Are you looking for some leadership team building exercises?
Some people are born leaders, while some require a bit more practice to become better leaders. When it comes to the workplace, you should provide the right training for your employees to improve their leadership skills.
In this article, let’s see 10 Leadership Team Building Exercises that you can try with your employees regardless of their levels.
10 Leadership Team Building Exercises
Below are 10 team building activities that can improve the leadership skills of your employees.
#1. Leadership Poker
This is one of the best leadership exercises. It helps to foster discussions about leadership styles and behaviors within a group.
Time: You decide
Participants: Any
Materials: Index cards
Instructions
- Initially, choose a specific topic that the team needs to discuss and make a decision about. It could be anything from prioritizing tasks to selecting a project to work on.
- Now, get some index cards and write numbers from 1-6 along with a choice in each. Each card represents the perceived importance or effort associated with the topic.
For instance, consider your topic as ‘fostering a culture of innovation in the organization’. Here you can prepare index cards with these choices:
1) No importance – It is not a priority for the organization.
2) Low importance – Only a modest level of innovation is required.
3) Moderate importance – It is reasonably an important aspect of the organization’s focus.
4) High importance – It is vital for the organization’s success.
5) Critical importance – It is absolutely essential for the organization’s survival and growth.
- Then, ask each team member to individually select an index card that represents their opinion. Once everyone has made their selection, have them simultaneously reveal their chosen card to the group.
Debrief
- What leadership style(s) did you find most effective during this exercise? Why?
- How did this activity influence your understanding of leadership and its impact on team dynamics?
- How can the lessons learned from the game be applied to real-life leadership situations or your own leadership development?
#2. Team Vision Board
A team vision board is a visual representation of the collective goals of a group. So, this activity helps to improve collaboration among the team members and keeps them focused on a common purpose.
Time: You decide
Participants: Any
Materials: Whiteboard, sticky notes, and markers
Instructions
- First off, explain the purpose of the Team Vision Board activity to all the participants. It could be to envision the group’s goals for a specific project or the desired outcomes for an upcoming period.
- Next, provide each team with a whiteboard, markers, sticky notes, and any other creative materials that can be used to visualize ideas.
- Now, ask each member to individually write down their ideas, aspirations, or goals related to the defined purpose. They can write it on a separate sticky note or directly on the board.
- Once they are done, let each team arrange the sticky notes or add their ideas to the board. Allow them to discuss and organize the ideas, creating a visual collage that represents the team’s collective vision.
Debrief
- What key themes or patterns emerged from the Team Vision Board?
- How does the Team Vision Board align with the team’s overall objectives and values?
- What connections or common goals did you see among the group members’ contributions to the Vision Board?
#3. Lego Serious Play
This is one of the amazing leadership team building exercises. Here the participants can build models that represent their thoughts in response to specific questions or challenges.
Time: You decide
Participants: Any
Materials: Lego bricks of various sizes, shapes, and colors
Instructions
- Initially, present a specific question, challenge, or scenario to the participants that aligns with the session objectives. You can also try a question related to a project, team dynamics, or any other relevant topic.
- Now, instruct each participant to build a LEGO model that represents their thoughts, ideas, or insights related to that question or challenge. For this, provide them with the LEGO bricks.
- After that, each person can share their models with their team. Also, encourage others to ask questions and engage in a dialogue about the various models.
- Finally, teams should look for patterns or connections that arise from the discussion. They can use them as a basis for further study or decision-making.
Debrief
- How did the use of LEGO bricks enhance your ability to express ideas and concepts during the session?
- How did the collaborative nature of this exercise influence the group dynamics and the quality of the discussions?
- How can you leverage the experiences of this activity to enhance teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving within the team or company?
#4. SWA Game
SWA stands for Strengths and Weaknesses Assessment. This exercise provides insights into the areas where the employees excel and the ones that require improvement.
Time: You decide
Participants: Any
Materials: Paper and pen
Instructions
- First off, ask each participant to review their own strengths and weaknesses, and write them on a paper. After that, they can share their papers with their teammates.
- Now, encourage open and respectful discussion, allowing others to provide feedback or offer additional perspectives on the strengths shared. Similarly, provide guidance or suggestions for development in areas of weakness.
Debrief
- Do you believe your strengths can contribute to your effectiveness as a leader? If so, why?
- Do you think the feedback you receive from your colleagues can help your future performance? If so, why?
- How can we leverage our collective strengths and support each other in addressing weaknesses to create a high-performing team?
#5. Leadership Book Club
A group of people who gather to study and talk about books on leadership development or similar subjects is known as a leadership book club. This exercise offers a forum for people to learn more, share their thoughts, and have insightful conversations on leadership techniques.
Time: You decide
Participants: Any
Materials: Various leadership books
Instructions
- Initially, each participant must decide on a leadership book to read and discuss. Consider the books that align with the group’s interests, goals, or specific leadership topics you want to explore.
- Allocate a specific time frame for the participants to read the selected book individually. Also, encourage them to take notes or highlight key points and passages that resonate with them.
- After a few days, each person should share their thoughts about the book they have read. Moreover, they can suggest some actionable ideas from the respective book to others. For example, setting personal goals, implementing new leadership practices, etc.
