27 Team Building Activities: For All Situations (Lists & Examples)

Team building experiences play a key role in fostering connection and trust among team members. However, truly effective team building goes beyond generic activities – it starts with understanding each individual’s unique strengths. The HIGH5 strengths test offers a powerful foundation for this process, enabling team members to identify and leverage their innate talents. By incorporating strengths-based insights into team-building efforts, organizations can create more meaningful connections, enhance trust, and build teams that are greater than the sum of their parts.

What better way to boost trust and positivity than with a fun activity centered around boosting team spirit? Nonetheless, a lack of communication between team members could cause even the most exciting activities to be draining. Conflicts can drain the fun and the benefits out of meetings or other team-oriented activities. This could lead to negativity increasing in the entire team. However, proper team-building activities are fantastic ways to boost team performance. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of team building as well as the team-boosting activities you can incorporate into your work.

What is team building?

Team-building activities are structured exercises or events designed to enhance collaboration, communication, and camaraderie among team members. These activities can range from problem-solving challenges and outdoor adventures to workshops and social events, all aimed at fostering stronger relationships and improving teamwork. Through these activities, teams can build trust, enhance morale, and boost overall productivity in the workplace.

Pro Tip From HIGH5

Kickstart your team building efforts by having each team member take the HIGH5 strengths test. Use the results as a starting point for discussions about how each person’s strengths can contribute to the team’s success. This approach can lead to more targeted and effective team building activities tailored to your team’s unique strengths profile.

Team building activities to do during a workday

1. Play team or board games
2. Put on a contest
3. Paper chains
4. Happiness exercise
5. Name juggling

Play board games

Gather your colleagues for some light-hearted competition by diving into team or board games that encourage collaboration and strategic thinking, fostering camaraderie in a fun environment.

Put on a contest

Organize a friendly contest where teams can showcase their skills, creativity, or problem-solving abilities, promoting teamwork and igniting a spirit of healthy competition among coworkers.

Paper chains

Engage in a simple yet meaningful activity by creating paper chains, where each link represents a team member’s unique contribution or positive attribute, visually celebrating the diversity and strengths within your group.

Happiness exercise

Boost morale and connection by conducting a happiness exercise, where team members share what brings them joy or express gratitude, fostering an uplifting atmosphere that enhances overall team dynamics.

Name juggling

Enhance team bonding and memory skills with a fun name juggling activity, where participants toss a ball while saying each other’s names, helping to reinforce connections and break down barriers in a lighthearted way.

Team building activities to do outside the workplace

1. Complete an escape room
2. Take a cooking or art class
3. Sign up for trivia
4. Volunteer
5. Form an intramural league

Complete an escape room challenge

Team members will work together to solve puzzles and decipher clues in a timed escape room setting, enhancing collaboration and problem-solving skills. This thrilling experience encourages communication and creativity as participants strategize to unlock the mysteries within.

Take a cooking or art class

Engaging in a cooking or art class allows team members to explore their creativity while learning new skills together in a relaxed environment. Participants can bond over shared experiences, whether whipping up a delicious dish or creating a unique piece of art. This hands-on activity promotes teamwork and communication, resulting in lasting memories and a sense of achievement.

Sign up for trivia

Forming teams for a trivia night offers a fun and competitive atmosphere where colleagues can showcase their knowledge across various topics. This encourages collaboration and camaraderie as participants pool their strengths to tackle challenging questions. Whether celebrating victories or learning from losses, trivia nights foster a sense of unity and shared enjoyment outside the office.

Volunteer

Organizing a volunteer day allows team members to give back to the community while strengthening their bonds through shared service. Working together on a meaningful project fosters teamwork and empathy, creating a deeper connection among colleagues. This experience not only benefits the community but also cultivates a sense of pride and purpose within the team.

Form an intramural league

Starting an intramural league encourages team spirit and friendly competition, allowing colleagues to engage in sports or activities they enjoy. This regular commitment promotes physical health and strengthens relationships as participants cheer each other on and celebrate victories together. The shared experiences of teamwork and fun foster a sense of camaraderie that can translate back into the workplace.

