Are you in search of some cross-functional team building activities?
When it comes to modern-day businesses, the role of cross-functional teams is crucial. These teams typically include individuals with a different set of skills and knowledge. However, managing them can be challenging, as there may be conflicts and differences in opinions.
In this article, let’s see 10 team building exercises that you can conduct with your cross-functional employees. These exercises can help develop strong group dynamics and relationships among them.
10 Cross-Functional Team Building Activities for Leaders
Here are some helpful exercises you can try with your cross-functional teams:
#1. Engage and Connect
These are short, informal gatherings designed to break down silos and encourage networking within the company. It helps to boost camaraderie and cross-departmental relationships.
Time: You decide
Materials: Casual seating arrangement, and refreshments
Participants: Groups of any size
Instructions
- Select a theme or topic for discussion to spark interest. For instance, “travel stories,” “favorite books,” or “career growth tips.”
- Invite employees from different departments to join in on the conversation.
- Provide a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere for open conversation.
- Allow time for networking and getting to know colleagues from other areas of the company.
Debrief
Encourage participants to share their experiences and any new connections they have made. Highlight the value of diverse perspectives and how these interactions contribute to a richer, more collaborative workplace culture.
#2. Company Trivia
This is a competitive yet educational session that enhances team collaboration while reinforcing company and industry knowledge.
Time: You decide
Materials: Trivia questions, answers sheets, and pens
Participants: 2-6 members per team
Instructions
- Prepare a set of trivia questions related to your company, or industry.
- Divide the participants into small teams. Then, provide each team with an answer sheet and pen.
- Ask the trivia questions, allowing each team a short period to confer and write down their answer.
- After each question, review the answers and award points accordingly.
Debrief
Engage the teams in a discussion about the trivia content, emphasizing the relevance of shared knowledge and encouraging a culture of continuous learning. Explore how collaborative thinking contributes to better performance under time constraints.
#3. Diversity Dialogue
This is an excellent interactive activity to foster understanding and respect for diversity in your workplace. It allows your employees to gain insights into their colleagues’ unique perspectives and beliefs.
Time: 5-15 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: Any number of people in a group
Instructions
- Initially, propose a thought-provoking statement like:
“I prefer the convenience of working from home than commuting to the office every day.”
“A vegetarian diet is healthier than a non-vegetarian meal plan.”
- Following this, direct your group members to express their opinion on the statement by showing a “thumbs up” for agreement, a “thumbs down” for disagreement, and “crossed arms” for uncertainty.
- Next, invite them to share the reasons behind their response. Make sure to allow them the opportunity to modify their response if they wish to.
- Continue this procedure with 3-5 more statements of your choice, whether they pertain to your business or any other topic of interest.
Debrief
Discuss how respecting each other’s perspectives can foster change and growth within the workplace. Aim to identify at least one actionable step that the team can implement to better accommodate and celebrate diverse viewpoints.
#4. Two Truths and a Lie
This is an interesting icebreaker that encourages getting to know each other in a fun and light-hearted manner.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: Any group size
Instructions
- Ask each group member to think of two truths and one lie about themselves.
- Each member shares their three statements, and the group votes on which one they believe is the lie.
- After the group votes, the individual reveals the correct answer.
Debrief
Reflect on how well the employees know each other and the discoveries made during the game. Highlight the need for personal connections and understanding within cross-functional teams.
#5. Escape Room Challenge
This is an immersive and exhilarating team building activity. It pushes employees to unite their skills to solve puzzles and decipher clues.
Time: 15-30 minutes
Materials: A set of puzzles
Participants: 3-6 members per team
Instructions
- Set up a physical or virtual escape room with a variety of puzzles and challenges.
- Brief the teams on the objective and the rules of the escape room. That is, they must work together to solve the puzzles and escape the room within the designated time frame.
- Allow the teams to enter the escape room and start solving the puzzles. Offer hints or guidance if needed.
- The team that successfully escapes within the set time limit wins.
Debrief
After the challenge, bring teams together to discuss the strategies they used and underscore the value of diverse thinking. Delve into the insights gained from working under pressure and the importance of each team member’s contributions to achieving a common goal.
#6. Cross-Functional Case Study
This is one of the cross-functional team building activities that can underscore the value of diverse perspectives in crafting innovative solutions. It enhances collaborative skills and interdepartmental synergy through a real-world scenario.
Time: You decide
Materials: Paper and pen
Participants: Groups of 3-8 members from various departments
Instructions
- Provide each group with a brief outlining a specific business challenge. For example, a company struggling to increase sales and customer retention.
- Ask each group to come up with a solution, utilizing the perspective of their respective departments (e.g. marketing, sales, customer service).
- After the allotted time, have each group present their solution and discuss how their diverse perspectives contributed to it.
Debrief
Encourage discussion on the benefits of cross-functional collaboration and the importance of valuing different perspectives. Highlight how this exercise can improve communication, problem-solving, and overall team dynamics within an organization.
#7. Charades
This exercise leverages the power of non-verbal communication to foster a fun and interactive atmosphere within groups.
Time: You decide
Materials: None
Participants: Any number of people in a group
Instructions
- Utilize a Charades app or prepare slips of paper with phrases for the participants to act out.
- Divide the participants into groups and explain the rules: no talking, only gestures and actions are allowed.
- Now, each person can start acting out the phrases, and their group members try to guess them within a set time.
Debrief
Highlight how body language can be as effective as words and the importance of being attuned to others’ non-verbal cues. Discuss the role of patience and perspective-taking in ensuring successful communication.
#8. Scavenger Hunt
This is a popular exercise that promotes teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials: A list of items to find
Participants: 3-8 members per group
Instructions
- Divide the participants into small groups.
- Give them a list of items to find. These items can be related to your organization or industry.
- Set a time limit and ask them to start the hunt. The group that finds all the items within the given time will win.
Debrief
Discuss the importance of effective communication and collaboration in finding all the items within the given time. Encourage the employees to reflect on how they communicated, delegated tasks, and worked together during the activity.
#9. Skill Swap
In this activity, employees will have the opportunity to learn new skills from each other, fostering a sense of camaraderie and personal growth.
Time: 15-30 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: Any number of individuals per group
Instructions
- Ask each group member to write down a skill they possess that they can teach others (e.g. cooking, coding, public speaking).
- Have each person share their skill with the group and set a time for a “skill swap” session.
- During the skill swap session, employees can pair up or work in small groups to learn from each other’s skills.
Debrief
Discuss how this activity promotes collaboration, learning, and employee development within the team. Explore how these new insights can be applied across different workstreams, thereby enhancing overall organizational efficiency.
#10. Tower Building Challenge
In this game, employees should work together to construct the tallest tower using only a few supplies.
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials: Straws, tape, paper, and a timer
Participants: 2-5 members per team
Instructions
- Distribute equal sets of materials to each team.
- Set a clear goal: to construct the tallest free-standing tower within the given time limit.
- Encourage teams to plan quickly and start building, utilizing each member’s strengths.
Debrief
Reflect on the teams’ problem-solving approaches, celebrating innovative designs and strategies. Discuss the significance of adaptability and resourcefulness in overcoming limitations.
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:
Or Want Some Unique Leadership Development Activities?
If you want some unique activities to equip your employees with leadership skills, qualities, and mindset, you can get my new e-book:
Final Words
For leaders looking to propel their organizations to new heights, nurturing these cross-functional teams with the right activities is essential. It is through these efforts that you build a company culture that values diversity. Hopefully, with the above activities, you can foster strong relationships and dynamics within your cross-functional teams.