Are you in search of the best team building activities for your employees?
As a busy leader, finding engaging and impactful exercises for your employees may be challenging.
So, how do you choose the right team building exercise for your employees?
In this article, let’s see 25 of the best activities for team building and explore how to use them effectively.
So, let’s get started!
25 Best Team Building Activities for Your Employees
Here are some of the best team building activities for your employees.
Under the name of each activity, its main purposes are provided. So, you can quickly identify the suitable ones based on your need.
Plus, each activity includes a debrief section that will help you lead a productive discussion.
#1. Questions Circle
For: Generating conversation, and getting to know each other
This is one of the icebreakers that promotes discussion and communication among the group.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: 5-10 people per group
Instructions
- Start by asking a question to one group member and encourage them to answer it. For instance, “What is your favorite hobby?”
- Now, the person to their right must answer the same question.
- Continue the cycle until everyone has answered the same question.
- Then, move on to a different question that is more challenging like, “What motivates you to come to work every day?”
Debrief
Discuss how this exercise contributed to fostering communication among group members and helped strengthen relationships between them. Encourage employees to continue open communication and discussion in the workplace.
#2. Would You Rather
For: Breaking the ice, and getting to know each other
This classic activity helps employees connect with others by asking questions in a fun and engaging way.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: 2 or more individuals per group
Instructions
- Divide the participants into groups.
- Ask each group a “Would You Rather” question that has two possible answers. For example, “Would you rather skydive or go bungee jumping?”
- Each group member must pick one answer and explain why they chose it.
- Finally, each group can discuss which answer was the most popular.
Debrief
During the debrief, ask the participants to reflect on the activity and identify any differences in opinions. Also, discuss how understanding each other’s perspectives can help them work together better as a team.
#3. Cultural Appreciation Day
For: Getting to know each other, cultural understanding, and diversity, equity, & inclusion
This team building activity encourages inclusivity by allowing employees to learn about each other’s cultures.
Time: You decide
Materials: None
Participants: 5-10 people per team
Instructions
- Request each team member to share something related to their culture such as food, stories, or music. Encourage them to try different things and ask questions.
- Allow the other members to share something they appreciate from the culture presented.
Debrief
Reflect on how this activity can contribute to building a common team identity and promoting an inclusive work environment. Also, discuss how shared experiences can help cultivate a culture of inclusiveness.
#4. Language Practice
For: Practicing communication, and promoting DEI
In this activity, employees can practice and learn basic language phrases, commands, and greetings from different cultures worldwide.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: Any number of people per group
Instructions
- Break the participants into groups.
- Assign each group a different culture and have them learn language phrases, commands, and greetings from that culture. For example, if the group is assigned Spanish culture, they can learn to say “Hello”, and “How are you?” in Spanish.
- Have each team practice the phrases with one another.
- Finally, they can share their findings with the other groups.
Debrief
During the debrief, figure out how the participants felt about working in a team and learning new cultural language phrases. Additionally, assess what each group was able to learn from the activity.
#5. Telephone
For: Developing communication & listening skills, and fostering collaboration
Telephone is one of the classic team building exercises for communication. It helps participants learn to listen and remember information accurately while fostering collaboration.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: Any number of people
Instructions
- Have the group form a line and pass a message from one end to the other. For example, “Today is Monday and it’s sunny outside.”
- The first person says the phrase to the second person.
- Then, the second person says it to the third person, and this process continues.
- Finally, ask the last person to say the phrase out loud, and compare it to the original phrase.
Debrief
Discuss how a single miscommunication can alter the entire phrase. Plus, highlight the importance of clear communication and collaboration in the workplace.
#6. Charades
For: Practicing communication and listening, and fostering collaboration
This exercise encourages employees to use their imagination and work together to decipher clues.
Time: 15-20 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: 3-8 people per group
Instructions
- Assign each person a word or phrase they must act out for their group to guess.
- The group members can take turns acting out the assigned phrase with gestures and pantomime.
- The group must guess what the person is trying to communicate within a certain amount of time.
- Finally, the group that guessed all their assigned words first wins!
Debrief
Figure out how was the communication between employees – both verbal and nonverbal. Additionally, highlight the importance of collaboration in the workplace.
#7. Debate
For: Communication, conflict resolution, and critical thinking
Debate is an excellent team building activity that helps employees learn how to effectively listen and respond to opposing perspectives.