Best team building activities for small groups

1. Heard, Seen, Respected (HSR)
2. Myers-Briggs Team Reflection
3. Strength Building Exercise
4. Strength Envelopes
5. Team of Two

Heard, Seen, Respected (HSR)

In this exercise, team members take turns sharing their thoughts and feelings while others actively listen, fostering a culture of respect and understanding. This practice encourages openness and vulnerability, allowing participants to connect on a deeper level. By acknowledging each person’s perspective, the group strengthens its bonds and enhances communication.

Myers-Briggs Team Reflection

Using the Myers-Briggs framework, team members can gain insights into their personality types and how these differences influence collaboration and interaction. This reflection fosters an appreciation for diverse working styles and helps identify complementary strengths within the group. By understanding one another better, teams can enhance communication, reduce conflicts, and improve overall effectiveness.

Strength Building Exercise

Participants engage in discussions focused on identifying and sharing their individual strengths, creating a positive atmosphere centered around personal and team growth. This exercise encourages team members to recognize each other’s contributions and fosters a supportive environment where everyone feels valued. By leveraging each other’s strengths, the group can enhance collaboration and achieve shared goals more effectively.

Strength Envelopes

In this activity, team members write down their strengths and place them in envelopes, which are then exchanged and read aloud, highlighting the unique qualities of each individual. This exercise boosts morale and reinforces a sense of appreciation and acknowledgment within the group. By celebrating each other’s strengths, the team cultivates a positive and supportive culture that enhances collaboration.

Team of Two

Participants pair up to tackle a specific task or challenge, fostering deeper connections and collaboration between team members. This setup encourages effective communication and teamwork, as each pair navigates their way to success together. By working closely with a partner, individuals can build trust and strengthen their relationships within the larger group.

Best team building activities for problem-solving

1. Blind Square – Rope Game
2. Crocodile River
3. Egg Drop
4. Helium Stick
5. Marshmallow Challenge

Blind Square – Rope Game

In this engaging exercise, team members are blindfolded and tasked with forming a perfect square using a rope, requiring clear communication and cooperation. As participants strategize without visual cues, they learn to rely on verbal instructions and teamwork to achieve their goal. This activity highlights the importance of trust and collaborative problem-solving in overcoming challenges.

Crocodile River

For the Crocodile River challenge, teams must cross an imaginary river using limited resources, such as stepping stones or props, while avoiding the “crocodiles.” This exercise encourages creative thinking as participants devise a strategy that maximizes the use of available materials. Working together, team members practice negotiation and planning skills while learning to navigate obstacles collaboratively.

Egg Drop

During the Egg Drop challenge, small groups design and build a protective structure around an egg that can withstand a drop from a height without breaking. This activity encourages innovative thinking, as teams must balance materials and design while considering physics principles. By brainstorming and testing their ideas, participants develop problem-solving skills and learn to embrace failure as part of the creative process.

Helium Stick

To play the Helium Stick, a lightweight stick must be lowered to the ground by a team, but participants must use their index fingers to hold it up, creating a surprising challenge that requires coordination and teamwork. This exercise emphasizes the need for communication and synchronized movement, as teams must work together to achieve their goal. Through trial and error, participants learn to adapt their strategies and support one another in overcoming unexpected difficulties.

Marshmallow Challenge

Teams are tasked with building the tallest freestanding structure using spaghetti, tape, and a marshmallow, which must sit on top, promoting creativity and collaboration under time constraints. This activity highlights the iterative nature of problem-solving, as teams must experiment with different designs and adjust based on their results. As they work together, participants develop teamwork skills and learn to celebrate both successes and failures in the creative process.

Best team building activities for bonding

1. Gutterball
2. The egg drop
3. Scavenger hunt
4. Board games

Gutterball

In this fun and interactive game, participants work together to navigate a marble through a “gutter” made from PVC pipes, fostering teamwork and communication as they strategize the best route. This lighthearted activity encourages laughter and camaraderie, breaking down barriers and building connections among team members. As they collaborate to achieve a common goal, participants strengthen their relationships and enjoy shared successes.

