Tired of seeing the eye rolls and groans every time you mention the words “team building games”? You want to build a fun, creative culture but it’s difficult to do when your team dreads any form of team building. This is why we have put together the 10 best team building games that your team will actually want to play over and over again.
1. Sell it
Time: 5-6 minutes
Number of Participants: One or multiple small groups
Tools Needed: Any random objects
Rules: Give a random object to one person in each of the groups. One at a time, each person will go in front of the group and demonstrate a made-up use for that object. The rest of the team must guess what the player is demonstrating. The demonstrator cannot speak, and each of the demonstrations must be original, hopefully crazy, ideas.
Objective: This team building exercise inspires creativity and individual innovation.
2. Positive/Negative
Time: 5-6 minutes
Number of Participants: Two or more people
Tools Needed: None
Rules: Person A shares something negative that happened in their life with Person B. It can be a personal or work-related memory, but it has to be a true story. Then Person A discusses the same experience again, but focuses only on the positive aspects. Person B helps explore the silver lining of the bad experience. Afterward, they switch roles.
Objective: Teams discover how refocusing negative situations into positive ones can create learning experiences.
3. Determine a Purpose
Time: 1 - 2 minutes
Number of Participants: Any
Tools Needed: None
Rules: Before a meeting, have each individual share what they hope to contribute to the meeting with as many other people as possible. You could even offer a prize for the person who shares the most ideas of contribution to the most people.
Objective: This exercise will help improve productivity by encouraging attendees to think about how they're going to contribute in advance.
4. Scavenger Hunt
Time: > 1 hour
Number of Participants: Two or more small groups
Tools Needed: Pen and Paper
Rules: Break the group into teams of two or more. Make a list of crazy, fun, or interesting tasks for each team to do as a group. Give the list to each team, along with a deadline by which they must complete all tasks. Whoever completes the most tasks the quickest, wins!
Objective: This is a great team bonding exercise that helps create camaraderie and introduce individuals to people they may have never worked with before.
5. Battle of the Airbands
Time: 15 - 30 minutes
Number of Participants: 5 - 10 people
What You'll Need: Speakers, smartphone or mp3 player
Instructions: Split your group up into teams of 3-4 people and let them decide who will be the singers, guitarists, drummers, etc. Give them some time to choose, rehearse, and perform a lip synced version of whatever work-friendly song they like. If teams have a few days notice, they can dress up or bring props. After the performances, teams can vote on the winner (with the caveat that no one can vote for their own band).
Objective: A great team building exercise and helps individuals relax, laugh, and enjoy some stress-relief together.
6. Community Service
Time: Several Hours
Number of Participants: Any
Tools Needed: Willingness to work
Instructions: Participate in Adopt-a-Family programs during the holidays, organize a beach clean up, or take on a community beautification project — any activity that appeals to your team or reflects your company values, gets everyone out of the office, and allows you to do some good for your community and your team.
Objective: Not only is this a bonding and team building exercise, but it has also shown to increase happiness and productivity when volunteering.
7. The Mine Field
Time: 15 - 30 minutes
Number of Participants: 4 - 10 people (even numbers)
Tools Needed: Various office objects, one blindfold for each team
Rules: Use boxes, office chairs, water bottles, etc. to create an obstacle course of "mines" within your empty space. Divide the group into pairs, where one partner is blindfolded. The other must guide that person from one end of the course to another without setting off any mines. The person guiding their partner cannot enter the course and must only use verbal instructions to get their partner through. Depending on the number of people you have and how difficult you want this activity to be, you can vary the number of pairs trying to complete the course at the same time so that pairs have to work harder to listen to each other and communicate clearly.
Objective: This game focuses on trust, communication, and effective listening.
8. The Egg Drop
Time: 1 - 2 hours
Number of Participants: Two or more small groups
Tools Needed: A carton of eggs; basic construction materials like newspapers, straws, tape, plastic wrap, balloons, rubber bands, popsicle sticks, etc.; tarp or drop cloth, parking lot, or some other place you don't mind getting messy!
Rules: Split everyone off into groups of three to five people and give each group an uncooked egg. Put all the office supplies in a pile. They have 15 to 30 minutes to use the supplies to build a contraption around the egg that will keep the egg from breaking when dropped. Some suggestions for supplies are: tape, pencils, straws, plastic utensils, packing material, newspapers, rubber bands. Once time is up, drop each egg contraption from the second or third floor of your building and see which eggs survive the fall.
Objective: Divide the group into teams and give each one 20-30 minutes to construct a carrier that will keep an egg safe from a two-story drop (or however high you choose). If you end up with a tie, gradually increase the height of the drop until you're left with a winner.
9. Online Karaoke Party (For Remote Teams)
Time: 30+ minutes
Number of Participants: 4-10
What You'll Need: Internet connection
Instructions: Use the built-in microphones and speakers on your computers to challenge teammates to a karaoke battle, compare high scores, or just have fun showing off your singing skills.
Objective: A great team building exercise and helps individuals relax, laugh, and enjoy some stress-relief together.
10. Conference Call Trivia (For Remote Teams)
Time: 30-60 minutes
Number of Participants: 4-10
What You'll Need: Internet connection
Instructions: Divide into teams and play trivia. You can find good trivia questions and answers online, or grab some Trivial Pursuit cards.
Objective: A great way to learn about coworkers non-work interests and hobbies.
