When your team members feel appreciated, connected, and invested in their work, they tend to be more productive, creative, and committed to the success of your company. But how do you keep your team members feeling engaged, connected, and excited about their work?
Employee engagement doesn’t have to be expensive or elusive at all. One of the most effective ways to boost employee engagement is through team-building exercises. These activities not only break down barriers between team members but help establish a sense of trust, camaraderie, and shared purpose.
Plus, they’re a ton of fun! HR departments can play a key role in implementing these exercises and ensuring their success, from choosing the right activities, to providing resources, to encouraging participation.
Our Top 3 Team-Building Exercises
Whether you have a large or small team, these team-building exercises are for you:
1. You Tell, I Draw
You and a colleague will team up. One will describe an object while the other draws it, but they can’t look at the objects or each other! It’s gonna take some seriously sharp communication skills and active listening to get this one done. And, this can be done virtually in breakout rooms if everyone promises not to break the rules!
Trust me, it’s totally worth it. Not only will the team get a chance to improve their communication skills, but they’ll get a kick out of seeing everyone’s hilarious attempts at drawing. Check out this video for a sneak peek of what’s in store!
2. Office Olympics
To get started, divide your team into small groups and create a series of mini-games that can be played in the office. Think outside the box and come up with creative challenges, like a paperclip toss, stapler relay, or pencil balance. Each team will compete against each other, and the team with the most points at the end will take home the gold medal!
But winning isn’t everything. This activity also promotes teamwork, communication, and healthy fun. So let loose, have a good time, and remember that the ultimate goal is to build camaraderie among your colleagues. Check out this video for some hilarious and entertaining Office Olympics ideas.
3. Volunteer Day
As creators of positive and respectful workplaces, we understand the importance of giving back to the community and making a positive impact. Also, fun fact: Altruism builds positive emotions and feelings towards others, so your organization can deliver some community impact while the team is building bonds that make them more productive.
Planning a day for the team to volunteer together at a local non-profit organization is an excellent way to do just that. It promotes teamwork and a sense of togetherness as we work towards a common goal of helping those in need.
Again, not only does this activity benefit the community, but it also facilitates the development of new skills and a sense of fulfillment from doing good for others.
The Benefits of Team-Building Exercises
Not only are team-building exercises fun and engaging, but they also offer a range of benefits for both your employees and your business. These benefits include:
- Improved communication and collaboration
- Increased productivity and creativity
- Enhanced trust and morale
- Reduced stress and conflict
- Better problem-solving and decision-making skills
With HR’s help, you can design and facilitate team-building exercises that meet the unique needs and goals of your teams, while also supporting your company’s values and culture. And, making your workplace a happy place.
An awesome resource for your team is Catherine’s LinkedIn Learning course, Driving Workplace Happiness, which we made free for 24 hours!
Also, make sure you foster an environment where these activities are welcomed and encouraged. Team building activities are a waste of time if everyone’s walking on eggshells or living in fear. One way to find out if your work environment is one of team building and camaraderie is a climate assessment.
Anyway, incorporating these fun activities into your workplace can put you on your way to building a dream team that’s happy, productive, and successful!
PS: Check out our awesome Ebook, Employee Engagement Doesn’t Have To Be A Mystery, that you can download for free!
Written by: Jennifer Areola
