Team building promotes teamwork skills and is vital to the success of any business. How can you pump up your employees in time for that project beginning tomorrow? Why not set aside time for a team-building session? Team building has a way of bringing employees together, and that unity carries over from these exercises to the important work done by the staff. It is important to do your homework when planning an activity day.
The basic idea is bringing employees closer together, so execution is everything. When picking exercises, it’s important to know your audience. What’s going on in the office? If people aren’t getting along, lean towards a bonding type of experience. Choosing activities ideal for your group will have the most impact.
Teamwork Skills FAQ
1. What Are Teamwork Skills?
Successful companies all have something in common – excellent teamwork skills. The staff’s ability to work together as a single functioning unit is essential to a healthy business. Communication allows for easier problem solving, improved decision making, and leads to mutual respect between colleagues.
Like most skills, this takes practice. Thankfully, there is a unique array of team-building exercises available online. With such a diverse number of helpful activities, every company is sure to find great ways to foster their own success.
2. What Does Teamwork Do?
Teamwork skills allow for increased productivity. When the staff functions as a team, amazing things happen. New ideas are always beneficial, and with group brainstorming, creativity begins.
Different people have different teamwork skills, and teamwork is how to find where employees shine best. When team members come together and use their different skills in the name of a certain achievement, quality work is often the result.
3. What Are the Benefits of Teamwork?
Teamwork skills work because they improve productivity on projects and the general office environment. When staff members function as a team, employees are far more likely to assist each other. To ensure a quality team, it is often necessary to engage staff in popular team-building exercises which foster positive work environments, and closer working relationships.
4. When Should Teamwork Be Used?
Any time! All that is needed are two people and one common goal. Working together is the basis behind this concept. The most popular place that the benefits of teamwork payoff is the office setting.
5. How Can I Strengthen My Team?
That’s easy! Take a day and make it all about teamwork skills. Play fun games that promote team spirit, boost morale, and reinforce the idea of unity.
How We Reviewed
Heavy research into teamwork skills data was analyzed to provide you with the top, most successful team-building exercises. Not all businesses fit into the same box, and neither do all team-building exercises. After focusing on a broad spectrum of “the best” we dug further into the topic to present only these exercises we determined are at the top of the best.
After expertly examining the pros and cons of each exercise, we then shifted to collected data concerning structure, objectives, features, and difficulty. After filtering our list, we present to you the 10 best exercises used in office settings that will surely provide your team a fun experience while bringing staff members closer together.
Overall Difficulty Range of These Activities
The following exercises can be done in the office, likely with materials already available on location. These easy-to-understand activities can take as little as 5, or as much as 30 minutes. The following helpful exercises clearly state the expected time length, so you can block out a certain amount of time while remaining on track for the day. None of these is overly difficult and can be performed by any group without training. Individual participants may find an activity difficult, but that’s reluctance, not inability.
What We Reviewed
- Two Truths and One Lie
- Life Highlights Game
- Code of Conduct
- All Aboard
- Game of Possibilities
- Code of Conduct
- Danger Zone
- Build the Perfect Team Member
- Magazine Story
- Winner/Loser
Two Truths and One Lie
Features
This icebreaker works well when people do not know each other. Participants are asked to write down three statements about themselves, two true and one false. The goal of this exercise is to unmask the identity of each person’s false statement. Participants present their list aloud in no particular order without giving knowledge to which statement is false.
After each person presents, allow participants a 15-minute period to quiz their peers as they attempt to uncover each lie. Once finished, have them go around the room as a group and decide together which statements are lies.
Pros
- Facilitates group problem solving
- Employees can get to know one another
- Great conversation starter
Cons
- Best when participants don’t know one another
Structure
Group size can be from medium to large, but this game works best with a 6-player minimum. This activity is cost effective, requiring just pencils and paper.
Difficulty
This exercise is simple.
Objectives
- Teamwork
- Trust
- Good communication
Life Highlights Game
Features
Each participant is asked to close their eyes and picture the best moments of their life. Next, they are asked what 30 second memory they would like to relive if they had the chance. Once everyone has an answer, each person describes the intricacies of their best moments and gives a reason why they chose the particular 30 second memory they did.
Pros
- Uncovers individuals interests
- See fellow employees differently
- Promotes trust between employees
Cons
- Choice of memories may be troublesome for some to recall
- Description of the reasons for a choice may be nonspecific
Structure
This icebreaker is great for both small and large groups, ideally with a minimum of six players.
Difficulty
This is a simple game.
Objectives
This exercise allows employees to get to know each other.
Code of Conduct
Features
This icebreaker is used before important meetings and events in a professional setting. The group is asked to recall a past meeting or work event that was unpleasant. In addition, employees are also asked to recall great meetings.
Next, the team leader writes the words “Meaningful” and “Pleasant” on a large whiteboard. Everyone is asked to shout out ideas, the team leader constructs a mind map of colleagues’ ideas and this is used as the official code of conduct of the upcoming project.
Pros
- Builds mutual trust
- Add group value
Cons
- Introverted individuals may be uncomfortable
- Could be difficult to recall specific events
Structure
This exercise is played as a group, ideally before a big event to allow the staff to pitch elements of the tone for upcoming projects.
Difficulty
This is a simple exercise.
Objectives
To set a tone of important values and build trust within the group is the desired result.
