School of PE Blog

Having an effective team as soon as it’s created would be great. But that’s not always the case. It’s difficult to bring people together who have no background information on each other. However, getting people to work as a team is one of the most crucial steps in making them efficient and productive. In fact, a team that doesn’t work well together can be counterproductive and ultimately a waste of time for all involved.

But let’s say that you’ve curated this team from the ground up, taking in each of their strengths and weaknesses, personality types, and every bit of available information into consideration. At this point, you know that all you need is to break the ice and help them learn how their individuality can balance each other to create a healthy, productive team. Team building activities are a fun and effective approach to bringing a team together.

In that case, we can discuss the qualities of a productive team and the different types of team-building activities and follow up with a list of team-building activities that will bring your team closer together.

Teams are brought together for a reason. They have tasks to complete and goals to reach. Good teams that work together have these qualities that enable them to reach those goals quickly and efficiently.

There are several different types of team-building activities that really correspond to the specific skill outcome you’re looking for. This can include getting to know activities that help break the ice, communication and collaboration activities that help the team learn how each member communicates. Problem-solving activities can also play a part in teaching the team to work together under pressure. There are even activities that can help align the team’s goals with the organization. So, with that in mind, here are some activities that you can use within your team to help bring them together.

Below, you’ll find a short but diverse list of activities you can do with your team that will help you get to know each other on a deeper level. These activities can take a few minutes to a few hours and help you learn how to work as a team.

Solve a puzzle- Puzzles are simple things that can be done over time and with a larger group of people or as a solitary task, so they might not seem like a tool for team building. However, they can still offer insights into an individual and how they tackle a problem. Some people work from the outside in, completing the edges before ever touching the inside. Some people go for background pieces, and others go for focal points. Some like to sit down for extended periods of time and get it done fast, while others like to pick out a piece here and there and take longer to finish the project in general.

Host a brainstorming session- Brainstorming as one person can certainly get a job done, but brainstorming with a team can give a larger variety of ideas for a project, no matter what it is. Brainstorming sessions don’t necessarily have to do with a singular project. Instead, it can be something as simple as rearranging a room or coming up with ideas for a future potluck. Not only can it help start off a project, but it can also help you learn about a person’s background and how it fits into their work. By bringing together a variety of people with diverse backgrounds, you can also help create a more well-rounded final product.

Have a show and tell- Take time to have each team member boast of their accomplishments. It gives the group the opportunity to root for each other and learn what matters to others by what they’ve done and what they’re proud of. While simple, it gives the group an opportunity to engage in a positive way, and the more you can encourage that form of positivity, the better.

Complete a personality test- Personality tests offer valuable insights into individuals. Not only will it help the team understand the group they’re working with, but it will also help the person understand how they work and put logic behind certain personality traits. For instance, is one person a slow but consistent and steady worker? They complete tasks on time, sometimes ahead of schedule, with quality and efficiency. On the other hand, you may be working with a very fast worker that works well on a deadline. They’ll put the task off, but it will always get done, still with quality work. They just work differently than each other. Personality tests can put a reason behind this, and many other traits that can be a benefit to the team.

Play board games in the break room- Monopoly is known for tearing families apart for fun. Other board games, however, can be ongoing and bring groups together. Like the puzzle, you can place board games in the break room that can help the group learn how to work together and separately towards a common goal.

Untangle a human knot- The human knot is an engaging way to teach the group how to solve a problem together. Stand in a circle and have random team members connect hands. From there, twist and turn and go around, over, and under to untie the knot. Sometimes, it’s impossible due to the way that the hands are connected, but even when it doesn’t work out, and the group is still tangled together, it’s a fun bonding experience when the group realizes there’s no escape.

Do a silent line up- This task must be completed silently. Have the group line up by various indicators: height, weight, eye color, hair length, clothing color, etc. This activity can help the group learn new facts about each other, add a new challenge to the task, and have fun doing it.

Have a surprise task- Take the group out of their normal task set and have them complete an impromptu project, something that can be completed quickly but offers the same thrill of a game or activity in the sense of accomplishment they’ll get. Bonus points for added pressure like time constraints, and even bigger bonus points for making it a work-centric task.

Take classes together- Taking classes together is a fun way to get to know each other outside of the work environment. Cooking classes, exercise classes, pottery, etc. can all be fun learning experiences that add to both their overall development, as well as learn more about each other outside of work.

Create an office mix tape- Everybody likes music. Well, almost everybody does. Creating a mix tape has several benefits. First is that you can learn a lot about a person from their taste in music. The second is that you can have a list of music that works for everybody, like a soundtrack to the workplace.

Rotate desks- Rotate desks like musical chairs. Don’t arrange anything, and don’t take anything with you. Changing desks can be a fun way to learn about each other personally and professionally. A person’s desk can often be an outward expression of who they are individually, and trading places for a day can add valuable personal knowledge to the group dynamic.

Nobody can do everything alone. A team is one way that companies reach their overall goals. They use an individual’s strengths combined with another’s to develop long-lasting companywide success. However, teams don’t just learn how to work together in a day. It takes time and intention to learn how to work effectively together. The truth is team building exercises are often an overlooked method of building relationships within a team and can play a continual role in the professional development of a team’s ability to work together. You can use these fun and engaging activities to help your team create lasting professional relationships, develop critical skills, and teach your team how to work together to reach a unified goal.