Time: You decide
Materials: None
Participants: Need at least 2 teams of any size
Instructions
- Choose a topic or current issue related to the team’s area of work. For example, “Should the company invest in new equipment?”
- One team can debate in favor of the statement, and the other team against it.
- Give each team enough time to come up with arguments and rebuttals.
- Finally, have each team present their argument and allow for open discussion between both sides.
Debrief
Discuss the importance of expressing contrasting opinions while maintaining respect and understanding. Also, highlight how this activity can help employees explore different viewpoints while learning how to collaborate and compromise.
#8. Story Swap
For: Thinking creatively, expanding communication skills, and inspiring team collaboration
Story Swap is a fun creative exercise that encourages employees to think outside the box.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: Upto 10 members per team
Instructions
- Ask each team to come up with a short story (2-3 sentences) that relates to the workplace in some way.
- Allow each member to take turns telling their story.
- Once everyone has shared, ask each team to combine the stories into one.
Debrief
Discuss how this activity can help motivate and inspire team members to think more creatively. Also, highlight the importance of communication and collaboration when working together on a common goal.
#9. Team Volunteering
For: Demonstrating ethical values, and developing empathy
Team Volunteering is a great activity to show employees the importance of helping others.
Time: You decide
Materials: Make the necessary arrangements depending on the event
Participants: Whole department
Instructions
- Encourage each team to find a local organization or charity that they can volunteer for.
- Give them enough time to plan and organize the volunteering event.
- Once everything is in place, allow each team to go out and volunteer for the chosen organization.
Debrief
Discuss how this activity can help employees understand the importance of giving back to the communities. Also, emphasize the value of empathy and appreciation for those who are less fortunate.
#10. Empathy Game
For: Developing empathy, respecting different perspectives, and building trust
This team building game helps employees to develop empathy and understanding among their colleagues.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials: Set of cards with different emotions written on them
Participants: Any number of members per team
Instructions
- Give each team member a card with an emotion written on it.
- Have the members take turns expressing the emotion written on their cards.
- Ask them to give an example of a situation where they have felt that emotion.
- Then, each team should discuss their different perspectives.
Debrief
Talk about how this activity helped the teams to understand each other’s perspectives better. Also, emphasize the importance of empathy and trust building in a work setting.
#11. Secret Handshake Challenge
For: Developing trust and understanding between colleagues
The “Secret Handshake Challenge” encourages teammates to express creativity and cooperation while having fun.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: Any number of people per group
Instructions
- Give each team a set of instructions to create a secret handshake. For example, fist bumps, high-fives, etc.
- Ask the teams to devise a unique handshake based on the instructions given.
- Each team should practice their handshake.
- When they are done, have them explain the rules of their handshake to the other teams.
Debrief
Figure out how the activity helped promote trust and communication between team members. Also, highlight the importance of creativity and cooperation in a group.
#12. Team Goal Setting
For: Establishing team goals, encouraging accountability, and fostering trust
This is one of the fantastic team building activities that encourages employees to set achievable goals while building trust.
Time: You decide
Materials: None
Participants: Any number of people in a team
Instructions
- Ask each team to establish a collective goal. It could be anything from fundraising for a charity to developing a new product.
- Now, they should discuss what each member’s role will be in achieving the goal.
- Then, each member should come up with a personal goal that directly contributes to the team’s overall mission.
Debrief
Discuss how the activity enabled the team to take ownership of their shared goal and how the individual goals fit into the bigger picture. Also, talk about the importance of building trust and accountability through teamwork.
#13. Shared Values Exercise
For: Building trust, improving communication, and understanding each other
In this activity, groups can understand the values they share and use them to build relationships.
Time: You decide
Materials: Paper and pen
Participants: Any number of individuals in a group
Instructions
- Let each group brainstorm a few values that are important to them as a whole.
- Then, they should figure out ways to implement these values into their team dynamics. For example, if a group values “transparency” they could agree to always be open and honest with each other.
- Each group should write their ideas on paper. Then, they can share the paper with the other groups.
Debrief
Lead a discussion on the importance of shared values and how they can shape team dynamics. Also, highlight the importance of accountability and trust in the workplace.
#14. Word Association
For: Encouraging creative thinking and problem solving
This is one of the amazing team building games that helps employees think outside the box and quickly solve problems.
Time: 5-10 minutes
Materials: Paper and pen
Participants: 4-7 people in a group
Instructions
- Initially, instruct the teams that they have only 3 minutes to complete the game.
- Each team must form a circle and one member should write a word related to the company on paper. For example, “customer”.
