Ah, Pictionary, the timeless guessing game that has brought joy and frustration to households for decades. But have you ever thought about playing it in the office? Trust me, it's not just a game for family game night.
Ah, Pictionary, the timeless guessing game that has brought joy and frustration to households for decades. But have you ever thought about playing it in the office? Trust me, it's not just a game for family game night.
Not only does it encourage teamwork and communication skills, but it also allows for a fun and creative break from the typical daily routine. Plus, it's a refreshing change from staring at screens all day.
Here’s a fast-paced improv game that encourages creative thinking and imbues energy into the room. It’s ideal for those Monday morning meetings when everyone’s feeling sluggish, or as a warm-up exercise on a team-building retreat!What Are You Doing revolves around miming – i.e. using gestures, body movements, and facial expressions to act something out. That’s one reason it’s so fun! It’s light-hearted, silly, and gets people moving.
Here’s a fast-paced improv game that encourages creative thinking and imbues energy into the room. It’s ideal for those Monday morning meetings when everyone’s feeling sluggish, or as a warm-up exercise on a team-building retreat!
What Are You Doing revolves around miming – i.e. using gestures, body movements, and facial expressions to act something out. That’s one reason it’s so fun! It’s light-hearted, silly, and gets people moving.
To play, you get everyone to stand in a circle, then ask one person to imagine a certain action and start miming it. The action itself can be anything they want! Washing the dishes, taking the kids to school, throwing a baseball, brushing their hair, cleaning their teeth…the world is their oyster.
After a short while, someone else steps forward and asks, “What are you doing?”
The twist is that whoever’s miming must say a completely different action to the one they’re doing! Instead of cleaning their teeth, for example, they could say they’re putting their shoes on or amputating someone’s leg. Whoever stepped forward to ask what they were doing must then perform that action.
This process continues until everyone has had a turn miming. Try to keep the game moving and encourage people to be creative with the actions/responses.
Oh, and feel free to add another element to the game, whereby you decide who goes next. Rather than going around the circle or jumping in whenever they want, you could point at the next mime – or make eye contact with them.
Heads up, this game is best for smaller groups if you don’t have much time to spare. You want everyone to have a go miming an action, which can take a while when you have dozens of people on the team!
Make everyone a bit smarter while they quench their thirst. Request that at your next happy hour, you bring a book to share. Ask people to bring their favorite book, or to choose the professional development book that’s been most helpful. Everyone should share a bit about what makes that particular book so special. At the end of the event, people can borrow the books available or just remember the title so they can find it on their own later on. This is a great way to learn more about your colleagues and learn some new things at the same time.
Make everyone a bit smarter while they quench their thirst. Request that at your next happy hour, you bring a book to share. Ask people to bring their favorite book, or to choose the professional development book that’s been most helpful. Everyone should share a bit about what makes that particular book so special. At the end of the event, people can borrow the books available or just remember the title so they can find it on their own later on. This is a great way to learn more about your colleagues and learn some new things at the same time.
With digital playbook, employees create short user manuals or intro videos explaining how they work best—whether it’s preferred meeting times, communication styles, or favorite work snacks. It’s like a cheat sheet for collaborating effectively!This activity helps teams understand each other’s work preferences and habits, which can make remote teamwork smoother and more enjoyable.
With digital playbook, employees create short user manuals or intro videos explaining how they work best—whether it’s preferred meeting times, communication styles, or favorite work snacks. It’s like a cheat sheet for collaborating effectively!
This activity helps teams understand each other’s work preferences and habits, which can make remote teamwork smoother and more enjoyable.
Not every team-building activity needs to be carefully choreographed. Sometimes, organic bonding activities like Company Potluck build stronger relationships.
Not every team-building activity needs to be carefully choreographed. Sometimes, organic bonding activities like Company Potluck build stronger relationships.
Great for: Interpersonal bonding
Duration: 1–2 hours
You’ll need: N/A
Does your team tend to go off on tangents and get into circular discussions when talking about projects or issues? Meetings that devolve into unrelated conversations are a big challenge in many workplaces. You can practice these skills with this exercise, dot voting. To do it, all you need to do is present the issue and then have everyone suggest ideas for a solution. Write them down on the white board so everyone can see. Then, hand out sticky notes and have everyone place their papers under the ideas they like best. You might let them choose only one, or up to 3. Once everyone has had their turn, you will have an obvious visual that shows which of the ideas was most popular. This is a great tactic that can be used in many different meetings, discussion, and brainstorming sessions.
Does your team tend to go off on tangents and get into circular discussions when talking about projects or issues? Meetings that devolve into unrelated conversations are a big challenge in many workplaces. You can practice these skills with this exercise, dot voting. To do it, all you need to do is present the issue and then have everyone suggest ideas for a solution.
