10 Kindness Team Building Activities for the Workplace

Are you in search of some kindness team building activities?

Creating a work environment that fosters kindness not only enhances team morale but also boosts productivity and job satisfaction. As a leader, you should promote a culture of generosity among your employees.

In this article, let’s see 10 exercises that will help you promote kindness and strengthen bonds among your teams. These activities are simple, so you can easily incorporate them into your workplace.

10 Kindness Team Building Activities for the Workplace

Here are some team building exercises to foster kindness in your workplace:

#1. Compliment Circles

This is a quick activity designed to foster positive communication and appreciation among employees.

Time: 10-15 minutes

Materials: None

Participants: 4-10 members per group

Instructions

  • Form a circle with all group members facing inward.
  • Each person gives a sincere compliment to the person on their right. For example, “I really admire how you handled the client meeting last week.”
  • Continue around the circle until everyone has received and given a compliment.
  • Remind the groups that compliments should be genuine, focusing on traits, behaviors, or contributions that truly stand out.

Debrief

Reflect on how receiving a compliment made employees feel and how it affected their view of the person giving the compliment. Highlight the power of positive recognition and its ripple effect in boosting morale.

#2. Random Acts of Kindness

This activity encourages a culture of kindness through simple, thoughtful gestures that can significantly impact team dynamics and morale.

Time: You decide

Materials: None

Participants: Entire department or organization

Instructions

  • Set a period (e.g., one week) during which team members aim to perform at least one random act of kindness for a colleague.
  • Acts of kindness can range from bringing someone their favorite coffee to sharing an informative article relevant to their work.
  • Encourage team members to be creative and considerate, ensuring that their acts of kindness are meaningful to the recipient.

Debrief

During the debrief, discuss the variety and impact of the acts of kindness witnessed over the period. Highlight how these actions improved relationships within the team and contributed to a more supportive work environment.

#3. Gratitude Wall

This activity fosters a culture of appreciation and positivity, encouraging employees to publicly acknowledge each other’s contributions.

Time: Ongoing

Materials: Bulletin board or digital platform

Participants: Entire company or department

Instructions

  • Designate a space where team members can post gratitude notes. This can be a physical bulletin board or a digital forum.
  • Encourage everyone to regularly write notes thanking colleagues for specific actions, support, or achievements.
  • Make it a norm to visit the wall, either physically or digitally, to read and reflect on the appreciation shared.
  • Consider highlighting some of the most impactful notes in team meetings for broader recognition.

Debrief

During debriefing sessions, focus on the positive changes in team dynamics and morale as a result of the Gratitude Wall. Discuss how public acknowledgment has strengthened relationships and fostered a more encouraging as well as supportive work environment.

#4. Secret Buddy

The Secret Buddy activity fosters a week-long exchange of small gestures of kindness within a team, deepening connections without the need for extensive resources.

Time: 1 Week

Materials: Note cards, and small treats

Participants: Groups of any size

Instructions

  • Assign each person a ‘Secret Buddy’ randomly and ensure everyone’s participation confidentiality.
  • Encourage the participants to perform discreet acts of kindness such as leaving an uplifting note or sharing a favorite snack.
  • Suggest that the gestures should be simple yet thoughtful, emphasizing the importance of personal touch.
  • Wrap up the week with a reveal session where everyone guesses and then discloses their Secret Buddies.

Debrief

Reflect on how these small acts of kindness improved workplace morale and strengthened interpersonal relationships. Consider ways to incorporate the spirit of this activity into daily work life for sustained positive team dynamics.

#5. Kindness Jar

This is one of the best kindness team building activities to create a supportive work culture. Here employees anonymously share notes of appreciation, boosting morale and fostering a positive environment.

Time: Ongoing

Materials: A jar, note paper, and pens

Participants: Entire company or department

Instructions

  • Place a labeled “Kindness Jar” in a common area along with note paper and pens.
  • Encourage group members to anonymously write compliments or words of appreciation about their colleagues.
  • At regular team meetings, select and read several notes aloud to celebrate and acknowledge the shared kindness.
  • Use this as an opportunity to encourage more positive interactions among group members.

Debrief

Assess how this exercise has impacted team dynamics and morale. Discuss specific instances where this activity led to noticeable changes in how coworkers interact and support each other.