The egg drop

This engaging challenge involves teams designing a protective structure for an egg that will withstand a drop from a height, prompting creativity and collaboration. As members brainstorm and experiment with different materials, they bond over the shared experience of problem-solving and innovation. The excitement and anticipation of the egg drop culminate in moments of celebration or learning, deepening connections among participants.

Scavenger hunt

Teams embark on an adventurous scavenger hunt, working together to solve clues and complete tasks while exploring their environment. This activity promotes teamwork and communication as participants rely on each other’s strengths to achieve shared objectives. The playful competition and collaborative spirit create lasting memories, fostering deeper bonds and a sense of unity within the group.

Board games

Gathering around a table for board games provides a relaxed setting for team members to engage in friendly competition and collaboration. As they strategize, negotiate, and share in the ups and downs of the game, participants build rapport and strengthen their relationships. The shared laughter and enjoyment create a positive atmosphere, reinforcing a sense of belonging and connection within the team.

Best team building activities for remote teams

1. Show and tell
2. Virtual break rooms
3. Make your own commercial/ad

Show and tell

Team members take turns sharing a personal item or story, allowing everyone to learn more about each other’s lives outside of work. This practice fosters connection and empathy, as participants gain insights into their colleagues’ interests and backgrounds. By encouraging openness, Show and Tell helps build trust and strengthen relationships within the remote team.

Virtual break rooms

Creating virtual break rooms provides a dedicated space for team members to relax, chat, and unwind away from work-related tasks. These informal gatherings encourage casual conversations and help replicate the social interactions that occur in physical office environments. By promoting a sense of community, virtual break rooms enhance team cohesion and support overall well-being.

Make your own commercial/ad

In this creative exercise, teams collaborate to design and present a short commercial or advertisement for a fictional product, using their imaginations and unique skills. This fun challenge encourages teamwork, brainstorming, and out-of-the-box thinking while allowing participants to showcase their personalities. The process fosters laughter and camaraderie, strengthening connections among remote colleagues through shared creativity and collaboration.

10 benefits of using team building activities

Team building offers numerous benefits to businesses across all industries, but its impact is magnified when coupled with a strengths-based approach. By incorporating tools like the HIGH5 strengths test, organizations can unlock a new level of team building effectiveness. For instance, remote teams can use their strengths profiles to improve virtual collaboration, innovative companies can align team members’ strengths with creative projects, and sales teams can leverage individual strengths to enhance customer interactions.

The HIGH5 test provides a common language and framework for understanding these strengths, enabling teams to capitalize on their diverse talents and achieve outcomes that go beyond traditional team building exercises. A few of the major benefits of team building include:

1. Building quality friendships among employees.
2. Creating a more positive and inclusive company culture.
3. Helping employees realize their strengths and potential.
4. Boosting employee collaboration and cooperation.
5. Create lifelong memories, strengthen employee bonds, and establish new positive relationships amongst team members.
6. Boost employee morale and employee happiness.
7. Foster employee motivation and become a more productive company.
8. Strengthen your employees’ communication skills.
9. Mitigate conflicts and promote employees to become better problem solvers.
10. Boost employee engagement levels.

Pro Tip From HIGH5

After identifying your team’s strengths through the HIGH5 test, create a ‘Strength Map’ for your team. This visual representation can help team members understand how their individual strengths complement each other and contribute to the team’s overall success. Use this map to inform task allocation, project planning, and even seating arrangements to maximize synergy within the team.

Types of team building techniques

There is more than one type of team-building activity out there. In fact, there are so many out there that you will surely be able to find one that is perfect for your business. Regardless of the form of team building you select for your team, they all give your team an opportunity to bond and become more productive. A few of these team development strategies include:

Activity-based technique

This type of team development involves non-work-related events and gives employees a chance to bond outside of work. It gets employees comfortable with being outside of their comfort zone. The activities can be challenging events outdoors or fun events indoors. Possible examples of activities included in this technique include company lunches or outdoor competitions, like scavenger hunts.

