Fun team building games bring all the members of your group together in a non-threatening stress-free situation where they can learn to work together for a common goal or simply just get to know each other better. Games can encourage people to step out of their comfort zone, since everyone else is doing it too.
8 fun and wonderful team building games
Three wonderful games are listed here that range from individual exercises to ones which emphasize teamwork. All of these team building exercises can be done during work hours as a quick training session.
- Lions, Tigers and Bears – Oh My!: This is a great icebreaker game. Divide the room into two teams, and have six cards filled out – two each with the designation ‘Lions’, ‘Tigers’ or ‘Bears’. Tigers beat lions, bears beat tigers, and lions beat bears – just like rock, scissors, paper. Lions roar, tigers growl, and bears whuffle. Each team leader draws a card, and holds it up so only their teammates standing behind them can see. The teams should be facing each other in lines, about five feet apart. On the count of three, each team acts out their animal, and the winners try to tag the losers before they reach a taped line on the ground five feet behind them. Ties mean nothing happens. The team wins that has the most members when a predetermined time period is up.
- Heads Up – Pass it On!: Have two teams line up facing each other. At the end of the double line, place a chair with a ball or other object on it. On the other end, have a referee flip a coin and show it privately to the two people heading up the lines. If it is tails, count silently to ten and try again; heads, each leader should squeeze the hand of the person next to them, and that person will squeeze the hand of the person next to them, and so on. The person at the foot of the line, once they receive a squeeze, will grab for the ball on the chair. A point is scored for the team grabbing the ball. The referee must show the coin after each grab; if it is not heads and someone grabbed the ball, a point is deducted from that team’s score. Play to ten or twenty points, depending on time constraints.
- Copycat!: This is a hilarious game guaranteed to break the ice. One person is selected to be the guesser, and leaves the room. The rest of the group selects a leader. They all sit in a circle, facing the center. The leader starts a simple motion, and the others follow suit. This can be clapping hands, swinging a foot, snapping fingers, nodding head, rubbing tummy, patting shoulder – any small action. The ‘guesser’ returns and is stood in the center. Every little bit, the leader changes the movement, and the others copy him or her. The guesser’s job is to figure out who the leader is. Once they guess it correctly the leader is the new guesser, and the group picks a new leader.
- Human Knot: This is a classic team building activity that involves participants standing in a circle, grabbing someone else’s hand across the circle, and then trying to untangle themselves without releasing their hands. The goal is to form a circle again without anyone letting go. This game is great for promoting communication and problem-solving skills.
- Office Trivia: Create a trivia game based on facts about the workplace, colleagues, or common experiences shared by the team. This can include questions about the company’s history, funny moments, or little-known facts about team members. It’s a light-hearted way to learn more about each other and the company.
- Minefield: Set up an obstacle course using office objects (like chairs or boxes) as “mines” in a large open space. Blindfolded team members must walk through the minefield guided only by the verbal instructions of their teammates. This game emphasizes trust and precise communication.
- Egg Drop Challenge: Provide teams with various office supplies (like rubber bands, straws, tape, paper, etc.) to create a structure that can protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a significant height. This activity encourages creative thinking, innovation, and teamwork as groups must plan and construct their protective device together.
- Two Truths and a Lie: Each team member takes a turn to state three things about themselves—two that are true and one that is a lie. The rest of the group must guess which statement is the lie. This game is excellent for getting to know each other and often leads to hilarious revelations and stories.
These games not only boost morale and improve team dynamics but also offer a break from routine, making them a hit in any team environment.
These fun team building games can loosen up your group and get them in the right frame of mind to talk about how teamwork they’ve learned can be applied in the workplace.