21 Team Building Activities to Boost Engagement

Effective collaboration, mutual respect, and a sense of camaraderie are the foundation of a productive and happy workplace. Enter team-building activities—structured events designed to bring people together, break down barriers, and create lasting connections.  

But how effective are these activities really, and what are some creative ways to incorporate them into your work culture? Let's dive in.

Are team-building activities effective?

Whether it’s an impressive mini golf game or an epic scavenger hunt that had everyone talking for weeks, these events are a staple in the corporate world. But do they actually work, or are they just a way to get out of the office for a few hours?

Many studies that go back decades have found a common theme that comes from team building activities, and that is helping create a shared group identity. Team building activities are more than just fun and games; they're strategic tools that foster better communication, enhance problem-solving skills, and build trust among team members. When done right, these activities can transform a group of individuals into a cohesive unit, ready to tackle any challenge.  

Here's why team-building activities are effective:

1. Improve communication: engaging in team-building exercises encourages open communication, helping team members feel more comfortable sharing ideas and feedback.

2. Enhance collaboration: working together on fun, non-work-related tasks helps break down silos, especially between team members in different departments.  

3. Build a safe space: the more people are encouraged to work together, the more they’re likely to build stronger trust and bonds with each other.  

4. Boost morale: a well-planned team building event can re-energize your team and be the spark that was needed to get everyone working together outside of a work setting.  

5. Strengthen relationships: these activities provide opportunities for employees to get to know each other on a more personal level.  

Team building can lead to psychological safety

Companies like Google swear by team building. Their Project Aristotle study found that the best teams are those where members feel safe, valued, and connected—exactly what team building aims to achieve.

When Google embarked on Project Aristotle, their goal was to identify what makes a team effective. They discovered that the best teams exhibit five key dynamics:

1. Psychological safety: team members feel safe to take risks and be vulnerable in front of each other.

2. Dependability: team members reliably complete quality work on time.

3. Structure and clarity: team members have clear roles, plans, and goals.

4. Meaning: work is personally important to team members.

5. Impact: team members believe their work matters and creates change.

Google found that the way a team collaborates and interacts is more important than who is on the team.  

“Don’t underestimate the power of giving people a common platform and operating language. Project Aristotle is a reminder that when companies try to optimize everything, it’s sometimes easy to forget that success is often built on experiences — like emotional interactions and conversations of who we want to be and how our teammates make us feel.” - Julia Rozovsky, Director of People Operations at Google

Team building vs. team bonding

While team building and team bonding are often used interchangeably, they have distinct differences in terms of purpose and activities.  

What is team building?

The primary goal of team building is to improve team performance and efficiency. It focuses on enhancing specific skills, processes, and dynamics within the team to achieve better collaboration, communication, and problem-solving.

Team building examples: workshops or training, strategy games like escape rooms, scavenger hunts and puzzles, and recreational activities.  

What is team bonding?

The purpose of team bonding is to strengthen interpersonal relationships and build a sense of camaraderie and trust among team members. It focuses on creating a positive and enjoyable atmosphere where team members can connect on a personal level.

Team bonding examples: social events like dinners or happy hour, and shared experiences like going to a movie or a paint night.  

Sometimes a large, time-consuming team building event isn’t necessary, and a shorter team bonding experience is more appropriate. It’s important to also take note that not everyone enjoys or feels comfortable participating in a team building activity. Offering a mix of both to your team that can satisfy everyone is key!  

How to plan team building activities

Planning and managing team-building activities requires thoughtful preparation, clear objectives, and effective execution. Here’s a few tips to keep in mind while planning and managing a successful team-building activity:

Set clear objectives

Define what you want to achieve with your team-building activity. Goals can include improving communication, building trust, enhancing collaboration, or simply having fun.

Understand your team

Consider your team’s size, preferences, and current dynamics. Tailor activities to accommodate different personalities and comfort levels. What activities are they likely to enjoy and engage in?

Plan and prepare

Make sure you have all the tools and resources necessary for your activity. If you have a hybrid team, utilize collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams or Slack so remote workers can join. Consider scheduling during work hours to encourage participation.

Gather feedback

Solicit feedback from team members about what types of activities they would enjoy and find beneficial. What did they enjoy? What could be improved? Use this feedback to plan future events.

Team building activities, when implemented effectively, can indeed have a significant positive impact on team dynamics and overall workplace culture.  

If you’re struggling to find a team build activity to spark engagement and give your team a morale boost; here’s 21 team building activities to get you started!  

Office team building activities

1. Office Trivia: create a trivia quiz about the office, company history, or fun facts about team members. Split the team into small groups and let the trivia begin!

2. Book Club (in-office or remote): start a book club where team members read the same book and then discuss it in either a in-person or virtual meeting.

3. Puzzle Competition: divide everyone into teams and each team must assemble the same puzzle. The team who completes their puzzle first wins!  

4. Office Scavenger Hunt: create a list of items or clues related to your office environment. Split into teams and see who can find all the items first.

Kudos Office Scavenger Hunt: download this free team building activity.

5. Lunch and Learn (in-office or remote): host a lunch where one team member shares a skill or knowledge on a particular topic. It could be work-related or a personal hobby.

6. Cook-Off Challenge: organize a cooking competition where teams must collaborate to create a dish.

Remote team building activities

7. Two Truths and a Lie: each team member tells three statements about themselves, but one is a lie. The rest of the team must guess which statement is the lie.

8. Virtual Scavenger Hunt: for those working from home, craft a creative list or activities that people must find or complete around their home.    

Kudos Virtual Workplace Scavenger Hunt: download this free team building activity.

9. Geoguessr: Geoguessr is a geography game where players are given a Google Street view image from anywhere in the world and tasked with guessing the location.  

10. Show and Tell: each team member puts together a small presentation about an accomplishment or a fun fact about themselves and presents it to their team.

11. Drawize: Drawize is an online Pictionary tool where teams take turns drawing their clue and others have to guess what it is.  

12. Workplace Bingo (in-person or remote): create bingo cards with various office-related tasks or observations (e.g., “Has a yellow post it on their desk” or “Attended a meeting with the CEO”).

Kudos Workplace Bingo Cards: download this free team building activity.

13. Virtual Escape Rooms: similar to in-person escape rooms, virtual escape rooms require teams to solve puzzles and riddles within a virtual environment.

14. Online Trivia: host a virtual trivia night with questions covering a range of topics. This can be a fun way to encourage friendly competition and team spirit.

15. Virtual Coffee Breaks: schedule regular virtual coffee breaks where team members can chat informally about non-work-related topics.  

What’s in Your Inbox Game: download this free team building activity.

In-person team building activities

16. Escape Rooms: these immersive experiences require teamwork, communication, and quick thinking. Teams must work together to solve puzzles and escape within a set time limit.

17. A Hike or Nature Walk: an easy hike or walk is a great way to get your team members out of the office, especially in the summer months, to enjoy the sunshine.  

18. Mini golf: mini golf is a great low-intensity activity and perfect for larger groups of people.

19. Bowling: a great social activity that encourages team bonding and building relationships.

20. Volunteering: give back to the community by organizing a volunteer day. Whether it's cleaning up a park, planting a tree or helping at a local shelter.  

21. Afternoon Movie: organize an afternoon where treat your team members to popcorn and a movie at your local theatre.  

Team-building activities create a safe space for ideas, foster deeper connections, and improve communication—all essential for a high-performing team. By incorporating a mix of in-person and remote activities, and following best practices for planning and management, you can create memorable experiences that enhance collaboration and trust.  

So, next time you’re planning a team building event, go all in! Your team will thank you for it, and you’ll see the benefits in no time.

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