12 Amazing 5 Minute Team Building Games for Employees
Are you in search of some 5 minute team building games for your employees?
Effective experiential learning activities can help foster collaboration, boost morale, and increase productivity among your teams. As a busy leader, you might want some quick activities that can be seamlessly integrated into your workday, especially during a lunch or tea break.
In this article, let’s see 12 amazing 5 minute team building games for your employees. These exercises take less time and still make a big impact in your organization.
What Should You Consider Before Conducting These Games?
Here are the things to consider before conducting these games:
Team Size and Dynamics: Ensure the game is suitable for the number of participants and takes into account any team dynamics, such as hierarchies or conflicts.
Time and Schedule: Choose games that fit within the allotted time frame and don’t disrupt the work schedule.
Objectives: Clearly define what you want to achieve through the game, such as improved communication or teamwork.
Participant Interests and Abilities: Select games that cater to diverse interests and abilities to ensure everyone’s participation.
Work Environment and Resources: Consider the available space, equipment, and resources required for the game.
Inclusivity and Sensitivity: Ensure the game is inclusive and respectful of all participants, avoiding any activities that may cause discomfort or offense.
12 Amazing 5 Minute Team Building Games for Employees
Here are some amazing team building exercises for your employees that can be done in 5 minutes.
If you want to know how you can conduct these games, you can read this article for inspiration: How to Facilitate Team Building Activities in Your Workplace?
So, let’s get started!
#1. Story Starters
The goal of this game is to create a story step-by-step.
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: Story prompts
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Get some small pieces of paper and write the opening lines for stories. For example, once upon a time, a long time ago, etc.
- Ask a member from each team to pick one piece of paper and continue the sentence.
- Once they say one sentence, the next team member can tell another sentence. Then, move on to the next member.
- This process repeats until the story is completed.
Debrief
During the debrief, figure out what worked well and what didn’t in the storytelling process. Also, explore what insights the employees gained about communication, adaptability, and teamwork.
You can also read: 10 Team Building Games Without Materials for Adults
#2. Coin Logo
The goal of this activity is to create a logo using coins and explain its meaning.
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: Coins
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Provide an equal number of coins to each group.
- Request them to place their coins on the table.
- Give them some time to create a team logo using their coins.
- Once this is done, ask each group to explain about their logo, such as its meaning, reason for creating it, etc.
Debrief
Discuss the insights the employees gained from the creative process and how they collaborated to design their logo. Explore what the logo reveals about the team’s values, identity, or dynamics.
#3. Tug of War
The goal of this game is to pull off the rope and make the other team cross the line.
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: A large and strong rope
Participants: Need two teams of any size
Instructions
- Divide the participants into two teams of equal size.
- Get a large rope and draw a straight line on the ground.
- Ask each team to stay on different sides of the line by holding and pulling the rope.
- The team that successfully makes the opponent cross the line wins the game.
Debrief
Discuss what strategies the teams employed to win and how they worked together to achieve their goal. Reflect on what they learned about communication, teamwork, and problem-solving under pressure.
#4. Alphabet Game
The goal of this game is to find objects in the room that start with a particular letter of the alphabet.
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Split the participants into small teams.
- Give a number of letters of the alphabet to each team.
- Instruct them to find as many objects in the room as they can that start with one of the given letters.
- Allow a few minutes for them to deal with this task and see what happens.
Debrief
Discuss how the teams collaborated to find objects and what strategies they used to work efficiently under time pressure. Highlight the importance of communication, teamwork, and creative problem-solving in a fast-paced environment.
#5. The Paper Tower
The goal of this game is to build the tallest free-standing structure with the help of paper.
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: A large sheet of paper
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Divide the participants into small groups.
- Give a large sheet of paper to each group.
- Instruct them to build the tallest free-standing structure by using paper.
- Set a time limit for this activity and once completed, review each structure.
Debrief
Identify how the groups approached the challenge, what strategies they used to build their structures, and what factors contributed to their success or failure. Reflect on what they learned about teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and creativity in a time-constrained environment.
#6. Brainstorming Session
The goal of this activity is to brainstorm ideas based on a topic through collaboration.
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: Paper and pen
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Start by giving a topic to each team. Next, instruct them to brainstorm ideas based on the topic in 3-4 minutes.
- Meanwhile, one member on each team can write down the ideas.
- Once this is done, check the ideas and share them with everyone.
Debrief
Figure out how the teams generated ideas and what strategies they used to brainstorm effectively. Reflect on what they learned about collaboration and idea generation.
#7. Eye Contact
This is another simple, yet powerful exercise for trust building. Eye contact enables members to trust each other and makes them work towards a common goal.
Time: 5 minutes or less
Materials: None
Participants: Pairs
Instructions
- Divide the participants into pairs and each pair should stand face-to-face.
- Ask each pair to gaze into their partner’s eyes for a minute or more.
- Remember, people are not allowed to wear sunglasses in this activity.