All Aboard
Features
This exercise should be played with all participants on the same team. To begin, mark the floor with masking tape to make a box and ask everyone to step inside. Move the masking tape to create a smaller space, repeating to see how far employees will go as a team to stay fitted inside the box.
Pros
- Promotes teamwork
Cons
- Those uncomfortable being physically close to others shouldn’t participate.
Structure
This exercise should be played as one large team, and all that is needed is tape.
Difficulty
This exercise is simple.
Objectives
This exercise is meant to promote teamwork.
Game of Possibilities
Features
In one large group or multiple groups, one member is given a familiar object with which they demonstrate an alternative use. The remaining members are given an opportunity to guess what function is being acted out. Teammates guess until they decide as a group what is being acted out.
Pros
- Inspires creativity
- Allows shy employees to participate
Cons
- This may make introverts uncomfortable
Structure
This exercise takes about 5-6 minutes and is suitable for any group. The only items required are familiar objects and those could be nearly anything.
Difficulty
This exercise is simple.
Objectives
This exercise is played to loosen up staff and allow for creativity.
Danger Zone
Features
This activity is ideal when the goal is to learn about each other. The tools necessary are three long and different colored ropes placed in three concentric circles. Explain to the group that the inner circle is our comfort zone, the middle zone is the learning edge, and the outer circle represents the danger zone.
With all participants standing in the comfort zone, read statements aloud while players move to where their comfort shifts. This game will tell coworkers a lot about one another.
Pros
- Teaches why not to pass judgement
- Get to know your coworkers
Cons
- Participants are not asked to explain and may misrepresent their true comfort levels
Structure
This is a great exercise for large groups.
Difficulty
This is a simple exercise.
Objectives
This exercise is a great way for employees to learn about each other and where their comfort levels lie.
The Human Knot
Features
This is an activity where communication and problem solving are key. Instruct the group to stand in a circle and taking their left arm, grab someone’s hand across from them. Next instruct each participant to do the same with their right hand. Problem solving must kick in to untangle the group without anyone ever letting go of one another’s hands. An untangled group should once again be standing in a circle without any joined hands across the middle.
Pros
- Cooperation and communication skills
- Goal setting
- Problem solving
Cons
- Such close proximity to one another may make participants uncomfortable
- Frustration can ensue of a group cannot untangle itself
Structure
This exercise requires 15-30 minutes and works best with a 10 player minimum.
Difficulty
This is a simple exercise in itself yet the goal can be difficult to achieve.
Objectives
This exercise encourages communication while also providing an opportunity to problem solve and get to know your coworkers better.
Build the Perfect Team Member
Features
This is an exercise that dives right into fine tuning employee planning skills. Teams make up a list with every participant’s unique strengths. Next, teams are given the needed supplies and asked to put a face to this multi-talented, fictional character and create a back-story.
The leader should convey that whatever form your character takes is a representation of the team. Upon completion, each team may showcase their characters.
Pros
- First impressions can be altered
- Employees will grasp the value of a diverse skill set
- Involves communication skills
Cons
- It’s easy to lose the focus that strengths must, actually, belong to a participant
Structure
This exercise requires at least 30 minutes and necessary supplies include some large white paper, markers, and pens.
Difficulty
This exercise is pretty simple, but it’s time consuming.
Objectives
This simple yet time consuming activity gets employees’ creativity flowing while learning that communication is key.
Magazine Story
Features
This exercise works great in the office and is comparable to a dream board a person would make. After supplying participants with newspapers, magazines, glue, and markers, they are then asked to assemble a magazine cover for the business. The cover should include images, headlines, sidebars, and quotes from various team members.
Pros
Cons
- This exercise takes time away from working.
Structure
This exercise requires about 60-90 minutes and works best with teams of 3-6. Materials will need to be gathered beforehand.
Difficulty
This is a somewhat simple exercise.
Objectives
This exercise encourages new ways of thinking while fostering creativity at the same time.
Winner/Loser
Features
There are no tools needed for this exercise, only two people. This more intimate exercise is done with person A telling person B something negative that occurred during their life. To be effective, this must be a true story. Person B must point out the positive life lessons, showing person A the bright side to their unfortunate event.
Pros
- Partners will learn about each other
- Promotes trust between colleagues
Cons
- Revisiting tragic events is never good
Structure
This exercise takes 5 minutes and should be played in teams of 2.
Difficulty
This is a very simple exercise.
Objectives
The point of this exercise is to find positives from bad situations while getting to know each other better.
The Verdict
These 10 activities are sure to enforce the importance of teamwork skills, but which one is the best? This answer depends on the situation. Each fits best when focusing on improving a particular trait.
Are you choosing fun icebreakers for situations such as orientations where nobody knows each other? In that case, Two Truths and One Lie is a beginner favorite. Why? Because it showcases each participant’s unique personality while also offering life details that very well may surprise you.
Is there a project starting at work, and you need your people performing their best? Take the time to strengthen your staff’s teamwork skills. Why not try the Code of Conduct exercise? This exercise literally sets the tone for special projects.
Perhaps the perfect activity is simply a quick morale booster needed to keep spirits up in the office. If this is the case, Game of Possibilities would be the perfect activity.
Whatever you choose, make sure it’s right for the members of your team, and you can’t go wrong!