In need of some really good team-building ideas? You’ve come to the right place.
With weekly team-building exercises, your team will stay engaged and motivated to work together. It’s easy to go week after week not seeing team members from other departments thanks to work projects. But after a long pandemic that forced many of us into lockdowns, we now know more than ever that human connection — especially with work peeps! — is important. Team activities don’t have to be complicated, either.
Aside from having fun, the biggest benefits of these types of activities include enhanced communication skills, better energy, and even a way to identify leadership quality.
Looking for some team-building ideas? We’ve got 52 of ‘em below. That means this list has you covered for an entire year!
52 Ways to Bring Your Team Together
If you’re looking to break up the workweek with an activity that’s engaging but also work-related, try a team-building exercise. These exercises don’t need to be disruptive, either, to bring your team together. You can easily do one quickly before kicking off a meeting or get more involved by planning an outing.
It’s up to you!
Here are 52 ideas to keep team-building events from getting stale:
- Take a Personality Test
Promise your team that you won’t grade them and they’ll more likely jump at the chance to take this test. It’s a great way for individuals to better understand their own strengths and weaknesses while also learning about others. Have your team take the test at the same time and then gather together to discuss the results. Simply Google strength-finding tests to pick out the best option for your team!
- Paper Plane Take-Off
Who can make the best paper airplane? Channel your employees’ inner competitive streak with this activity. Once everyone has made their planes, line up and send them flying to see whose plane goes the furthest.
- Get Sorted
For this one, make sure the room your group is in has plenty of space! Or, head outside and enjoy the benefits of nature while doing this team-building idea. This activity can be played multiple times in a variety of ways. Have all your employees stand in a line before setting a timer to “get sorted.” This can include having employees lineup from shortest to tallest, from youngest to oldest, or even by who has traveled the furthest. It requires teamwork and communication and is lots of fun.
- Water Balloon Toss
Have your employees split into equal numbered lines standing parallel and facing one another, standing about a foot apart. One side will hold water balloons and toss them to their partner standing across from them. With each successful catch, each partner takes a step back. The duo standing with the last unpopped balloon wins.
- Best Practices Brainstorm
Sometimes it takes a new perspective to get the company wheels turning in a different — and productive — direction. Break employees down into small groups and have them spitball best-practice ideas. This can range from the types of project management tools used to how big project proposals are presented. Once the group has decided on one favorite best practice, have them present their ideas to the group. The whole team can then vote on their number one choice to be presented to leadership for discussion.
- Build a Garden
Want an outdoor team-building idea? Try building a garden together. A company garden takes a lot of effort and tender loving care. Consider creating an outdoor space where green thumbs can get together for a healthy team-building activity during their breaks.
Related: Start a Community Garden with Your Employee Wellness Program
- Volunteer
Once a month, have your team pick a local spot to meet up and volunteer together. A range of non-profit organizations always need free help. Whether you pick an animal shelter, library, hospital, or other organization, giving back is one of the most rewarding team activities out there.
- Who is It?
This simple yet fun activity is a great conversation starter. Have workers bring in photos of themselves as kids or babies. Number the photos, stick them on a wall or bulletin board for viewing and pass out paper for team members to guess who is who.
- Wheelbarrow Races
Need a physical activity for your active team? Wheelbarrow races are perfect. Pick a good weather day to be outdoors and make a wheelbarrow race the main team-building exercise or pair it with other fun field day events. Set up partners to compete against other pairs in a “wheelbarrow race” where one partner picks their colleague up by the ankles and “wheels” them to the finish line.
- Board Games
Who doesn’t love a good board game? Set up a Friday afternoon game hour for employees to break away and spend time together. Fun options to try: Apple to Apples, Monopoly, The Worst-Case Scenario Card Game, and others.
- Egg Drop
Have your employees break down into small groups to create a “cradle” for an uncooked egg. Offer supplies like tissue paper, tape, straws, and other random items and encourage them to create the best package that will survive a drop without the egg cracking. Drop it outside from a window or even prop up a ladder and have team captains climb up and drop their packages from there. The team that creates the safest package for their egg wins!