Write them down on the white board so everyone can see. Then, hand out sticky notes and have everyone place their papers under the ideas they like best. You might let them choose only one, or up to 3. Once everyone has had their turn, you will have an obvious visual that shows which of the ideas was most popular. This is a great tactic that can be used in many different meetings, discussion, and brainstorming sessions.
This one requires some preparation, but it pays off when everyone executes it. Prior to your meeting, or whichever event you have organized, ask people to create a small time capsule that would help a stranger understand what their life was like. The capsule should be no bigger than a shoebox (good options are small boxes, gallon size freezer bags, or brown paper bags). Have them fill it with about 5 things that are representative of them and the life they live. Have them get creative and have fun with it! Then, use the first hour of the event to have everyone share their time capsule and explain their choices. You can also take things a step further. If this event is an annual one, keep all the time capsules and put them in storage, with a reminder to get them out after 10 years. In the future, it will be fun for employees - both new ones and any who still remain from the original event - to go through the time capsules and learn about what was going on a decade ago.
This one requires some preparation, but it pays off when everyone executes it. Prior to your meeting, or whichever event you have organized, ask people to create a small time capsule that would help a stranger understand what their life was like.
The capsule should be no bigger than a shoebox (good options are small boxes, gallon size freezer bags, or brown paper bags). Have them fill it with about 5 things that are representative of them and the life they live. Have them get creative and have fun with it! Then, use the first hour of the event to have everyone share their time capsule and explain their choices. You can also take things a step further.
If this event is an annual one, keep all the time capsules and put them in storage, with a reminder to get them out after 10 years. In the future, it will be fun for employees - both new ones and any who still remain from the original event - to go through the time capsules and learn about what was going on a decade ago.
Have you ever seen the TV show or played the board game called Family Feud? Well, Friendly Feud is a DIY version that’s just as fun to play. Here’s the process for each round: Divide the group into 2 teams Come up with a question on a particular topic Poll one of the teams to find the top 5 answers to it (making sure the other team doesn’t see/hear) Assign points to each option, with the most points going to the “best” answer and the least points going to the “worst” Ask the opposite team to come up with 5 answers to that same question – with a time limit See if they choose any of the same answers and then add up the number of points they earned Repeat the process, asking numerous questions to both teams and keeping track of their points For instance, let’s say the question is, “what’s something that flies?” After polling Team A, you get 5 answers: Airplane, bird, bee, drone, and helicopter, which you say are worth 5 points, 4 points, 3 points, 2 points, and 1 point, respectively. You then ask Team B for 5 answers to the same question. They say, “airplane, paraglider, hot air balloon, spacecraft, and birds.” Because they got two of the five options set out by Team A, they’d receive 9 points.
Have you ever seen the TV show or played the board game called Family Feud? Well, Friendly Feud is a DIY version that’s just as fun to play. Here’s the process for each round:
For instance, let’s say the question is, “what’s something that flies?” After polling Team A, you get 5 answers: Airplane, bird, bee, drone, and helicopter, which you say are worth 5 points, 4 points, 3 points, 2 points, and 1 point, respectively.
You then ask Team B for 5 answers to the same question. They say, “airplane, paraglider, hot air balloon, spacecraft, and birds.” Because they got two of the five options set out by Team A, they’d receive 9 points.
Players should try to name as many [type of people] as they can in one minute. You might choose celebrities or athletes, or get even more specific by choosing baseball players or eighties bands, for example. Whoever comes up with the most names in 60 seconds wins.
Players should try to name as many [type of people] as they can in one minute. You might choose celebrities or athletes, or get even more specific by choosing baseball players or eighties bands, for example. Whoever comes up with the most names in 60 seconds wins.
This is a really fun way to break the ice in a competitive way. Participants can get information on each other in a more engaging way. To begin, create a bingo card with a statement or question in every square. Make sure they are things that will apply to at least one person in the gathering. Try to pick a few things that are aligned with your work or the event. Every player will get a bingo card and then they should mingle around chatting with the other participants. The goal is for them to find people to sign each square based on what they learn. Pro tip: the signatures should only be from one or two people each, to avoid having the same people filling up all the squares for an instant bingo. When everyone has reached bingo (or is close), stop the game and have everyone share something they learned about their colleagues.
This is a really fun way to break the ice in a competitive way. Participants can get information on each other in a more engaging way. To begin, create a bingo card with a statement or question in every square. Make sure they are things that will apply to at least one person in the gathering. Try to pick a few things that are aligned with your work or the event. Every player will get a bingo card and then they should mingle around chatting with the other participants. The goal is for them to find people to sign each square based on what they learn. Pro tip: the signatures should only be from one or two people each, to avoid having the same people filling up all the squares for an instant bingo. When everyone has reached bingo (or is close), stop the game and have everyone share something they learned about their colleagues.