Communication-based technique

These activities are perfect icebreakers for a new team and strongly rely on socialization. They encourage bond development and building quality relationships with their colleagues. It eliminates communication barriers, builds trust, and furthers interpersonal skills. Some possible activities included in this category include ‘two truths and a lie’ or puzzle building.

Skills-based technique

This technique combines productivity-boosting techniques alongside fun team-building activities. They further an individual’s skills for their particular job. This includes participating in workshops centered around leadership skills, creative thinking, planning skills, creativity, or any other career skills. For instance, consider the back of the napkin challenge. It promotes creative thinking and teamwork. All you have to do is provide your team members with a pen and napkin. Then, instruct them to solve problems with just these two materials.

Personality-based technique

Effective managers recognize the importance of understanding and leveraging diverse personality types within their team. While personality tests like MBTI offer valuable insights, the HIGH5 strengths test takes this approach a step further by focusing on each individual’s unique strengths rather than broad personality categories. By administering the HIGH5 test, managers gain a nuanced understanding of their team members’ innate talents and can tailor their communication styles and task delegation accordingly.

For instance, a team member with the ‘Problem Solver’ strength might be assigned to tackle complex challenges, while someone with the ‘Storyteller’ strength could lead presentations or client communications. This strengths-based approach not only improves team dynamics but also enhances individual job satisfaction and overall team performance. This way, employees gain knowledge on the best way their colleagues learn and perform on a team. It also helps individuals appreciate their own uniqueness. Plus, employee efficiency is also increased.

Problem-solving-based technique

Every team will encounter some challenges and roadblocks before finally reaching success. Conflicts often get in the way of maintaining a motivated team, for instance. Problem-solving civilities help individuals work on their communication, and interpersonal skills and learn ways to overcome conflicts. Team leaders should first identify the issue. Then, they draft a plan to overcome it. Other team members participate as well and propose different solutions. They will learn about their team’s strengths and weaknesses.

Value-based technique

This team-building strategy focuses on creating win-win opportunities for both the business as a whole and the individual employees. You can fuse your corporate social responsibility goals with exciting team activities. It boosts team members’ morale, as they get to see their direct positive impact on society. Consider environmental volunteering, donating to charity, charity bake sales, cooking for a mission, establishing a series of meetings about a cause, or campaigning for human rights. These activities boost engagement as well as satisfaction, and they reduce turnover. It also helps attract younger employees to your company.

How do team building games work?

Team building works to bring individuals closer together. It gives teams an opportunity to loosen up, become more positive, learn more about one another, socialize, and gain trust in each other. All of this ensures that the organization stays productive, positive, motivated, and focused. Games may seem like a waste of time at first, but breaks and games are also excellent ways to decrease burnout rates, lower one’s stress, reduce turnover rates, and encourage employees to achieve more than they ever thought was possible.

Team games focus on boosting collaboration, communication, empathy, and other extremely important soft skills. Sometimes, they can even increase someone’s hard skills, such as if the competitions involve writing code. The skills learned through these challenges, outings, games, and activities will later be transferable to the work environment.

Team building FAQ

How to involve everybody to do team building exercises?

Some team members may feel that team-building activities are not worth their time. It is your job as a leader to convince them otherwise. You can do this by showing the immense list of benefits these activities have to both themselves as an individual and the team as a whole. When the actual activity begins, you can engage everybody by ensuring everyone has a chance at the action. If someone is quiet, specifically involve them by asking direct questions or asking them to perform a task.

What are simple team building activities?

There are a number of simple team-building activities that require little equipment. Consider telling campfire stories, playing the human knot, playing two truths and a lie, revealing hidden talents, solving problems on the back of a napkin, reading an industry-related book, participating in charitable events, or playing trivia.

What are team building activities for students?

Even students can benefit from team-building activities. Students could play the human knot, escape the classroom, do a show and tell, minefield, tug of war, hot seat, birthday line up, perfect square, human alphabet, or scavenger hunts.