Teams are like puzzles. Every team member is a piece (hopefully) trying their best to fit in the right place. We have to find that, and then attempt a seamless link to our teammates.
From there, we have to trust everyone else to do the same. The end result, The Big Picture, can’t be completed until everyone is in place. This can take forever, or it can happen naturally and on time with team-building.
Let’s tackle the types of team-building activities to consider. We’ll share an overview with ideas for all goals and preferences.
The 7 types of team building activities for work
Types of team building rarely stand separately. The activity you choose can fall in one to three of these categories at the same time.
Our goal in familiarizing ourselves with all types is to target areas that need strengthening or shoot for an even distribution that creates a tight-knit team.
1. Trust-building team activities
These activities focus on reliance and respect. They may also require team members to get a bit vulnerable. Trust-building is an ideal introductory team building activity, as it lays the foundation for long-term collaboration.
Here are a few classic examples of trust-building activities:
- Trust falls–Where a team member stands with their back to a coworker and falls backward, trusting that they will catch them.
- Blindfold challenges–One or more team members will wear a blindfold while completing a task, trusting their sighted teammates to guide them.
2. Problem-solving team exercises
Challenges and puzzles make up a lot of very useful problem-solving team activities. The aim is to learn how to work through the tough stuff efficiently. These help teammates settle into their roles and navigate the personalities they work with.
They’re also an opportunity for everyone to learn what each other’s individual strengths are. Consider these activities:
- Hackathons–Set a real company issue in front of a team and dedicate a few hours to outlining and presenting the best possible solution.
- Escape rooms–The clock is ticking, and the team has to work together to figure out how to get out.
3. Communication team building activities
Problem-solving challenges can reveal some glaring deficits in communication. Strong teams communicate clearly, respectfully, and honestly. Listening is an important skill to focus on here, as is conciseness.
These team-building activities also acquaint members with one another’s communication style, so they pick up on their points quicker in the future:
- Back-to-back drawing–Two team members sit with their backs to one another. One draws a picture based on what the other verbally describes.
- Two truths and a lie–A person makes three statements; two are true and one is made up. The team guesses which is which, developing discernment, listening carefully, and choosing follow-up questions that get them to the truth.
4. Decision-making team building
Clarify, consider, choose. Great teams can come to a consensus and stick to it without much incident. Many decision-making team activities also support better communication.
Here are some exercises that help create a team who can accept and see the benefit of other points of view:
- Six thinking hats–Six team members are assigned “hats” of a different color. Each color represents an aspect of an argument or challenge (emotions, facts, benefits, etc.). Team members approach the quandary through the lens of their “hat” and come to a decision based on the collective findings.
- Survival scenario–Have each team member create a list of 10 things they need to survive on a desert island. Then have them join up and narrow it down to one list of five items they can take.
5. Personality assessment team building
This type of team building can help assign roles in new groups. It reveals what team dynamics may be like and is useful in strategizing for maximum efficiency. It can also be a shortcut for teammates to understand one another better.
Personality assessment exercises may include:
- The Enneagram–Each team member takes a 10-15 minute Enneagram test for the workplace. With everyone’s consent, have them share and discuss their defined strengths and motivations.
- Icebreakers–Choose a handful of ice breaker questions and have team members take turns asking one another work-related, thought-provoking, or funny questions.
6. Virtual team building activities
Virtual team building creates a sense of community among remote workers. Encouraging team activities in groups that never see each other in person is essential for improving motivation and collaboration
It also adds a greater sense of purpose and responsibility. A few virtual team building ideas to try:
- Team-led Zoom meetings–Take leadership off camera and have teams hold their own meetings, where they can discuss projects, challenges, and processes among themselves.
- Game tournaments–Have teams choose whether they’d prefer trivia, video games, mystery games, or anything else. Space sessions out as part of a tournament, meeting online regularly until a winner is chosen. Repeat with a new game.
7. Physical team building activities
Effort and energy can add exhilaration to team building. Physical challenges are also more appealing to many desk-bound workers who want to do something other than sit.
Physical activities don’t have to be physically challenging. Scavenger hunts and hikes are great, but low-impact, in-person physical team building also includes:
- Human knot–Team members stand in a circle and grab the opposite hand of the person across from them, eventually intertwining into a knot. They must untangle without breaking the links.
- Table tennis–Add a ping-pong table and start a tournament. It’s a light activity that engages the brain, improves coordination, and encourages friendly competition.
More effective and fun team building activities from HeyTaco
As an award-winning peer recognition platform, we know the value of togetherness in a workplace culture that works. Here are more team building activities for all kinds of organizations.
Team building activities for small groups
Small-group team building activities can be easier to run successfully. We have the luxury of incorporating everyone’s input, maximizing participation. We’re also more likely to be familiar with everyone’s tastes and preferences.
- A night on the town–Small groups make fun activities in your city more cost effective. Meet up at karaoke, happy hour, a new restaurant, bowling, and more. Having fun together and socializing outside of work topics builds rapport and helps people be seen and appreciated in a new light.
- Lunch and learn–If things haven’t been going so well results-wise, have the group sharpen their skills during a lunch and learn. The team gets to have a special lunch while taking in information that can improve future outcomes.
Group team building activities to promote well-being
You may have noticed that it’s especially difficult for teams to form bonds in high-pressure environments. Give them a more favorable impression of teamwork by removing them from their usual surroundings and making them relax together.
- Group meditation–A consistent meditation practice can improve reasoning and productivity. It also helps everyone manage stress, so schedule 10-minute breaks for overtasked teams to collect themselves as a collective.
- A mindful walk outdoors–A quiet or aesthetically appealing place to get some steps in can do wonders for attitudes and problem-solving. If the space isn’t available, consider a deep stretching session or even a spa trip.
More virtual team building activities for asynchronous teams
There are far more gaps to fill when teams don’t interact closely with one another. Everything from body language and mannerisms to interests and preferences aren’t as easy to read. In addition to sharing something fun, these teams require more positive interactions (daily, if possible).
- Special interest clubs–Film club, garden club, book club, history club. Team members can schedule regular livestream meetups to have discussions on topics of their choosing. Culturally or intellectually stimulating activities are great for forming bonds.
- Peer recognition tools–HeyTaco makes virtual tacos your positivity mascot, so people can drop them in the Slack chat when their teammate does something they appreciate. With avatars, levels, and rewards, it becomes a sort of virtual gaming tournament of its own.
Psst–did you like this article? We share a lot more team-building activities on our blog. Get more team-building for remote teams and small groups as well as a few team-building tools you haven’t tried yet.