20 Team Building Activities for Deeper Connection & Collaboration

Teams are like puzzles. Every team member is a piece (hopefully) trying their best to fit in the right place.

From there, we have to trust everyone else to do the same. The end result, a high-performing team, can’t be achieved until everyone is in place. This can take forever, or it can happen naturally and on time with team-building.

Let’s tackle the types of team-building activities to consider. We’ll share an overview with ideas for all goals.

The 7 types of team-building activities for work

Types of team building rarely stand separately. The activity you choose can fall into one to three of these categories at the same time.

Our goal in familiarizing ourselves with all types is to target areas that need strengthening. Beyond this, aim for an even distribution that creates a tight-knit, cohesive team.

1. Trust-building team activities

These activities focus on reliance and respect. They may also require team members to get a bit vulnerable. Trust-building is an ideal introductory team-building activity, as it lays the foundation for long-term collaboration.

2. Problem-solving team exercises

Challenges and puzzles make up many useful problem-solving team activities. The aim is to learn how to work through the tough stuff efficiently. These help teammates settle into their roles and navigate the personalities they work with.

They’re also an opportunity for everyone to learn each other’s individual strengths.

3. Communication team-building activities

Problem-solving challenges can reveal some glaring deficits in workplace communication. Strong teams communicate clearly, respectfully, and honestly. Listening is an important skill to focus on here, as is conciseness.

These team-building activities also acquaint members with one another’s communication styles. This helps them pick up on each other's points more quickly in the future:

4. Decision-making team building

Clarify, consider, choose. Great teams can reach consensus and stick to it without much incident. Many decision-making team activities also support better communication. Choose exercises that help create a team that can accept and see the benefit of other points of view:

5. Personality assessment team building

This type of team building can help assign roles in new groups. It reveals what team dynamics may look like and helps you strategize for maximum efficiency. It can also help teammates understand one another more quickly.

6. Virtual team building activities

Virtual team building creates a sense of community among remote workers. Encouraging team activities for groups that never meet in person is essential for improving motivation and collaboration. Connection is also the missing ingredient in keeping remote employees engaged.

7. Physical team building activities

Effort and energy can add exhilaration to team building. Physical challenges also appeal to many desk-bound workers who want to do something other than sit. Physical activities don’t have to be physically challenging. Scavenger hunts and hikes are great, but low-impact, in-person team-building also works.

14 Team-building activities for high-performing teams

Build trust, solve problems, or just get more familiar with one another. These ideas cover all types of team building for a holistic approach to collaboration.

1. Trust falls

A team member stands with their back to a coworker and falls backward, trusting them to catch them.

2. Blindfold challenges

One or more team members will wear a blindfold while completing a task, trusting their sighted teammates to guide them.

3. Hackathons

Present a real company issue to a team and dedicate a few hours to outlining and presenting the best possible solution.

4. Escape rooms

The clock is ticking, and the team has to work together to figure out how to get out.

5. Back-to-back drawing

Two team members sit back-to-back. One draws a picture based on what the other verbally describes.

6. Two truths and a lie

A person makes three statements; two are true, and one is made up. The team guesses which is which, developing discernment, listening carefully, and choosing follow-up questions that get them to the truth.

7. Six thinking hats

Assign six team members “hats” of different colors. Each color represents an aspect of an argument or challenge (emotions, facts, benefits, etc.). Team members approach the quandary through the lens of their “hat” and decide based on the collective findings.

8. Survival scenario

Have each team member create a list of 10 things they need to survive on a desert island. Then have them join up and narrow it down to one list of five items they can take.

9. The Enneagram

Each team member takes a 10-15-minute Enneagram test for the workplace. With everyone’s consent, have them share and discuss their defined strengths and motivations.

10. Icebreakers

Choose a handful of icebreaker questions and have team members take turns asking one another work-related, thought-provoking, or funny questions.

11. Team-led Zoom meetings

Take leadership off camera and have teams hold their own meetings to discuss projects, challenges, and processes among themselves.

12. Game tournaments

Have teams choose whether they’d prefer trivia, video games, mystery games, or anything else. Space sessions out as part of a tournament, meeting online regularly until a winner is chosen. Repeat with a new game.

13. Human knot

Team members stand in a circle and grab the opposite hand of the person across from them, eventually intertwining into a knot. They must untangle without breaking the links.

14. Table tennis

Add a ping-pong table and start a tournament. It’s a light activity that engages the brain, improves coordination, and encourages friendly competition.

More effective and fun team-building activities from HeyTaco

As an award-winning peer recognition platform, we know the value of togetherness in a workplace culture that works. Here are more team-building activities for all kinds of organizations.

Team building activities for small groups

Small-group team-building activities can be easier to run successfully. We have the luxury of incorporating everyone’s input, maximizing participation. We’re also more likely to know everyone’s tastes and preferences.

• A night on the town. Small groups make fun activities in your city more cost-effective. Meet up for karaoke, happy hour, a new restaurant, bowling, and more. Having fun together and socializing outside of work topics builds rapport and helps people be seen and appreciated in a new light.
• Lunch and learn. If things haven’t been going so well results-wise, have the group sharpen their skills during a lunch-and-learn. The team gets to have a special lunch while taking in information that can improve future outcomes.

Group team-building activities to promote well-being

It’s difficult for teams to form bonds in high-pressure environments. Each person manages their own well-being and burnout risk, in addition to team dynamics. Give them a more favorable impression of teamwork. Take them out of their usual surroundings and do something relaxing.

• Group meditation. A consistent meditation practice can improve reasoning and productivity. It also helps everyone manage stress, so schedule 10-minute breaks for overtasked teams to reset as a group.
• A mindful walk outdoors. A quiet or aesthetically appealing place to get some steps in can do wonders for attitudes and problem-solving. If the space isn’t available, consider a deep stretching session or even a spa trip.

More virtual team-building activities for asynchronous teams

Teams have far more gaps to fill when they don’t interact closely. Everything from body language and mannerisms to interests and preferences is harder to read. In addition to sharing something fun, remote team-building activities create more positive interactions.

• Special interest clubs. Film club, garden club, book club, history club. Team members can schedule regular livestream meetups to discuss topics of their choosing. Culturally or intellectually stimulating activities help form bonds.
• Peer recognition tools. HeyTaco makes virtual tacos a cultural mascot. Employees drop them in the team chat when anyone does something they appreciate. With avatars, levels, and rewards, it becomes a sort of virtual gaming tournament of its own.

Enjoy more daily positive interactions with HeyTaco

Recognition can build familiarity and boost morale every day. This maximizes the impact of extras like team-building activities.

“I love that it seamlessly integrates into our regular workday. Our company is remote-first, and this is a wonderful way to reward one another and spark joy amongst our various team members nationwide.” —Erica, Team Leader and HeyTaco User

Start for free to watch connections form and collaboration strengthen in as little as a week.