Team-building activities have become an essential part of modern workplace culture. These...
Interesting, purposeful icebreaker questions are a huge help in establishing good rapport. But then what? You don’t want team members to feel like every day is a personality quiz or interview.
Sit tight as we share our take on some of the most effective virtual and in-person team-building activities for small groups and the hybrid/remote workplace.
Is team building still relevant?
Yes, and remote work has made it more important than ever.
But communication and collaboration have taken a real hit on in-person teams, too. Lack of teamwork can be a consequence of tech overload, social and professional divides across roles and departments, or just the mounting stress of busier lives.
Instead of laying the blame at its feet, perhaps we can thank the rise of remote work for revitalizing team-building. It’s the inspiration for fresh, flexible new exercises fewer people roll their eyes at (we’re looking at you, trust falls).
Team-building activities for small groups
One of the biggest team-building mistakes is thinking small groups don’t need it. Small organizations are awesome, but as you know, there’s less room for error. Everyone has greater visibility, and individual workloads can be higher than on big teams.
Team-building activities for small groups help create a tighter-knit crew that trusts and relates to one another.
1. Karaoke, but make it a contest
Is your coworker secretly the second coming of Kelly Clarkson? Probably not, but there’s only one way to find out. Karaoke is a great exercise because it can be done virtually, in the office, or out on the town. It’s also easily integrated into company parties and celebrations.
If someone clams up at the mere sight of a microphone, no worries. Have the too-shy-to-sing squad do the judging. They can pass out prizes for categories they create, like “Best Song Choice” and “Most Commanding Stage Presence.”
2. Physical activities (outdoors optional)
Listen, we know the majority of teams aren’t comprised solely of adrenaline junkies or people who live at the gym. But most of us feel the physical effects of sitting down all the time. If your team is deskbound, make it a point to get moving.
Hiking, canoeing, or rafting demands teamwork, communication, and trust. Indoor rock climbing can challenge less outdoorsy people in a more controlled, safe environment. Long walks at a local park are a low-impact way for members of all fitness levels to socialize, brainstorm, and improve cardiovascular health at once.
3. Lunch and learn
Are people turning down your team-building efforts? Free time is precious, and when activities are mandatory, the benefits aren’t as obvious. Lunch-and-learns don’t encroach on off-work hours, are less formal than meetings, and keep employees up to date on skills and training.
Oh, and it’s a free lunch. Offer team members lunch, and they can sit in on a useful, relevant presentation or discussion. Toward the end, everyone can catch up, share thoughts or concerns, and ask questions.
This is a great option for small groups with packed schedules, as well as those averse to emotional or personal exercises.
4. Volunteer work
Give back to the community while strengthening bonds with volunteer work.
Serve meals at a homeless shelter, help clean up a local park or river, or visit residents at an assisted living facility. Volunteering also provides a valuable opportunity for team members to see each other in a new light and build empathy and compassion.
Not to mention, everyone can take pride in the fact that their workplace makes a difference in the community.
5. Coworker-led creative workshops
Coworker-led creative workshops let team members share their special interests while teaching their colleagues something new.
Painting, knitting, pickleball, chess, pet training, artisan bread baking—the options are unlimited. This more inclusive take on the classic arts and crafts exercise lets an employee step into a leadership role, which is great for their professional development.
Their team members will also see them as a well-rounded individual with expertise outside of the workplace.
6. Hackathons
Got a problem? You know that no one is looking forward to that meeting. They probably dread your emails about it, too. If it’s time for them to bring their A-game to the table, schedule a hackathon instead.
A hackathon is a collaborative event where people come together to solve problems. They can share potential strategies and solutions freely and riff off one another’s ideas. Create a physical or virtual communal workspace, provide or encourage snacks, and welcome out-of-the-box chats on the issue at hand.
At the end of the day, nothing forges a great team like overcoming challenges together.
7. Cooking classes
Coordination, communication, and creativity. Cooking requires all three, with a (hopefully) tasty reward at the end. Split into teams for your cooking class and work together to prepare a delicious meal from scratch.
As teams chop, sauté, and season their way through class, they'll learn to appreciate each other's strengths. You might even find it becoming a company tradition—shoutout to Taco Tuesday.
Virtual team-building activities for work
The biggest complaints we hear about traditional team building? Touchy-feely exercises that feel inauthentic and a colossal amount of cringe.
Here are 10 not-lame virtual team-building activities employees won’t be embarrassed to try.
1. House or office tour
We’ve all joined a Zoom meeting in a rush with terrible lighting, shouting kids, or an exposed laundry pile. Here’s our redemption arc! Let coworkers put a place to the face with a curated home tour.
Have team members record and edit short videos showing off their office or favorite space at home. This lets people maintain boundaries over what they’d like to share while still giving them opportunities to showcase their personality, sense of style, or some humor.