#6. Volunteer Day

Volunteering as a group combines community service with team building, enriching bonds through positive, shared experiences outside the office.

Time: Half or Full day

Materials: Transportation, tools, or supplies specific to the volunteer activity

Participants: Any number of people per group

Instructions

  • Choose a volunteer activity that aligns with your group’s interests and values, such as cleaning a park or serving food at a shelter.
  • Coordinate logistics, including transportation and any necessary materials, ensuring a smooth volunteer experience.
  • Participate as a group, fostering teamwork while contributing to the community.
  • Capture the day with photos or videos to share and reflect on the experience.

Debrief

Discuss the impact of the activity on both the community and your group. Analyze how the experience has strengthened team connections and identify further opportunities for community engagement.

#7. Thank-You Thursdays

Thank-You Thursdays encourage expressions of gratitude within a team, fostering an environment of appreciation and respect every week.

Time: Weekly

Materials: None

Participants: Groups of any size

Instructions

  • Choose a day, preferably Thursday, for group members to express their thanks.
  • Encourage specific acknowledgments, such as help received on a project or an admirable trait.
  • Make it a point to recognize both public and behind-the-scenes contributions.
  • Use team meetings, emails, or group chat platforms to share these messages of thanks.

Debrief

Discuss the impact of expressing and receiving thanks on team morale and individual motivation. Consider making Thank-You Thursdays a permanent part of your workplace culture to continuously foster a positive team environment.

#8. Kindness Bingo

This is a gamified approach to spreading positivity within teams through acts of kindness, aimed at enhancing spirit and cooperation.

Time: You decide

Materials: Bingo cards with kindness acts

Participants: Groups of any size

Instructions

  • Distribute a bingo card to each team member with different acts of kindness listed.

Examples include “Bring someone a coffee,” “Thank a coworker for their help,” and “Leave a positive note on someone’s desk.”

  • Encourage team members to complete at least one row of acts within a specified time.
  • The first person to complete a row can shout “Bingo” and share their experiences with the team.

Debrief

Reflect on how the exercise improved the overall team atmosphere and individual attitudes. Discuss ways to integrate kindness more deeply into daily work routines for lasting positive change.

#9. Positivity Post-its

Positivity Post-its is a quick, impactful activity designed to boost team morale through encouraging words.

Time: Flexible

Materials: Post-it notes

Participants: Any group size

Instructions

  • Have the group members write positive affirmations on Post-it notes. For example, “You are capable and strong,” “Today is a new day to do great things,” or “Believe in yourself.”
  • Encourage members to stick their notes in common areas where they will be seen by others.
  • Remind everyone to read and share Post-its that resonate with them.

Debrief

Discuss how simple messages of positivity can significantly impact the employees’ overall mood. Encourage team members to continue writing and sharing Post-its as a way to spread kindness and support within the workplace.

#10. Time Capsule

This activity offers a unique way to capture and cherish team memories and aspirations. It fosters a strong sense of unity and forward-looking mindset.

Time: You decide

Materials: A container

Participants: Any group size

Instructions

  • Provide each group with a container that will serve as the time capsule. Explain the significance of creating a shared memory bank.
  • Invite each group member to contribute an item, such as a team photo that captures a significant moment, or any small item that symbolizes a milestone.
  • Once all contributions have been collected, seal the container. Decide as a team when you will reopen it.
  • Store the time capsule in a safe, memorable location where it can remain undisturbed until the set date.

Debrief

Reflect on the emotional and bonding impact of contributing to the time capsule. Discuss how this act fosters a culture of empathy, collaboration, and support within the workplace.

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:

The Empowering Guide of Unique Leadership Development Activities: 100 Fully Customizable Exercises That You Can Conduct with Any Group of Employees, Anywhere

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:

The Busy Leader’s Guide of Unique Team Building Activities: 30 Fully Customizable Exercises That You Can Conduct with Any Group of Employees, Anywhere

Final Words

Implementing these kindness-focused activities can transform your workplace into a more supportive, engaged, and cohesive environment. Remember, kindness is contagious; fostering it within your team can lead to a ripple effect that positively impacts your entire organization. So, it’s your time to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, included, and supported.

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