There’s a saying about teamwork that really captures what team building is all about, “One team, one dream.” A little cliche maybe, but when a team of people trust each other, support each other and are all working toward the same goal, magic really can happen.
That’s where team building comes in. You can’t throw a bunch of strangers together in an office and expect them to suddenly start working in lockstep. It may take some effort to bring people together but the business results are well worth it. The good news? Team building has come a long way since trust falls. Effective team building games aren’t only fun, they also build trust, encourage communication, mediate conflict and increase employee engagement—all the ingredients you need to build a great company culture. No matter your goals, there’s a team building game out there to help you bring your team together.
Want to help your team break the ice? Try the Group Juggle.
In this game, the group tosses a softball around the circle, saying the name of their colleague before they toss it. Everyone gets comfortable with each other’s names—and if you really want to step things up, you can add a couple more softballs into the mix.
Get creative with a teamwork twist? Try the Egg Drop.
Break everyone up into teams and give them an uncooked egg and some office supplies. Each team gets 15 to 30 minutes to build a support structure out of office supplies that will protect the egg from a sizable drop. Pro tip: Bring extra eggs just in case there’s a breakage or two.
Open up stress-free communication? Try Penny for Your Thoughts.
All you need is a container of pennies. Each team member pulls a penny out of the pile and looks at the year the penny was made. Then they share something special or significant about that year. This allows the team to communicate in a low-pressure way and open up a bit about their personal lives.
Want more? This is just the tip of the iceberg. Check out this article for 72 great team building games—from simple and engaging to active and energizing—and get your team communicating and working toward the same goals.