Debrief
Discuss what the employees felt and observed during the eye-gazing exercise. Explore what they learned about connection and nonverbal communication.
#8. Your First Job
This is an icebreaker activity that helps team members get to know each other better and is ideal before a team meeting.
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: Paper and pen
Participants: 3-6 people per group
Instructions
- Ask the team members to write a brief story about their first job or even their worst job in 2-3 minutes.
- After that, each team member should share their story with others.
- To save time, you can also instruct the team members in one day advance to come up with their story.
Debrief
Reflect on what the team members learned about each other’s experiences and perspectives through their stories. Identify how sharing personal anecdotes can build connections, empathy, and understanding within the team.
#9. Two Truths and a Lie
Two truths and a lie will help individuals to know more about the people around them through interaction. The goal of this activity is to identify the lie from three different statements.
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: Paper and pen
Participants: 3-6 people per group
Instructions
- Ask each participant to write down two truths and a lie about themselves and advise them not to reveal the lie to anyone.
- Now, the rest of the group members should try to find out which one is the lie in 30 seconds.
Debrief
Discuss what the employees learned about each other’s personalities, interests, and experiences. Explore how this activity can help build connections, challenge assumptions, and foster curiosity within the group.
#10. Create an Ad
The goal of this game is to create an advertisement for the suggested product. This game really helps to improve the creativity of the team members.
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: Paper and pen
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Divide the participants into small groups.
- Introduce a new product to each group and explain its features as well as benefits.
- Now, instruct them to create an advertisement for this product.
- Then, each group should create a script through discussion.
Debrief
Figure out how the employees collaborated to create the advertisement, and what strategies they used to effectively communicate the product’s features as well as benefits. Discuss what they learned about teamwork, creative problem-solving, and marketing a product.
#11. Memory Test of Words
The goal of the game is to memorize a good number of words in a short period of time.
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: Paper and pen
Participants: 3-6 people per group
Instructions
- Display a list of 30-50 random words, such as the battery, cell phone, gold, pen, etc.. Next, allow the participants 1 minute to memorize as many words as possible.
- After that, hide the list and instruct each participant to write down the words they remember.
- Then, check what each person has written and ask them to share their list with their teammates.
- Finally, each team should come up with a master list by combining all the words written by their team members.
Debrief
Examine the strategies employees used to memorize and recall words. Reflect on how collaboration and pooling collective knowledge improved team performance as well as outcomes.
#12. Human Knot
The goal of this activity is to create a knot by holding the hands of others and untangling everyone without letting go of their hands.
Time: 5 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: 4-10 people per group
Instructions
- Instruct the team members to form a circle by standing shoulder to shoulder.
- Then, each member should lift their right hand and try to catch the hand of another person who is standing across the circle.
- After that, everyone should lift their left hand in the air and catch the hand of a different person. Make sure that no member is holding the hand of someone who is standing directly next to them.
- The purpose of this activity is to untangle everyone without letting go of their hands.
Debrief
Reflect on the communication and problem-solving strategies team members used to untangle themselves. Examine the challenges they faced and what they learned about teamwork as well as adaptability.
Want Some Unique Leadership Development Activities?
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Or Want Some Unique Team Building Activities?
If you want some unique activities for your employees (both in-person and virtual), you can get my new e-book:
Final Words
Incorporating quick activities into your workday can have a significant impact on employee morale, productivity, and collaboration. These 5-minute games are perfect for busy workplaces, requiring minimal setup and time while delivering maximum engagement. By surprising your teams with these activities during lunch or tea breaks, you can create a more positive and interactive work environment. Plus, it can lead to improved job satisfaction and performance among employees. So, try out these games and watch your team’s dynamics soar!
FAQ: 5 Minute Team Building Games
You might have these questions in mind.
Are these games suitable for all team sizes?
Yes, these games can be adapted to fit various team sizes, from small to large groups. Some games may require slight modifications to accommodate different team sizes. With a little creativity, these games can be effective for teams of any size.
How often should these games be played?
These games can be played as often as needed, depending on the team’s dynamics and goals. Conducting these exercises regularly, such as weekly or monthly, can help maintain a strong team culture. Consistency is key to seeing long-term benefits.
What are some good 5 minute team building games?
Some good games include “Alphabet Game,” “Coin Logo”, and “Story Starters”. These activities foster communication, collaboration, and creativity within the team. Plus, they are quick, fun, and effective ways to boost team morale.
Can these games be used for remote teams?
Yes, many of these games can be modified for virtual teams, using video conferencing tools and online collaboration platforms. Some games may require more creativity to adapt to a virtual setting, but they can still be effective. With the right approach, remote teams can benefit just as much as in-person teams.
How do I choose the right game for my team?
Choose a game that aligns with your team’s specific needs and goals, such as improving communication or problem-solving skills. Consider your team’s size, preferences, and time constraints when selecting an activity. Experiment with different games to find what works best for your team.