- Now, they can pass the paper to the person sitting right to them who must write a word associated with the first one. For example, in response to “customer”, they might write “satisfaction”.
- Let the game continues until the time is up and see which team wrote more words.
Debrief
Discuss how creative thinking and problem solving skills can help increase productivity in the workplace. Plus, explore the importance of communication and collaboration within a group.
#15. Cooking Competition
For: Encouraging collaboration and creativity
This activity encourages the teams to use their creativity and make delicious dishes.
Time: You decide
Materials: Ingredients for the dish
Participants: At least two teams of four people
Instructions
- Give each team a list of ingredients they can use.
- Provide a common cooking area with all necessary utensils and appliances.
- Instruct each team to prepare a dish within the allotted amount of time.
- Finally, see which team created the most delicious dish.
Debrief
Discuss how the teams worked together to create the best dish. Plus, explore the importance of communication and collaboration within a group.
#16. Reverse Brainstorming
For: Strategic planning and innovation
This exercise requires employees to brainstorm ways to prevent a problem from happening rather than finding solutions after it has occurred.
Time: You decide
Materials: Paper and pen
Participants: Whole department
Instructions
- Give each group a problem related to their work or current project. For example, how to reduce customer complaints?
- Ask them to brainstorm ways of preventing the problem from occurring in the first place.
- After they have come up with ideas, let them discuss the most effective strategies.
- Each group should decide on the two most effective solutions.
Debrief
Discuss how groups worked together to create innovative solutions and identify strategies that can be adopted in future projects. Encourage group members to provide feedback on their experience with the activity.
#17. SWOT Analysis
For: Strategic planning, and problem solving
This team building activity encourages employees to do a SWOT Analysis for a given problem.
Time: You decide
Materials: Paper and pen
Participants: Whole department
Instructions
- Give each group a scenario or a problem related to their work or current project. For example, how to increase sales?
- Ask them to analyze the problem from four different viewpoints: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
- Provide a set amount of time for each group to discuss their findings and questions they have about the situation.
- Finally, have each group share their findings and discuss potential solutions to the problem.
Debrief
Encourage the employees to provide feedback on their experience. Moreover, discuss the importance of problem solving and strategic planning in the workplace.
#18. Fishbowl Discussion
For: Problem solving, and decision making
This activity encourages teams to engage in meaningful discussion and come up with creative solutions.
Time: You decide
Materials: None
Participants: Minimum 4 members in a team
Instructions
- Give each team a topic or problem related to their work or current project. For example, how to increase customer satisfaction?
- Ask them to form two circles; an inner circle and an outer circle. The inner circle engages in a discussion and the outer circle remains silent.
- Every few minutes, rotate the members of the inner and outer circles.
- Finally, have each team share potential solutions to the problem.
Debrief
Discuss what solutions were proposed, and which ones seemed most feasible. Moreover, discuss the importance of collaborative decision making in the workplace.
#19. Escape Room Challenge
For: Problem solving, collaboration, and decision making
This exercise will test the team’s problem-solving skills while trying to escape from a ‘locked room’.
Time: You decide
Materials: A locked room or area with puzzles, clues, etc.
Participants: Teams of 4-6 people
Instructions
- Set up a locked room or area with puzzles, clues, and questions.
- Each team must find the answers to the puzzles in order to escape.
- Give them some time to complete this challenge.
Debrief
Figure out how the employees worked together to solve the puzzles, and which strategies were effective. Talk about how collaboration can help them tackle certain challenges in the workplace.
#20. Minute to Win It
For: Promoting healthy competition and problem solving
This is one of the amazing team building activities that challenges employees to complete a series of tasks within a minute.
Time: 5-15 minutes
Materials: Variety of everyday items like cups, balloons, straws, etc.
Participants: Groups of 4-6 people
Instructions
- Give each group the same set of materials.
- Set up a series of tasks that groups must complete within a minute. For example, build a tower of cups within one minute.
- The group that completes the tasks the fastest wins.
- Give small prizes to the winning group.
Debrief
Identify the different strategies each group used to complete the tasks, and which were most successful. Talk about how healthy competition can be beneficial in the workplace.
#21. Destination Unknown Hunt
For: Problem solving, decision making, and team collaboration
In this exercise, teams go through different locations in the office premise in order to reach the final destination.
Time: You decide
Materials: A cell phone for taking photos
Participants: 3-8 members per team
Instructions
- Provide each team with the first clue to a particular area in your office premise. For example, garden.