- Do a Scavenger Hunt
Split your employees up into teams and have them take to the streets for an adult scavenger hunt. Make a list of about 10 different activities the team must take pictures or videos of while doing each one. Ideas like “dance with a stranger” or “mimic a statue’s pose” can make for a hilariously good time. Add photos and videos to the team drive for all to see and enjoy.
- Escape Room
Aside from booking a room at a local escape room, there isn’t much planning required for this event. Have your team meet up after work or on the weekend for one of the more unique and exciting team-building exercises. Escape rooms require people to work together to find a solution and solve riddles or problems to “escape” a room.
- Fly a Kite
Split your department up into small teams and give them the makings for a kite. Have them work together to put the kite together before having them do a flight demo. Whichever team keeps their kite in the sky the longest wins a prize!
- Office Trivia
How well do your employees know each other and the company? Compile a list of questions or statements about both and have an office trivia game. Small teams are best for a game like this.
- Highlights Reel Game
Getting to know team members through deep conversations is one way to build tighter bonds. Have your team sit around in a circle and ask each person to share one or two “highlights” from their life whether personal or professional.
- Two Truths and a Lie
No tools are needed for this one. Have your team sit in a circle and let one player at a time go. The person speaking should offer two truths and a lie about themselves. The lie should be realistic and not over-the-top. For example, two truths might include: “I’ve lived in two different countries and I’ve run 7 marathons in my life.” A lie might be, “I was on a state championship-winning soccer team in college.”
- Blindfold Draw
Partner up employees for this activity where one person is blindfolded while drawing. The other partner will get a slip of paper that says what the blindfolded person must draw. To make it even more challenging, they must draw the object using their non-dominant hand. The non-blindfolded partner may offer direction to help out.
- Mad Libs
This word game is a perfect exercise to stretch the brain and get your team laughing together. Use a fun one like this "Get Fit" Mad Lib sheet that includes a workout, too!
- Name That Song
Play 10 seconds of a song and have teams guess which song it is. Discourage the use of phones during this activity and let them rely on memory instead. Pick songs from various genres and decades, too. The team with the most correct guesses wins.
- Karate Lesson
Self-defense is a fantastic life skill to have, especially for those living in bigger, more crime-ridden cities. Consider taking your employees to a local karate studio or having an instructor teach a few self-defense classes at your workplace. It will give colleagues an activity to look forward to doing together.
- Feng Shui the Office
Is the office feeling a little drab? Brainstorm ways to make it feel more lively. Whether that’s a fresh coat of paint or adding some greenery to the office, have your team decide together what needs updating. For an added challenge, have your “decorating team” read up on Feng Shui, the Chinese art of arranging buildings, objects, and spaces for the ultimate balance and harmony, to know how to best rearrange the office.
- Flag Football
Buy some “flags” and a football and you’re good to go with this favorite outdoor game. Not only will your team get a good workout, but they’ll no doubt get some friendly ribbing going on, too!
- Sumo Wrestling
Buy an inflatable sumo wrestling game for a hilarious experience your team will unlikely forget anytime soon. Split the office into teams and have each player “wrestle” in the suit. The team with the most takedowns wins.
- Corn Hole
This is another great outdoor (or indoors if it’s raining!) game that is simply fun to keep around the office. Set up several corn hole boards for a competition or just keep one set up in the break room at all times for colleagues to get together and enjoy one another’s company.
- Gratitude Circle
Giving thanks for the good things in life is often dropped to the bottom of the to-do list. Have your employees slow down and participate together in a gratitude circle. Over lunch is a great time to explore this team-building activity. Have employees go around and name something they’re grateful for in their life.
- The Dinner Party
Have everyone sit together — at lunch is an ideal time — to discuss three people they’d like to have come to a dinner party. They can be relatives, friends, celebrities, historical figures — past and present. Ask what each person would serve their guests for dinner, too.