2. Trivia night
If your virtual happy hours have been a bit awkward or boring, add trivia. Not only does trivia encourage teamwork and collaboration, but it also gives your team a chance to bond over shared knowledge and interests.
And let's be honest—everyone loves showing off their random knowledge, especially when there's a prize on the line.
Consider offering a small reward for the winning team, like gift cards or a delicious takeout lunch.
3. Group meditations
Take a tip from some of the world’s most successful companies and invite employees to clear their minds and unclench their jaws.
You can hire a meditation instructor to run the show or play a guided meditation track. Set goals as a team, extending the time or frequency of sessions. Catch up intermittently to evaluate the benefits.
4. Fundraising and social awareness
Charitable efforts can have an even greater impact on hybrid and remote teams than on localized ones. People who know their background and community matter to colleagues far away feel more trust and loyalty.
Consider coming together and supporting an initiative an employee would like to start. This could mean sponsoring them in a marathon for charity or helping them collect goods for people in their area affected by a natural disaster.
5. Recognize and reward each other every day
You know that team-building is a daily practice. The larger plans and activities are worth it, but the small habits that become part of your company culture count for a lot.
Something as simple as an exclusive emoticon dropped in the company chat is a fast, fun way to say thank you. Companies like BSC Analytics use HeyTaco to get even more from this practice.
“Seeing who’s been recognized most frequently with tacos was a clear indication of how much that person was helping their teammates, aligning with our core value of ownership,” says their VP of People and Culture.
6. Live coworking hours
It’s okay to acknowledge that remote work can occasionally feel isolating. Virtual coworking hours are where remote teams livestream together as they stay on task.
These aren’t meetings; in fact, there isn’t even an ongoing conversation. Live streaming reduces the urge to leave your desk or pick up your phone. More importantly, coworkers learn to collaborate and rely on each other. They pitch in to troubleshoot if someone gets stuck or hold them accountable if they lose focus.
7. Team up for games
Games of all kinds are a mainstay in team building, but you don’t have to stick to that virtual escape room. Tailor this option to the interests or devices your team has.
Have the same video game console? Start a team in a new game you’d like to try. Or you can create a team on a free puzzle app. Casually playing games together is a good way to pivot when you’ve hit a wall on a task or project. Everyone can briefly decompress without straying too far from one another.
8. Ask me anything (work edition)
Most people are familiar with Reddit’s famous AMA format. Users submit questions, and someone answers them. It sounds too easy, but those familiar with AMAs know that it’s infamous for uncovering fascinating niche topics and anecdotes.
This format is an improvement over other question-and-answer exercises because the team member chooses which questions to answer. Ask the chosen coworker anything you want to know about their job or professional goals in a team chat and see what crops up.
A more thorough understanding of a coworker’s perspective and responsibilities always helps a team operate more smoothly.
9. Coffee of the week
What’s the official coffee of your company? This freshly brewed variation on the classic virtual coffee break aims to find out. Team members can taste and review a new coffee each week. If you never agree on which is the best, great—that means you’ll have to keep looking.
Those who don’t drink coffee aren’t left out. They can taste and debate the best matcha or flavored seltzer during the virtual coffee break.
10. Book club
“Book club” is really just a template for any sort of interest a team may elect to dive further into. You can certainly read the same book and engage in a lively Slack discussion about finer plot points. Still, you can form a club for any interest the team would like to enjoy more often.
Garden club can have remote team members spending more of their off time outside, or at least learning how to keep a houseplant alive. Bonds happen when they share progress photos, exchange tips, and learn more about different types of plants.
Film club can have you streaming movies together. History club can include virtual museum tours and discussions. Sharing experiences that are personally enriching naturally fosters bonds.
How do I know if team-building is working?
Higher morale and enhanced communication are two key indicators that team-building is paying off. You’ll also notice that team members are more likely to work out problems together instead of shouldering burdens alone or expecting someone else to do it.
Improved communication
When team members are more comfortable sharing ideas and feedback, everything from productivity to employee retention improves.
Increased morale
Taking more pride in one’s work is a sure sign of successful team-building. When you elevate workplace morale, tasks are taken on with more enthusiasm.
Enhanced problem-solving skills
Knowing when to ask for help and when to offer it is an underrated benefit of team-building.
Better conflict resolution
Cultivating respect and understanding toward team members leads to less turbulence, and conflicts are smoothed over faster.
Stronger relationships
Effective team-building creates a working environment where people trust one another and have faith in their abilities.
Strong teams don’t happen by accident
The way the workplace is evolving means putting more effort and intention into team building.
At the same time, so many traditional activities end up turning team members off. By all means, plan those fun events. But adjusting the usual meetings, training sessions, and breaks can transform them into value-packed team-building exercises employees won’t try to avoid.
Are you looking to strengthen your team little by little every day? HeyTaco is here for you, and is completely free to try.