- Let them correctly identify the area, go there, take a photo, and show it to you for the next clue.
- Continue until they reach the final destination where they can have a surprise. For instance, a free lunch.
Debrief
Discuss how they worked together as a team to solve the clues and reach the destination. Figure out the different strategies that they used for decision making and problem solving.
#22. Adaptive Planning
For: Improving adaptability, managing change, and strategy development
In this team building activity, employees will learn how to foresee unexpected changes and adapt their plans accordingly.
Time: You decide
Materials: Various supplies depending on your topic
Participants: Groups of 3-8 people
Instructions
- Give each group a plan for a project that they must complete within an allotted time frame. For example, using Lego blocks to build a car.
- Periodically change the goal of the project or give them new objectives that they must incorporate into their planning. For instance, adding another material or making the car bigger.
- Let them adjust their plan accordingly in order to complete the project within the limited time frame.
Debrief
Discuss how the groups adjusted to the changing requirements and what strategies they used in order to complete their tasks. Talk about how adaptability is essential to manage change and plan for the future.
#23. Story with a Twist
For: Improving adaptability, and coping with change
In this exercise, employees should tell a story in different ways based on prompts or changes given by the facilitator.
Time: 15-20 minutes
Materials: Story prompt or sheet of paper with instructions
Participants: Groups of 4-5 people
Instructions
- Give each group the same story prompt. For example, writing about how a group of friends went camping.
- Ask them to create an outline or structure for their story and start telling the story.
- Every few minutes, give the story a twist or ask them to change something in their narrative. For instance, adding a zombie apocalypse into the camp narrative.
- Encourage all participants to contribute ideas and adjust their story accordingly.
Debrief
Discuss the importance of being able to react and adjust quickly to unexpected changes. Also, explain why adaptability is crucial in the current business climate.
#24. Change Your Seats
For: Encouraging new perspectives, and change management
This team building activity allows participants to observe an object from different seats and notice the difference.
Time: Around 5 minutes
Materials: A random object like a toy, or a drawing
Participants: Any number of individuals per group
Instructions
- Place the object in the middle of the group.
- Ask each group member to take a seat and observe the object.
- After some time, instruct them to change their seats and observe the object again.
- Finally, let them discuss the differences they noticed.
Debrief
Figure out how each person observed and interpreted the same object from different angles. Moreover, discuss the importance of being open to new perspectives while dealing with change.
#25. Change Readiness Assessment
For: Adapting to change, reducing resistance, and building resilience
This exercise helps teams assess their readiness to embrace change by providing them with surveys and questionnaires.
Time: You decide
Materials: Surveys, questionnaires, or other assessment tools
Participants: Teams of 4-6 people
Instructions
- Ask participants to answer the survey questions related to the proposed change.
- They can discuss the responses to each question as a team.
- Once they’ve finished the survey, they can prepare an action plan for adapting to the change.
Debrief
Discuss the importance of being prepared for change and how it can help teams adjust quickly to new situations. Also, talk about how to manage resistance to change and build resilience.
Want Some Unique Team Building Activities?
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Or Want Some Unique Leadership Development Activities?
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Final Words
The above team building activities provide a great starting point for creating meaningful and long-lasting bonds between your employees. In addition to that, they can help develop the necessary soft skills of your employees. So, choose one or two exercises that best fit your organization’s culture and size. All that’s left is to enjoy the experience with your employees!
FAQ: Team Building Activities for Employees
You might have these questions in mind.
What makes a good team building activity?
A good team building activity must have a clear purpose and be relevant to your business setting while engaging all the participants. Also, it should leave a positive message that deeply touches each employee’s inner self or develop a key skill that they can apply in their everyday work.
What are the best team building activities for small groups?
Some of the best activities for small groups are Story Swap, Word Association, Cooking Competition, etc.
What are the best team building activities for large groups?
Some of the best activities for large groups are Team Volunteering, Language Practice, Reverse Brainstorming, etc. That said, you should consider splitting large groups into small teams whenever possible. This will ensure that everyone is actively involved in the exercise.
What are some good team building activities for new employees?
If the employees are fairly new to your organization or to a particular team, it’s important to start with icebreakers or get to know each other activities. Some suitable icebreaker activities for new employees are Would You Rather, Cultural Appreciation Day, Questions Circle, etc.
What team building activities can you do virtually?
Some of the popular activities you can do virtually are Online scavenger hunts, Digital escape rooms, Charades, etc.