- Potluck
Gather together and break bread over food options that employees love. Ask workers to bring in their favorite family dish or a meal that’s unique to their culture. Doing a potluck is a great way to bring everyone together for light conversation over a meal while also trying new foods.
- Potato Sack Race
Get the camera ready for this outdoor activity. Have employees line up with both of their feet in a pillowcase or sack. The first one to hop to the finish line without falling over is declared the winner. This game is always a good one for those with a competitive spirit.
- Three-Legged Race
This activity can quickly turn hilarious. It requires teamwork and quick foot movements when partners have their legs tied together while trying to walk. Whichever duo makes it to the finish line is the winner.
- Hula Hoop Contest
Set up a hula hoop marathon contest for your employees. Buy several hula hoops for employees to compete against one another. Turn up some music and let the dancing begin!
- A Poet for a Day
Group together colleagues to create a “company poem” that describes the mission and daily work of employees. This creative challenge will no doubt get silly, but it’s an exercise in revisiting the importance of the work your team does each day. For an even more challenging exercise, ask team members to include specific words or phrases — like the company’s brand colors or tagline, for example — into their poem. Remind them it doesn’t have to rhyme, either, but bonus points if they can make it rhyme!
- Kickball
Get a friendly game of kickball going with employees. Not only will it pump up their heart rate, but it also provides an opportunity to get outdoors for a childhood throwback teamwork activity.
- Oven Mitt Present
Wrap some healthy gifts up for your team — think pedometers, cookbooks, water bottles, and the like — in a box and several layers of wrapping paper. Split your team into groups based on the number of prizes wrapped and have them sit or stand in a circle. Then, while wearing oven mitts, time players for 15 seconds while they do their best to unwrap a layer of paper. Once their time is up, they have to pass it on to the next player to try. Whoever gets down to the box whenever the timer is done wins the prize in each group.
- Good Idea Day
Brainstorming sessions are one of the best ways to get your team engaged and excited for new goals. Whether your company needs new quarterly goals, annual goals, or simply a new way of doing things, brainstorm it all! Have team members gather in groups and come up with ideas to write down on the related topic on a big poster board. Then, hang them up for discussion.
- Outdoor Movie
Have an outdoor movie night for employees to enjoy as a way to wind down from a busy week. Whether you have a projector or just a blank sheet, it’s a fun way to gather your team members to enjoy a relaxing evening. Set up a complimentary snacks table with popcorn, sparkling water, candy, and other goodies. Have team members bring camping chairs, blankets, or simply watch from the comfort of their tailgate.
- Colleague Appreciation Circle
This is a perfect activity to try before a meeting or even a business retreat. Have employees sit in a circle and offer up words of appreciation to the person on their right. Reverse the circle and have teammates do it for the person on their left as well. Offer praise and words of gratitude are shown to benefit the person giving them as well as the recipient.
- Egg and Spoon Race
The egg-and-spoon race is a simple sporting event that can be done with either real eggs or plastic eggs. Real eggs make it a little more exciting, though. Have participants line up while holding their spoons with an egg balanced on top. A partner waits at the finish line with their own empty spoon waiting to receive their partner’s egg during a hand-off. Whoever makes it back to the starting line without dropping their egg is the winning team.
- Balloon Pop
Have employees tie a small blown-up balloon around each ankle. Set up teams in two lines across from one another. The goal is to pop the other team’s balloons first — without using hands or other objects — using only their feet. The last person with a balloon wins for their team.
- Name That Logo
Print out sheets with a variety of company logos without the name of the company. Teams can compete to see who can finish first while also guessing the most correctly. Want to challenge them to a second-round? Use a fill-in-the-blank for company taglines to really get your team members thinking.
- Take a Field Trip
A change of scenery often leads to new ideas, inspiration, and bursts of creativity. Look at ways your business can support another local business while also enjoying an outing that creates a bonding experience for your team. Whether it’s kayaking around a local oyster farm, visiting a soap-making shop, or a behind-the-scenes trip to a government building, think of ways to expand your team’s thinking, insights, and experiences. They’ll no doubt talk about the event for weeks after, leading to further engagement.
