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With the magnitude of shifts that have taken place in society over the past few years, it’s no wonder why our professional workplaces look different than they did just five years ago.
Some employees work remotely, while others follow a hybrid schedule, and plenty are still on-site full-time. No matter the situation at your workplace, team building is crucial to creating successful teams comprised of happy, fulfilled employees.
The workplace environment and culture are two of the most influential factors in a positive employee experience. By prioritizing team-building exercises that are enjoyable and fun for the teammates, you can improve the organization’s culture. In this work climate and economy, putting effort into team bonding activities for employee retention and satisfaction is more important than ever.
With that in mind, continue reading for a list of ideas from 10 experts for team-building exercises that will bring teammates together in an enjoyable, fun, and creative atmosphere that actively adds to their rapport.
Outside the Office
An End of Day Cocktail Hour
This is a classic choice for many organizations. The happy hour tradition is about as old as doing business itself. It’s a great way to unwind, relax, and get to know your colleagues in a low-pressure environment.
“When done well, cocktail hours can be an excellent way to get to know your team members outside of the office,” says Natalia Morozova, Partner at Cohen, Tucker & Ades Immigration Law Firm. “Even if everyone doesn’t participate in the act of drinking, having time to bond in a fun and carefree environment can boost team morale.”
There are plenty of ways to make a cocktail hour inclusive to anyone who may be sober. You can do this by offering non-alcoholic options and plenty of snacks for those who aren’t inclined to drink. This can take a lot of the pressure off those who don’t drink while still giving others the choice to indulge a bit and take a load off.
Book Club
Another fun and effective exercise to test with your team is hosting a book club. This activity might require a bit more strategic planning than the others, but it’s worth trying as a way to bond with your team members over a common goal.
Lyudmyla Dobrynina, Head of Marketing North America at Optimeal says, “Hosting a book club allows for teams to gather outside of the workplace while sharing a common goal. Even if you host the book club during office hours, it can do wonders for team morale. These activities allow team members to voice their thoughts in a safe, comfortable, and relaxed environment.”
If you’re going to host a book club, be sure to choose a book that everyone will enjoy. Choosing one will be more challenging if you have a larger team, so try sending a survey to ensure you have a sense of the majority opinion. The best part about book club is that you can continue switching genres and authors, so everyone can eventually read something they’ll enjoy.
Volunteering
Another fantastic team-building activity to do outside of the office is volunteering. Similar to hosting a book club, volunteering allows teams to work towards and bond over a common goal while doing something impactful for the community.
“Volunteering can seem daunting at first, but the actual act doesn’t have to be complex,” suggests Victor Mathieux, Co-Founder and CEO of Miracle Brand. “It could be something as simple as planting trees at your local park for a few hours at the end of the week. Everyone will feel a sense of accomplishment once the day is done, and this gives teams something to talk about and bond over for weeks to come.”
Like a book club, you can send a survey to your team to gauge which causes people are most passionate about. If you host a volunteer outing once or twice a month, everyone can be sure to engage in something they enjoy.
Participate in a 5k Walk or Run
Getting out of the office for some fresh air can be an instant mood booster for teams. Whether people enjoy walking, running, or a combination of both, participating in a 5k is an excellent opportunity for teams to bond while having healthy competition.
“Even the least athletically-inclined team members can enjoy some fresh air,” mentions Morgan Rogers, Director of Marketing at Luna Grill. “Combining this with your efforts to raise money for a common cause opens the door to a stronger team bond that can’t always be achieved in the office.”
5k walks or runs are also a great way for employees to invite people outside of the team to join. This further bolsters a sense of camaraderie, community, and openness as teams get a peek into different aspects of the people they sit next to each day.
At the Office
Lunch and Learn
If something in the office is more your speed, consider hosting a lunch and learn. While this activity is a bit more work-focused than a cocktail hour, it’s still a fantastic way to bond with team members you might not otherwise speak to regularly.
Saad Alam, CEO and Co-Founder of Hone Health suggests, “Lunch and learns are great because they work for remote and in-person employees. Start by choosing a topic to focus on, ideally one that isn’t too heavy. Once you have the topic, decide who will present and what will happen afterward. Regardless of how you set it up, lunch and learns to allow for ample team building time while still focusing on relevant work.”
