Are you looking for some company culture building activities?
As a business leader, you’re aware that a thriving corporate culture is more than just a trendy buzzword. It is the heart of an engaged, productive, and content workforce. Yet, crafting a culture that resonates with everyone can be quite a challenge.
In this article, let’s see 14 engaging company culture exercises that you can try with your employees.
What are the Signs of a Good Company Culture?
First, let’s see what are the signs of a good company culture.
A strong culture includes:
- The core values and beliefs that drive your business decisions
- A shared vision and mission for success
- Clear roles, expectations, and goals to maintain productivity
- Policies that encourage employees to perform at their best
- Open lines of communication throughout the organization
- A safe and supportive environment for employees to express themselves
- Recognition and rewards for successful work
- Opportunities for growth and career development.
These criteria will guide you while choosing the right corporate culture activities for your teams.
14 Best Company Culture Building Activities
Whether you want to build a positive company culture or are trying to strengthen your existing one, here are 14 team building activities that can help you.
#1. Company Slogan
This activity encourages employees to come up with a slogan that best represents the company.
Time: 15-20 minutes
Materials: Whiteboard and marker
Participants: Any number of employees per team
Instructions
- Have each member come up with a slogan that best represents the company.
- Ask them to explain why they chose it.
- Discuss each choice and select the one that resonates with the whole team.
Debrief
- What made this slogan stand out as the best fit for your company?
- How does the slogan reflect your team’s values, identity, or culture?
- In what ways could this phrase help employees feel more connected to the organization?
You can also read: How to Build a Positive Team Culture?
#2. Office Olympics
In this activity, employees should work together as a team by competing in fun and exciting office Olympics events.
Time: You decide
Materials: Depends on the event organized
Participants: Employees from all departments
Instructions
- Divide the employees into teams.
- Set up different office Olympic events such as tug-of-war, egg-and-spoon races, etc.
- Ask each team to compete in different events.
- Award points for each competition and declare a winner after all the events are over.
Debrief
- How did the Office Olympics shape a stronger sense of community within the team?
- Which part of the activity felt most fun or engaging for everyone involved?
- In what ways can team spirit from this event carry into daily work?
You can also read: The 20 Best Company Culture Books
#3. Culture Themed Escape Room
This game tests the employees’ problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate. It is one of the interesting corporate culture activities that can direct your groups to work towards a common goal.
Time: 15-30 minutes
Materials: Escape room setup, various puzzles, and clues
Participants: Groups of 3-6 people
Instructions
- Divide the employees into smaller groups and each group is put in a separate escape room.
- Provide each group with clues and puzzles related to the company culture, core values, or mission.
- Each group is given a set amount of time to solve the puzzles. They will get the room key only if they solve all the puzzles.
- The first team to solve all the puzzles and come out of the escape room wins.
Debrief
- How did your group work through challenges while solving the escape room?
- Which company values showed up most clearly in the puzzles or clues?
- Why do those values matter when your team works toward a shared goal?
You can also read: 10 Recruitment Team Building Activities (With Debrief)
#4. Inspire & Connect
This team building exercise allows employees to share stories and quotes that have had an impact on their lives.
Time: 15-30 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: 3-6 members per group
Instructions
- Ask each group member to take turns sharing a story or quote that has inspired them.
- Encourage everyone to listen actively and ask questions.
- Finally, the group can discuss their views and opinions.
Debrief
- Which story or quote felt most meaningful to your group, and why?
- How did what you heard deepen your understanding of your teammates’ values or perspectives?
- What actions could your team take to bring those ideas into everyday work?
#5. Team Dream Chasing
This is one of the amazing company culture building activities in the workplace. It encourages employees to come up with collective goals and create achievable steps for them while fostering trust.
Time: 15-30 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: Any number of people in a group
Instructions
- Have each group come up with a common goal they can pursue. For example, reducing customer wait times, or developing a new project within a certain timeline.
- Ask each group member to come up with achievable steps that they can take in order to reach this goal.
- Each group can discuss these steps and come up with a timeline for each step.
- Finally, each group can present their ideas and timeline to the other groups.
Debrief
- Where do your shared goals connect most clearly with the company’s mission and values?
- What support from teammates would make these goals easier to reach?
- Which challenges might slow your progress, and how could your group respond?
#6. Mission Statement Makeover
In this activity, teams should create inspiring mission statements based on the company’s values. You can also use it to evaluate current policies and procedures and how they match up with the mission statement.
Time: 15-20 minutes
Materials: Pen and paper
Participants: 3-8 members per group
Instructions
- Instruct each group to come up with a mission statement that reflects the company’s values.
- Allow time for them to brainstorm their mission statement.
- Invite each group to present their proposed mission statements to the other groups.
- Ask the groups to vote on the most inspiring mission statement.
Debrief
- Why do mission statements matter when teams make decisions each day?
- In what ways can employees use the mission statement to guide their daily work?
- What does being an ambassador for company values look like in your role?
#7. Culture Mapping
This activity helps build corporate culture by allowing employees to visualize the company’s fundamental principles.
Time: You decide
Materials: Whiteboard, markers, and post-its
Participants: Any number of people per team
Instructions
- Provide each team member with markers and post-it notes.
- Ask them to think of words that relate to the company’s values. For example, ‘innovation’, ‘collaboration’, or ‘flexibility’.
- Let them put up their post-its on a whiteboard to create a map showing each word and its corresponding value. For example, ‘innovation’ = creative thinking.
- Finally, each team should come up with a ‘theme’ for the corporate culture. For example, ‘working together for success’.
