it personal or take you off guard – listen with an open mind so they can share how things could be better for them in future sprints/quarters, etc., focus on improvement rather than placing blame if there are issues at hand!
3. As a team, have each member write down what they did well and one idea per note. The team should get together and discuss what they did well, with one idea per note. They can group similar or duplicate ideas together to make the most out of their discussion.
4. When brainstorming for new ideas, have everyone write down what they think can be improved. Post the notes and group similar or duplicate themes together so that you don’t miss any good suggestions! Afterward, discuss each theme as a team to see if there are commonalities among them all before moving on with our next steps in this process.
5. One of the best things you can do to improve your community is to have a meeting. Get everyone in attendance together and brainstorm ideas for how they think it could be improved, one idea per note posted on handouts or walls around our office space! Give each person who takes an action their own task with specific due dates assigned based on availability so there will always be someone doing something (even if it’s just making notes) every day until all problems have been resolved once again and this time FOR GOOD!!
The retrospective is a fun and challenging game that can help teams to learn and grow together.
7. Project Kick-off
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Formal
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Creative Thinking
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2-4 members, 4-10 members, 10+ members
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15-30min
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Mix
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Moderate
PURPOSE: Team communication and Trust
When you’re starting a new project at work, it’s important to get everyone on the same page from the start. That’s why team-building activities can be so useful – they help build communication and trust within a team. But not all team-building activities are created equal.
Some are more fun than others, and some are more relevant to the work you’ll be doing on the project. If you’re looking for an activity that will translate well to your work on the project, try playing Project Kick-off.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To play, divide your team into two groups. The first group will be responsible for the list of all the tasks that need to be completed in order to successfully complete the project.
2. The second group will be responsible for brainstorming creative ideas to make the project more fun and engaging.
3. Once both groups have their lists, it’s time to kick off the project! The group with the list of tasks will start by sharing one task with the group with creative ideas.
4. Then, it’s up to the group with creative ideas to come up with a fun way to complete that task.
5. After each task is completed, both groups will share what they learned from the experience.
This activity is a great way to get everyone working together towards a common goal, and it can help generate some great ideas for making your project more successful. So next time you’re looking for a team-building activity that will actually help your team work better together, try playing Project Kick-off.
Chapter 9
Tools for team building
There’s no doubt that teamwork makes the dream work. But what tools do you exactly need to build a strong, cohesive team? We’ve got a few ideas.
Matilda
Use Matilda’s video, tasks, chat and notes features, to plan and run your next team meeting.
Visit matilda.io
GoToMeeting
Goto.com/meeting is a web-based application that makes online meetings easier. Try it out for your next Virtual Activity.
Visit goto.com/meeting
Slack
With Slack, you can easily stay up to date on what’s going on with your teams next activity.
Visit slack.com
WebEx
Webex offers a variety of features to make your next team meetings more productive.
Visit webex.com/
Trello
Trello is a great way to keep track of your upcoming event.
Visit trello.com
Google Docs – Notes
Google Docs is a free online word processing application that allows users to create and edit documents as part of your next team activity.
Zoom – Virtual Meeting
Zoom is a powerful communications tool that enables people to connect with each other from anywhere in the world. Maybe use zoom for your next hybrid event.
Visit zoom.us
Chapter 10
Team Building FAQ’s
1. Do I need to spend a lot of money on team-building activities?
No! There are many low-cost or even no-cost options for team-building activities. icebreaker games, for example, can often be played without any special materials or equipment.
2. Why do I need a team-building activity?
Team building activities help to improve communication and teamwork among team members. They can also help to increase morale, motivation, and boost productivity.
3. How can I make sure my team-building activity is successful?
There are a few key things you can do to help ensure that your team-building activity is successful. First, make sure to choose an activity that is appropriate for your group. Second, give your group ample time to complete the activity. And finally, debrief with your group afterward to discuss what went well and what could be improved upon next time.
4. How do I choose the right team-building activity for my team?
When choosing a team-building activity, it’s important to consider the goals you want to achieve and the size and personality of your team. You should also make sure that the activity is appropriate for the time and budget you have available.
5. Do I need to hire a professional to facilitate my team-building activity?
While you can certainly hire a professional facilitator to help with your team-building activity, it’s not necessary. There are many resources available online that can help you plan and execute an effective activity on your own.
6. Do I have to be a good athlete to participate?
No, you don’t have to be a good athlete to participate. You just need to be able to walk and talk at the same time.
7. I’m not very social, will I still be able to participate?
Yes, you will still be able to participate. There are many activities that involve low social interactions.
8. Is there an age limit for team-building activities?
No, there is no age limit for team-building activities.
9. How long do team-building activities typically last?
Team building activities typically last between 15min to 3 hours but this can vary depending on the number of people attending and the activities that are planned.
10. What if my employees don’t like team bonding activities?
If your employees seem reluctant to participate in team-building activities, try finding an activity that appeals to their interests or offers an added incentive like a prize for the winning team. You can also try breaking the group into smaller teams so that everyone has a chance to get to know each other better.
Finally, remember that not every employee will enjoy every activity—but as long as everyone is participating and having fun, you’re doing something right!
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