There’s no denying it: teams that work well together are simply more efficient and productive. It’s all about trust and communication, which helps teams secure better results in the long term. And while there are various ways to help boost that cohesiveness, there’s nothing quite as fun as team building!
Purposeful team building activities offer tons of benefits for any organization, we’ve shared a few of the advantages below; and if you’re looking for ways to help your organization work better together, check out our picks for some of the best high-impact group activities for adults!
The Benefits of Team Building
Team games and exercises are the key to collaboration and cooperation between your staff members. These activities offer a wide range of advantages, both for individual members and for your organization as a whole:
Improved communication. Communication is vital for a high-performing team. During team building activities, employees get to know each other better, which allows them to feel more comfortable communicating verbally and non-verbally, even outside of team building.
Stronger trust. Team building participants relax and let their guard down, allowing them to learn more about each others’ values, perspectives, and abilities. The result is greater trust for their co-workers, whom they now know better than before.
Higher morale. Team building can help reinforce the value of fun in the workplace, boosting employees’ spirits and helping them learn about and bond with each other in a positive, low-stakes environment.
Increased respect. Through diverse and challenging activities, participants learn to respect each others’ strengths and weaknesses. And while the activities shouldn’t necessarily force corporate “leadership lessons” into the mix, good team building will also naturally increase respect for the organization as a whole—making it a great way to reinforce company culture.
Ongoing positive energy. Ideally, team building isn’t a “one-and-done” activity. Though it’s great to have bigger celebrations throughout the year, the best team building consists of ongoing activities that keep morale high, day after day.
Team Building Activities
Here are some great team-building activities to fit a range of purposes, whether you need something for a continual daily boost or a larger activity for a day-long event.
Quick Team Challenges
Even if you don’t have an entire hour for team building, your organization can still join the fun. Quick speaking activities like “Two Truths and a Lie” require no preparation. However, don’t hesitate to branch out to new favorites like “Frustration”, in which your team must pick up as many small candies as they can in one minute using only chopsticks—it’s fun to play and even more fun to watch! Other team challenges include games like “Keep the Balloons Up”, where teams are disqualified if their set of colored balloons touch the ground, and “Mine Field”, in which groups help a blindfolded teammate navigate marked areas on the floor.
Ongoing Team Building Ideas
Why leave team development for once a quarter, when you can easily incorporate activities throughout the week? With a few simple team building ideas, you can break up the day with exciting and insightful exercises. For example, set aside 5-10 minutes a day for ongoing challenges like pictionary or charades. Break up a game of pub trivia to last a full week, with one round taking place each day. Try holding simple word search or crossword puzzle races, challenging teams to finish what they can within a five-minute sprint. All of these games are great for engaging your people in small bursts, and you can easily mix and match teams as you go.
Team Development Outside of the Office
Ready to get out of the workplace? Take your people out for a fun team development activity at an escape room or laser tag, encouraging them to solve problems and build mutual trust. You can also head out for a scavenger hunt around a specific area of your city; create one yourself or use an online resource. Or try organizing a volunteer excursion to foster a shared sense of achievement. You can also reach out to a yoga studio to set up a meditation or yoga class to alleviate stress, help concentration, and boost productivity.
Team activities like these are a great way to improve company culture. If you’re interested in learning more about boosting your company culture, check out our recent blog!
A fresh perspective through team building can be a great way to enhance your organization’s efficiency and creativity, and it doesn’t hurt that these ideas are just plain fun. Pick one of these activities for a simple and effective team challenge.