Looking for a virtual trust-building activity that’s a little simpler than the one above? Try the “One-question icebreaker”. A versatile game that you can use for any occasion, you can boost the bond between teammates in just a few minutes.There isn’t a lot to this one! You simply open up a group video call with a single, thought-provoking ice-breaker.The question itself could be silly or serious, work-related or totally random. Whatever the case, you give everyone on the call a chance to answer it and let those responses spark further discussion.
Looking for a virtual trust-building activity that’s a little simpler than the one above?
Try the “One-question icebreaker”. A versatile game that you can use for any occasion, you can boost the bond between teammates in just a few minutes.
There isn’t a lot to this one! You simply open up a group video call with a single, thought-provoking ice-breaker.
The question itself could be silly or serious, work-related or totally random. Whatever the case, you give everyone on the call a chance to answer it and let those responses spark further discussion.
What you need:
Get ready to belt out some tunes with virtual karaoke jam! Team members take turns singing their favorite songs in an online karaoke session. For extra fun, you can even vote on the best performance, though it’s really all about letting loose and having a laugh.It’s a great way to inject some fun and energy into a virtual meeting and maybe even discover a few hidden vocal talents on the team.
Get ready to belt out some tunes with virtual karaoke jam! Team members take turns singing their favorite songs in an online karaoke session. For extra fun, you can even vote on the best performance, though it’s really all about letting loose and having a laugh.
It’s a great way to inject some fun and energy into a virtual meeting and maybe even discover a few hidden vocal talents on the team.
Think you’re good at following directions? This game will test how good you are, testing your communication skills, so you follow the right directions.
Think you’re good at following directions? This game will test how good you are, testing your communication skills, so you follow the right directions.
Pick one person from your team who will pick a game or activity that is complex or hard to follow. After reading the directions out loud to the rest of the group, everyone else will attempt to play the game only based on what the speaker has told them. They will have to work together and communicate to figure out how to play correctly.
Afterward, the leader and team can briefly discuss where there were any communication breakdowns and what could have been improved.
Materials you’ll need: A game with complex directions
How many people: Small to mid-sized teams (8-16 people)
A water gun fight is an opportunity for your employees to leave the stresses of the office behind them and enjoy some harmless fun.
A water gun fight is an opportunity for your employees to leave the stresses of the office behind them and enjoy some harmless fun.
Great for: Interpersonal bonding, relieving stress
Duration: 30 minutes
You’ll need: An open space, various water guns (at least one per person)
There’s nothing like a spot of mischief to bring colleagues closer together. With office makeovers, different teams within the company have the chance to “redecorate” another team’s space. From unraveling rolls of toilet paper to putting up posters of people’s favorite boy bands, the options are endless.
There’s nothing like a spot of mischief to bring colleagues closer together. With office makeovers, different teams within the company have the chance to “redecorate” another team’s space. From unraveling rolls of toilet paper to putting up posters of people’s favorite boy bands, the options are endless.
Set some ground rules beforehand to stop the pranks from going overboard though. The atmosphere should be light and full of laughter – not frustration at the state of your redecorated space!
Imagine your team deciphering riddles and tackling challenges to uncover hidden city gems - that's the essence of the City Scavenger Hunt. It's like a real-life puzzle where everyone's brainpower combines to crack codes and overcome obstacles. As you explore the city together, you're not only having a blast but also boosting your problem-solving and teamwork skills. It's a chance to unravel mysteries while strengthening bonds among your teammates.
Imagine your team deciphering riddles and tackling challenges to uncover hidden city gems - that's the essence of the City Scavenger Hunt. It's like a real-life puzzle where everyone's brainpower combines to crack codes and overcome obstacles. As you explore the city together, you're not only having a blast but also boosting your problem-solving and teamwork skills. It's a chance to unravel mysteries while strengthening bonds among your teammates.
Bonus tip: Make sure to choose a city with a lot of history or landmarks- the more the city has, the more options you have to choose from!
Sitting in a circle, players take turns whispering a question into the ear of the person on their right – the answer to which is someone else playing the game. Whoever’s asked the question then points at whoever they believe is the answer. For example, you might ask, “who is the best-looking person in the group?” to Alice, who might point at James across the room. But poor James doesn’t know what the question was! Hence the name, Paranoia. The only way for James to find out is to accept a dare/forfeit. If he’s unwilling to do so, then it becomes Alice’s turn to whisper a question to whoever’s next to her. A word of caution: Paranoia’s a fun and unique question game, but it isn’t without tension! We recommend you only play if everyone on the team is close friends.
