For some people the thought of team building may make you cringe. Team building has taken on different forms over the years, from silly games to off-the-wall icebreakers, these exercises do more than just provide fun in a team meeting. There is a significant purpose behind activities, which in return make an investment in the company as a whole.
What is team building?
Team building can be any activity that serves to bring individuals together to form a more cohesive group. There are professional organizations that can come in and provide team-building events for you, like TeamBonding.com. You can plan work events and Saturday picnics throughout the year, but for weekly meetings, short 5-10 minute activities on a consistent basis can be just as beneficial.
What are the benefits of team building activities?
The benefits of team-building help each other see from different perspectives. You may discover things you didn’t know about a coworker or witness strengths you didn’t know they had. Working alongside someone on daily work tasks gives you one view of that person. Team building helps see people in other ways.
It also builds communication by learning to give directions in different ways to complete a team-building task. Through better communication, trust is built and problems are solved. This promotes more productivity in the workplace.
Also, inevitably, the right team-building tasks evoke enjoyment and laughter, lightening the mood around often serious work environments. Laughter creates a positive atmosphere, inspiring others to find enjoyment at work. You want your team to look forward to coming to work by creating a positive and encouraging place to be. This energy helps your company to build employee retention.
Ideas for Team-Building Exercises
A simple online search can direct you to dozens of pages of team building ideas and exercises to utilize during your weekly meetings. Below are a few that vary from basic to more involved. They can also be used for small groups to larger teams.
1. Icebreaker Questions
If you don’t have much time to prepare or extra time for more involved activities, these questions can serve the purpose of getting people warmed up for communication. Ask a question, give them a bit of time to think, and have them share with the group. Or, for a less stressful option, have them share their answer with the person sitting on their left or right.
- What was your first job and your most memorable experience from that job?
- What was your first concert? Who would you most like to see in concert?
- What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
- If someone handed you $1000, what is the first thing you would do with it?
- Share one thing you are grateful for and why.
2. Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament
Everyone in the room pairs off and plays three rounds of rock, paper, scissors. Whoever wins plays another winner. Losers cheer on the winners until the game ends. This game energizes the room and adds lots of laughter to the group!
3. Celebrate Wins
Want to start your meeting off on a positive note? Have your team think of a recent achievement in the workplace or in their personal life. Go around the room and allow anyone to share. Celebrate one another’s wins, big or small.
4. Quotes
This requires a little more preparation but can be an inspiring activity. Prepare inspirational quotes on individual slips of paper. Place the quotes in a pile. One person picks a quote and discusses it with a partner for a minute or two. Then each person can switch partners and discuss with another team member. This game can relate to work topics or company culture. Continue with the game to give everyone ample time to discuss their quotes.
5. Find Your Pair
Prepare pieces of paper with word pairs like salt/pepper, peanut butter/jelly and sail/wind. One word on each piece of paper. Tape a word to each person’s back. Their job is to walk around and ask one another three questions to try to determine the word on their back and also find their pair.
There are many more activities to choose from depending on your time, needs, and goals for your team. Whatever you choose, team-building exercises can add laughter to your day, positive energy to the team, and increased productivity as communication is strengthened and trust is built.
