Team Building Activities for Employees

Does your team run like a well-oiled machine? If not, they may need some bonding. Team building activities for employees are a great way to get everybody working together toward a common goal. The time invested in team building games brings members closer and can also have lasting effects in the long run. As a Laughter Yoga coach I have been asked to bring laughter to the workplace on many occasions. Laughter Yoga is a relatively new phenomena but the participants I have met have all really enjoyed letting laughter unite them as a team.

Benefits of Team Building Activities for Employees

Team buliding activities increase productivity. When team members are close, they are better about working together and helping each other get the job done.

Bonding leads to better communication. Communication between team members improves because employees get to know each other on a level other than work.

Bonding exercises increase motivation. A paid break away from the day to day grind can always be motivating but doing stuff together can help motivate the whole team.

Team building activities for employees builds trust. These activities show employees that they each have strengths and are much stronger together than as individuals.

Team building games encourage creativity. These activities often foster creative thinking for better or more efficient ways to complete the tasks.

Bonding develops problem-solving skills. Employees must think outside the box. Thus, increasing problem-solving abilities in crew members.

Human Knot

At least 2 teams of 6-10 people. Teams must have an even number of people on them.

How to play:

1. Each team will stand in a circle, shoulder to shoulder.
2. Team members reach their right hand into the middle grabbing someone else’s hand like a handshake until everyone is holding a hand.
3.  Next members do the same with their left hand ensuring they do not grab the hand of the same person they are holding with their right hand.
4. When all hands are held, members can begin trying to untangle to form a large circle. Members must not let go of each other’s hands to untangle. They can let go to adjust their grip to avoid getting injured.
5. The first team to untangle forming a large circle wins this game.

Spaghetti Tower

At least 2 teams of 2-8 people.

How to play:

Give each team a box of uncooked spaghetti noodles and a bag of marshmallows.

The teams have a set amount of time (10-15 minutes) during which they attempt to build the largest tower with the supplies given.

When time runs out, measure each tower.

Finally, the team with the highest tower wins.

Gibberish Talking

As many people as would want to participate!

How to play:

Talking gibberish is making sounds without meaning. Children speak like this, so this exercise encourages you to release your inner child and playfulness. This could also make it an ideal exercise in laughter yoga for children. 

Either standing up or sitting down, take a deep breath in. As you exhale, simply start talking gibberish! Try to relax into it and just make whatever sounds naturally come out of your mouth. Vary the speed and volume and include hand and body movements too.

So there you have a few team building activities for employees that will help you really bond your team together.