Sitting in a circle, players take turns whispering a question into the ear of the person on their right – the answer to which is someone else playing the game. Whoever’s asked the question then points at whoever they believe is the answer.
For example, you might ask, “who is the best-looking person in the group?” to Alice, who might point at James across the room. But poor James doesn’t know what the question was! Hence the name, Paranoia. The only way for James to find out is to accept a dare/forfeit. If he’s unwilling to do so, then it becomes Alice’s turn to whisper a question to whoever’s next to her.
A word of caution: Paranoia’s a fun and unique question game, but it isn’t without tension! We recommend you only play if everyone on the team is close friends.
The next game is Mirror Image Drawing, a delightful activity that challenges your communication skills in the workplace.
The next game is Mirror Image Drawing, a delightful activity that challenges your communication skills in the workplace.
Think you know your coworkers' texting habits? In emoji detective, you’ll have to guess which team member’s recently used emoji board is being shown. It's a fun, lighthearted way to test your knowledge of your teammates’ messaging style.It’s an easy, amusing game to throw into a virtual meeting, and it’s always fun to see who’s been overusing the laughing-crying face.
Think you know your coworkers' texting habits? In emoji detective, you’ll have to guess which team member’s recently used emoji board is being shown. It's a fun, lighthearted way to test your knowledge of your teammates’ messaging style.
It’s an easy, amusing game to throw into a virtual meeting, and it’s always fun to see who’s been overusing the laughing-crying face.
Imagine your team venturing into the wilderness, not just for a casual hike, but for an exhilarating Outdoor Survival Race. You'll rely on each other's skills to navigate the wilds, decode puzzles, and conquer challenges. This is more than teamwork; it's about trust, communication, and strategizing under pressure. As you tackle Mother Nature's obstacles together, you'll find yourselves delegating tasks, sharing ideas, and building unbreakable bonds.
Imagine your team venturing into the wilderness, not just for a casual hike, but for an exhilarating Outdoor Survival Race. You'll rely on each other's skills to navigate the wilds, decode puzzles, and conquer challenges. This is more than teamwork; it's about trust, communication, and strategizing under pressure. As you tackle Mother Nature's obstacles together, you'll find yourselves delegating tasks, sharing ideas, and building unbreakable bonds.
How well do your staff know each other? This activity has players use their observation skills to guess who owns each office desk based solely on its contents.
How well do your staff know each other? This activity has players use their observation skills to guess who owns each office desk based solely on its contents. Here’s how you go about it:
For most people, it feels really awkward to share their successes. For your next meeting, break the ice by having everyone on the call share their latest accomplishment. Whether that’s a work related achievement or a personal goal like their best time in a 10k, you can create a safe space for people to brag and learn more about what their co-workers care about.
For most people, it feels really awkward to share their successes. For your next meeting, break the ice by having everyone on the call share their latest accomplishment. Whether that’s a work related achievement or a personal goal like their best time in a 10k, you can create a safe space for people to brag and learn more about what their co-workers care about.
Here’s a game that aims to draw out hidden talents among your teams. Ask each person in the next virtual meeting to showcase a talent they have. The only thing is, a lot of people might feel they have no hidden talents to show, so by calling it a ‘useless’ talent show, you might help reduce any pressure that is felt. Allow them to be as random and creative as they wish. Older talent videos from the 2000s had some creative gems, like the famous Daft Hands. Simplicity is key for a talent show, as well as an atmosphere of zero pressure, so give a (useless) talent show a shot in your next virtual happy hour.
Here’s a game that aims to draw out hidden talents among your teams. Ask each person in the next virtual meeting to showcase a talent they have. The only thing is, a lot of people might feel they have no hidden talents to show, so by calling it a ‘useless’ talent show, you might help reduce any pressure that is felt.
Allow them to be as random and creative as they wish. Older talent videos from the 2000s had some creative gems, like the famous Daft Hands. Simplicity is key for a talent show, as well as an atmosphere of zero pressure, so give a (useless) talent show a shot in your next virtual happy hour.
Unleash creativity and teamwork by having each team create a story together, one sentence or paragraph at a time.
Unleash creativity and teamwork by having each team create a story together, one sentence or paragraph at a time.
Materials needed:
Instructions on how to play:
Why it's a great team building game:
Top tip to help the game run smoothly: Keep it lighthearted and encourage a "yes, and..." mentality, where each contribution builds on the previous one. The goal is to create a collaborative masterpiece, no matter how silly or unexpected it becomes!