Team Building Games

Team building games offer a quick and easy way for employees or training session participants to better understand their coworkers’ personalities and communication methods. Through unique problem solving scenarios, employees can learn about their coworkers’ personalities in order to improve workplace productivity, increase motivation, and improve creativity.

Before starting a team building game, it’s best to understand each employee’s interpersonal needs that influence their communicative style and behavior. The FIRO-B^® assessment helps people understand these various needs and is a powerful tool for enhancing workplace relationships. Upon completing the assessment, employees will know how to best interact with each coworker, accelerating their personal relationships and professional performance.

Below are two fun and easy team building games that not only get the team members up and moving, but help foster strong, communicative relationships.

Mine Field (15-30 minutes)

To start the game, clear out a large area inside the office. Have participants pair themselves into groups of two, electing one member of the group to blindfold themselves. Once each group is ready, place objects (chairs, cones, binders, etc.) in the previously cleared-out space. The challenge is for the blindfolded participants to navigate through the “mine field” without hitting any objects. Their partner is allowed to give vocal instructions only, and is not allowed to touch or physically guide the blindfolded participant. Start with one pair going first, with one participant vocally guiding and the other blindfolded navigating. The more pairs that play at the same time the harder it becomes, as blindfolded participants have to focus closely to hear their partner’s commands. By creating an atmosphere of active listening, this activity facilitates clear communication between coworkers, attention to detail, and overall engagement. Just be sure to explain that speed in getting through the minefield is not the object of the game as you don’t want to risk injury with people racing through the obstacles blindfolded. If you’re wary of setting up chairs as obstacles, try something softer like pieces of facial tissue and have “referees” that can monitor if someone steps on a “mine.”

Egg Drop (1 hour)

Split participants into groups of three or four, instructing each group to build an egg container using either supplies around the office (paper towels, tape, boxes, etc.) or supplies provided. The containers will be dropped (preferably outdoors on cement or on an easy-to-clean tiled surface) from approximately an eight foot height, with the goal being to keep the eggs intact. Allow twenty minutes for construction, then have participants present their container to all groups in a short demonstration, highlighting why their container is unique and effective.

Once all presentations are made, each group drops their egg containers (with the eggs inside) from a designated spot. If the egg doesn’t break, the team has accomplished the goal. If the egg does break, encourage participants to talk about how they can improve their egg container for next time. This activity facilitates complex problem solving and creativity, as participants are challenged to solve an unconventional task.