Adult-Focused Team Building Activities: Enhancing Camaraderie and Cooperation
In the era of remote work, maintaining strong team cohesion and connections can be challenging. However, team-building games offer a fun and engaging solution to combat isolation and foster a sense of camaraderie among remote workers. Here are some creative and effective team-building games that can be played online.
Communication and Collaboration Games
The Human Knot
This no- props team-building game challenges participants to communicate and collaborate without speaking. The aim is to untangle the human knot, a linked circle of people, without speaking.
Two Truths and a Lie
Two Truths and a Lie is an icebreaker game that helps team members get to know each other better. Each participant shares two truths and one lie about themselves, and the rest of the team must guess which is the lie.
Virtual Charades
A familiar and fun online version of charades, this game works well over video calls. Teams take turns acting out words or phrases to guess the correct answer.
Pictionary or Charades (Adapted)
Pictionary or Charades can be adapted for a team-building setting, encouraging communication, creativity, and collaboration. Instead of drawing or acting out words or phrases individually, teams work together to create a group drawing or performance.
Problem-Solving and Creativity Games
Marshmallow Challenge
Teams build the tallest spaghetti-and-marshmallow tower in 20 minutes, encouraging creativity and teamwork. This simple yet challenging game tests a team's ability to collaborate and innovate under pressure.
Blind Drawing
One person describes an object while another draws it without seeing. This game sharpens communication and listening skills in a fun way.
Interactive and Competitive Games
Minute to Win It Challenges
Short, fun tasks that require both skill and a bit of luck, Minute to Win It Challenges are perfect for adding a competitive edge to team-building activities.
Pub-style Trivia
Teams answer trivia questions online, promoting friendly competition and teamwork.
Truth or Dare: Remote Work Edition
A version adapted for virtual settings, Truth or Dare encourages fun and spontaneity among remote team members.
Strategic and Deductive Games
Online Werewolf
A strategic deduction game where players have secret roles (e.g., werewolf, seer, medic) and must figure out who the werewolves are through discussion and voting. It emphasizes communication and strategy.
Personal Connection Games
Mister Rogers Calls
Randomized 30-minute 1:1 video chats where teammates avoid work talk and share personal interests, fostering personal connections.
Scavenger Hunts and Relay Races
Scavenger hunts, trivia challenges, or relay races work well for large groups, encouraging teamwork while keeping everyone involved and engaged. These activities can be adapted to various team sizes and technology comfort levels, making them suitable for the workplace, schools, or social gatherings.
Benefits of Team-Building Games
Team-building games help participants build stronger relationships, boost morale, and develop skills that enhance their ability to work together effectively. These games are activities designed to improve communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and trust among team members. By choosing activities that suit your team size, interests, and technology comfort level, you can foster a positive and productive team dynamic. Mixing casual 1:1 formats like Mister Rogers Calls with more interactive group games improves both connection and collective problem-solving.
- In the realm of remote work, games like The Human Knot, Two Truths and a Lie, and Virtual Charades can foster communication and camaraderie by challenging team members to collaborate without speaking or act out words and phrases over video calls.
- Creative problem-solving games, such as the Marshmallow Challenge and Blind Drawing, can help refine communication and listening skills while testing a team's ability to collaborate and innovate under pressure.
- When it comes to competition, Minute to Win It Challenges, pub-style trivia, Truth or Dare: Remote Work Edition, Online Werewolf, and scavenger hunts/relay races can add a fun and engaging element to team-building activities, promoting friendly rivalry while strengthening teamwork and personal connections.
- Personal connection games, like Mister Rogers Calls, are designed to foster individual relationships within the team by encouraging 30-minute 1:1 video chats without discussing work-related topics, allowing team members to share personal interests and build stronger connections.