If your team is launching a social media campaign, consider hiring an expert to present their topic knowledge. This takes the pressure off everyone on the team so everyone can actively listen, share ideas, and ask questions at the end.
Contests
Nothing says team building like a bit of healthy competition. When done right, team members can demonstrate their skills and learn about where their teammates excel. Remember, contests don’t have to involve anything too serious; they can be as simple as a cookie-baking competition.
“Creating a contest for your team is not about pitting people against each other,” mentions Justin Soleimani, Co-Founder of Tumble. “Rather, it’s about letting each person’s unique skillset shine through and creating a fun environment with strong camaraderie.”
No matter what you choose to base the contest on, this is an opportunity to create healthy competition among team members while also encouraging them to spend time with one another.
Two Truths and a Lie
This activity is a bit simpler than the rest, but it’s not to be forgotten. Whether part of a meeting or an activity all on its own, playing two truths and a lie is a great way for team members to genuinely get to know each other in a fun way.
“Often seen as an icebreaker, two truths and a lie can actually be played among any team, no matter how long you’ve all been together,” mentions Stephanie Venn-Watson, CEO of Fatty15. “It’s a fun, low-pressure activity that everyone can partake in, and it allows you to get to know your team beyond their work personality.”
Giving space for people to share what’s unique about them allows employees to feel like they truly belong on the team. It also allows them to learn things about each other that they wouldn’t uncover in a typical workday.
Compliment Circles
Nothing makes people feel better than getting and giving a compliment. This simple yet effective activity can be easily done at the beginning of a meeting as a way to set the tone for what’s ahead. Whether remote, in-person, or something in between, a compliment circle allows teams to highlight the best parts of each other.
Max Schwartzapfel, CMO of Fighting For You states, “Something as simple as a compliments circle can go an incredibly long way in boosting team morale and building strong bonds. Complimenting a team member for treating everyone to lunch or nailing a project deck both serve the same purpose: demonstrating care and appreciation for each other.”
We too often get wrapped up in our busy daily schedules, forgetting that at the root of our jobs is our team. When we boost up our team, we can all work together in a more seamless, appreciative manner.
Scavenger Hunt
Creating a scavenger hunt around the office allows team members to work together to accomplish something. Start by identifying the objects you want your team to search for, then determine what clues you’ll give them.
“Scavenger hunts don’t have to be reserved for children,” explains Matt Masiello, Chief Marketing Officer of BabyBuddha. “You’d be surprised by how much adults engage in activities like this when it involves some healthy competition and team bonding.”
Depending on the size of your team, you can break people off into separate groups to further the competition. Everyone still gets to work towards a common objective, giving people a chance to work with those they may not typically engage with.
Blindfold Challenge
The idea behind a blindfold challenge is to create trust, collaboration, and strong team communication. Whether you set up a simple obstacle course in the office or give clues about where to locate an item in the room, blindfold challenges get employees to actively work with one another on something besides a work project.
Maegan Griffin, Founder, CEO and nurse practitioner from Skin Pharm says, “Activities like blindfold challenges are phenomenal for instilling trust among team members. You’re almost forced to trust the person who is leading you, and you have to ensure that the lines of communication are open and clear. These lessons can serve your team well as they work through work-based tasks.”
Try pairing people together during the challenge who don’t usually work closely together. This is a great opportunity to build trust between team members in a fun, low-stakes way that they can bring to their desks.
Wrapping Up
Team bonding is as crucial today as ever, especially with team locations and dynamics continuing to shift. Whether you want to host a post-workday cocktail hour, volunteer for a common cause, or send your team on a scavenger hunt throughout the office, be sure to implement various activities. These activities should be seen as fun for each team member and ways to bond with one another outside of the typical workday.
The BetterUp team puts this well: “We all need human connection to thrive, and the workplace is no exception. That’s why when leaders prioritize team bonding, they can boost employee satisfaction and engagement, build trust, and improve productivity.”
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