Debrief
- Do you think the concepts discussed in the book can be useful to your leadership journey? If so, why?
- Did any aspects of the book challenge or expand your current understanding of leadership? If so, how?
- Would you recommend this book to other leaders and why?
#6. Role Reversal
Role reversal is one of the effective leadership activities that encourages employees to understand and appreciate each other’s roles within the team. This activity encourages empathy, comprehension, and appreciation for the difficulties that many leaders endure.
Time: You decide
Participants: Any
Materials: None
Instructions
- Initially, instruct each person to take the role of one of their teammates. This can be based on their current roles within the team or company. Also, it can be a predefined set of roles relevant to your topic.
- Now, present a scenario where everyone can do role-plays. This can be something like performing each other’s job responsibilities, presenting opposing viewpoints, or making decisions from a different perspective.
- After that, let the participants discuss their experiences and insights.
Debrief
- Did taking on a different role make you think from a different perspective? If so, why?
- How did this activity impact communication and collaboration within the team?
- By taking this exercise as inspiration, what changes do you plan to implement in your own leadership style moving forward?
#7. Case Study Analysis Game
This is one of the leadership development exercises that enhances problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Here the employees should analyze a case study and come up with a solution.
Time: You decide
Participants: Any
Materials: Paper and pen
Instructions
- Initially, present a complex business case study to the groups.
- Now, instruct each group member to individually analyze the case study, considering the key issues, challenges, and potential solutions. Then, give them some time to note down their findings on a sheet of paper.
- Once they are done, they should share those findings with the remaining group members. Finally, each group should develop a strategic plan or solution after discussion.
Debrief
- In hindsight, were there any assumptions made during this exercise that might have affected the conclusions or recommendations?
- How did the analysis of the case study enhance your critical thinking and problem-solving skills?
- How can the knowledge gained from this activity be shared and applied within the team or company to drive positive change?
#8. Simulated Crisis Management
This is one of the leadership development activities that give employees a real experience of a crisis situation. It tests the decision-making abilities, communication skills, and teamwork under pressure.
Time: You decide
Participants: Any
Materials: None (But it’s up to you)
Instructions
- Start by providing a crisis scenario to the participants. It can be something relevant to your organization. Or, it could be a natural disaster, a cybersecurity breach, a product recall, etc.
- Encourage them to familiarize themselves with the scenario and consider their roles and responsibilities.
- Now, set a specific time frame and initiate the crisis scenario. This can be done through a series of realistic and timed updates, role-playing by facilitators, or simulated media reports. Ensure that participants feel the urgency and pressure associated with a real crisis.
- Then, let them make decisions as they would in a real crisis.
Debrief
- How did this exercise influence your understanding of the importance of preparation, coordination, and collaboration in crisis response?
- How did this activity help you understand the impact of time pressure, stress, and uncertainty on decision-making?
- How can the insights gained from this exercise be applied to improve the team’s overall crisis preparedness and response in the future?
#9. Team Reflection Game
In this activity, the team members reflect on recent projects, discussing successes, challenges, and lessons learned. This encourages continuous improvement and shared learning.
Time: You decide
Participants: Any
Materials: Paper and pen
Instructions
- First off, share specific prompts related to the team’s recent experiences, projects, or challenges. These prompts should encourage individual team members to reflect on their own thoughts, feelings, and observations.
- Now, allocate a specific time for each team member to engage in personal reflection. This can be done in a written format, through note-taking, or simply by allowing quiet time for individual contemplation.
- After that, invite them to share their insights, observations, and lessons learned with their group. Then, let each team discuss the common themes, patterns, or significant points that emerge from the individual reflections.
Debrief
- What strengths or unique contributions did each team member bring to the table?
- Were there any conflicts or disagreements among your teammates? If so, how did you resolve them?
- How effectively did you communicate and collaborate as a team?
#10. Leadership Style Exploration
The goal of this exercise is to have an understanding of different leadership styles. Here the employees should realize how they can adapt their leadership approach in different situations.
Time: You decide
Participants: Any
Materials: None
Instructions
- Initially, provide an outline of different leadership styles such as autocratic, transformational, servant, etc. You can explain the key characteristics, behaviors, and approaches associated with each style.
- Now, instruct participants to individually assess their own leadership style by reflecting on their typical behaviors, preferences, and approaches in leadership situations. They can also consider their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for development.
- Then, facilitate a group discussion where participants can share their self-assessed leadership styles. Each person can provide examples that demonstrate their preferred styles in action.
- Finally, each group can discuss the impact of different leadership styles on team dynamics, organizational culture, and performance. Encourage them to explore opportunities for growth and flexibility in adapting their leadership approach as needed.
Debrief
- How did this activity deepen your understanding of different leadership styles?
- How comfortable were you with adapting your leadership style to different situations or contexts?
- What steps will you take to continue your growth as a leader and stay updated on emerging leadership trends?
Want Some Unique Team Building Activities?
If you want some unique team building exercises for staff meetings or training sessions, 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
Leadership development is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. So, you need to provide regular training to your teams through various activities and games. Hopefully, the above leadership team building activities can ease your job.
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