- Show & Tell
Outside of work, most people have hobbies and passions they pursue. Some may even surprise their colleagues if they were to find out about the hobbies of their coworkers. This activity can easily be done for remote or in-house teams. Encourage your employees to show and tell about their most interesting hobby — like a massive seashell collection or their ability to play five different instruments.
- Minor Wins
It’s fun to get to know what colleagues’ lives were like long before you ever met them. Dive into the past by finding out what team members are most proud of that they achieved before they hit their 18th birthday. Anything from state sports champions wins to four years of the honor roll and everything in-between.
- 10 Things in Common
Split your employees into two groups or several smaller groups. Have them talk together about their various interests, backgrounds, and passions to find out what 10 things they have in common with each other. Once done (set a timer), have each table of team members share aloud with the group.
- Marshmallow Tower
With just a bag of marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti noodles, get your employees working together and creatively engineering the best tower they can build. This is best done in smaller groups of employees with three to five in each group. The group with the tallest tower that doesn’t fall over wins!
- Origami Challenge
Have a manager or team lead show employees how to make a simple origami. Practice it once together during a demonstration. Then, without instruction, have them recreate the same origami. Split the group into teams and give each individual their own sheet of paper. Whichever group has all its members finishes first wins. Add an additional challenge by only letting one team member at a time complete their origami. Once they’re finished, the next person can start. If someone gets stuck, their teammates can give instructions but can’t actually help the person fold the paper.
- Desert Island
An oldie but goodie, this activity encourages creative thinking and fun conversation. Split your department up into groups. Have each team member share what they would bring with them to a desert island. Once everyone has chosen one or two items, have them work together to devise a plan of how they could escape the island with all of the items chosen.
- Balloon Up
Split team members into groups of five or more and stand in a circle. Each team gets a filled balloon and has to use their hands to keep it up in the air while passing it around the circle. Any team member who lets it drop must step out of the circle. Allow the circle to get smaller as the number of participants dwindles. The last person with a balloon is the winner!
- Did You Know?
Without using any technology, have team members split into teams to discuss random factoids. Have them compile a list of 10 different random facts that they know off the tops of their heads. Once done, share with the group.
- Worst Job
This team-building idea is a fun one because almost everyone has a “worst job” story to tell. This can be a great way to kick off a team meeting. It’s bound to get people thinking about how much they currently enjoy their job compared to their least favorite one!
- Word Game
Have someone create a list of 26 questions or statements that correlate to each letter of the alphabet. For example, “Write down countries that begin with the letter A”; “Come up with a list of clothing brands that start with the letter B”; “Name books that begin with the letter C.” Each team can brainstorm together for 15 seconds to come up with as many words as they can for each letter. Once done, a team captain will read their answers aloud. If both teams have the same answer, they have to cross it out and it doesn’t count for a point. The team with the most points at the end wins.
- Chat & Learn Sessions
This team-building idea is excellent for both in-house and remote workers to try. Have individual members of each department present a 15-minute session for the group. The topics can range from a favorite hobby, what they do in their daily job, the most interesting place they’ve ever traveled to, and everything in-between. These sessions can build awareness, trust, respect, and offer personal insight into the lives of colleagues beyond just brief interactions.
Start Planning Team-Building Activities Today!
Now that you have a massive list of team-building ideas, it’s time to start planning out your next fun day at the office. This list will carry you through a full year if you choose to do one a week. Or, brainstorm your own list based on colleague suggestions.
Whether your team has just five minutes or five hours, there is always time to build in some together-time that’s just for fun. Doing so will undoubtedly build friendships, camaraderie, trust, and more.
What are you waiting for? Go on and get planning for your next day of team building!
What’s the best team-building exercise you’ve ever done? Share in the comments below!