Debrief
- Which word-to-value connection felt most meaningful to your team, and why?
- How might this culture map shape the way people approach their daily work?
- Where do you see the strongest opportunity to live out these values more clearly?
#8. Collaborative Art
This exercise promotes creative collaboration among employees to represent the company’s culture.
Time: You decide
Materials: Craft supplies like paper, glue, scissors, etc.
Participants: Any number of people per group
Instructions
- Assign a piece of art or craft project that reflects the company values to each group. For example, a tree for teamwork, a light bulb for innovation, or a rainbow for diversity.
- Ask them to complete their assigned project by using craft supplies like paper, glue, scissors, etc.
- Finally, encourage all the groups to collaborate and combine their projects together in order to create a unified artwork.
Debrief
- How did each group’s contribution shape the final piece?
- What parts of the artwork best reflect your company culture?
- Looking back, where did collaboration help the team create something stronger together?
#9. Corporate Trivia
In this activity, employees can learn more about each other and the company through trivia questions.
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials: Questions about the company
Participants: 3-6 members per team
Instructions
- Create a set of trivia questions related to the company’s history, products, services, etc.
- Divide the participants into teams and ask each team to answer the questions.
- Award points based on the correct answers and declare the winner at the end.
Debrief
- What did this trivia activity reveal about your team’s shared knowledge of the company?
- Which questions sparked the most useful discussion about your workplace or culture?
- How can your team build on what you learned here in future activities or daily work?
#10. Goal Linking
This activity helps employees align their personal goals with the company mission while learning more about each other.
Time: 15-30 minutes
Materials: Post-it notes and markers
Participants: Any number of people in a group
Instructions
- Ask each member to write down their personal goals on a Post-it note.
- Then, they can share it with their team.
- Finally, encourage each team to come up with creative ways of connecting their personal goals with the company’s mission.
Debrief
- Where did you notice the strongest link between personal goals and the company mission?
- How might this alignment influence motivation, focus, or teamwork over time?
- What would help your team connect individual ambitions to the organization’s purpose more clearly?
#11. Strike a Pose!
In this exercise, employees can come together and represent the company’s values in a fun and creative way.
Time: 10 minutes
Materials: Camera or smartphone
Participants: All departments
Instructions
- Divide the participants into small groups of less than 10.
- Ask each group to come up with a creative way of expressing the company’s values through physical poses or body language.
- Take a picture of each group and post it on the organization’s website or social media platforms.
Debrief
- Which pose or photo captured your company values most clearly?
- How did creativity shape the way each group expressed your culture?
- What future use could these photos have in team bonding or company initiatives?
#12. Giving Back Together
This is one of the best culture building activities most businesses use. It’s a great way to strengthen bonds and contribute to society at the same time.
Time: Half or full day
Materials: Depends on the event
Participants: All departments
Instructions
- Identify a volunteer activity your team can participate in. For example, beach clean up, tree planting, food drive, etc.
- Encourage each team member to sign up for the event.
- Have everyone come together and participate in the volunteer activity as a team.
Debrief
- How did giving back together shape your team’s sense of purpose?
- What part of this experience felt most meaningful to your group?
- Where else could your team make a positive impact in the community?
#13. Anonymous Survey
In this exercise, employees can anonymously express their thoughts on company culture.
Time: You decide
Materials: Prepare some survey questions
Participants: Any number of people per group
Instructions
- Brainstorm a list of questions that will effectively measure the team’s shared values and beliefs.
For example,
What do you think are the most important values in our company?
How does our team show respect for each other’s opinions?
How can we make this workplace a more inclusive environment?
- Give each person a chance to anonymously answer them.
- Once everyone has submitted their responses, let them discuss the results as a group.
Debrief
- Which survey insight felt most important for improving your workplace culture?
- How could your team turn the feedback into practical next steps for inclusion and growth?
- What would help employees feel heard as these changes move forward?
#14. Feedback Marathon
This activity encourages employees to give each other honest and constructive feedback.
Time: You decide
Materials: Paper and pen
Participants: Groups of 3-8 people
Instructions
- Divide the participants into groups.
- Ask everyone to write down one thing they appreciate about each member of their group. Then, instruct them to write constructive criticism as well.
- Let them share their feedback with the group.
Debrief
- How does honest feedback help build trust within a team?
- When feedback is shared well, what impact can it have on growth at work?
- What can each person do to turn feedback into better teamwork?
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Final Words
Building a great corporate culture takes time and effort. By implementing a variety of company culture building activities, you can ensure that your employees feel connected, engaged, and motivated. Remember, happy people make a successful business!
FAQ: Company Culture Building Activities
You might have these questions in mind.
What are the benefits of a strong corporate culture?
A strong corporate culture can help increase employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention. It also supports team collaboration and innovation, which can lead to better customer service and improved business results in the long run.
How do you align employees with the company culture?
The best way to align your employees with your company culture is by providing clear communication and examples of how it should be embodied. You should also keep open lines of communication between teams and departments, as well as create a safe environment for employees to share their ideas and feedback.
What are some good company culture building activities?
Some of the good activities include icebreakers, communication exercises, and trust building exercises. Additionally, you can do team building activities such as escape rooms, corporate trivia, etc.
How do I ensure that my culture building activities are successful?
Start by making sure everyone on the team has a clear understanding of the activity and expectations. Set aside enough time for people to ask questions and provide feedback, then debrief after each exercise to review what was learned. Plus, encourage participation from all team members and make it fun!
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