41 team building exercises for the 2025 workplace

Team building activities are a common way to build camaraderie between workers and to develop personal relationships between team members. Though they aren’t always loved by all, team building activities do benefit employees and organizations as whole. So finding and organizing activities your team members will actually enjoy is an important step in cultivating and fostering a thriving company culture.

A team-building event can form the foundation of improved morale among colleagues. Management can identify leadership strengths among employees. Co-workers will learn the value of co-operation. They are also able to display abilities outside of work skills. Who knew your account executives were such enthusiastic singers?

Despite their benefits, team-building activities at work aren’t always welcome. 

This guide will share activities that can boost employee engagement and participation. To keep participants interested, try the following exercises at your next team meeting or offsite for colleagues to try together.

Why are team-building exercises important?

Team building activities are a core component of work life. Any company invested in developing effective workers should engage in these activities. These opportunities for team bonding foster friendship and community within the workplace. In turn, this helps to improve worker satisfaction and happiness. Around 13% of employees assert that they are more productive when happy. 

Team building events are a continuous process. They are necessary to form stronger ties between workers and the company. When team building is a workplace staple, these are common benefits:

Streamlines onboarding

Team-building events help new hires quickly get acquainted with colleagues and company culture. They provide a fun way to break the ice, easing new recruits into their roles and fostering faster integration into the team.

Improves communication

Team building exercises enhance communication skills by encouraging collaboration. When colleagues work together, they learn essential communication skills, leading to better workplace efficiency.

Boosts morale

Employees feel valued when a company organizes team-building events, boosting enthusiasm and confidence. These activities show that management cares about their well-being and help build reliance on teammates.

Increases trust

Team building games foster trust as colleagues observe how others handle challenges. It helps identify reliable team members and those who may benefit from extra support, creating a strong, trust-based team foundation.

Encourages creativity

By encouraging out-of-the-box thinking, team building exercises inspire creativity. These activities allow workers to break away from routine tasks and find innovative approaches to problem-solving.

What are the 7 C’s of team building?

The seven C’s of team building are essential elements that contribute to the development of strong, effective teams. They are designed to improve collaboration, communication, and overall team performance. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Communication
   Effective communication is the foundation of any successful team. It ensures that all team members are on the same page, understand their roles, and can share ideas and feedback openly.
2. Collaboration: Team members must work together towards a common goal. Collaboration fosters problem-solving, creativity, and innovation, allowing teams to combine their diverse skills and perspectives.
3. Commitment: Every team member should be committed to the team's success. This means taking ownership of tasks, being dedicated to the team's objectives, and supporting one another in achieving goals.
4. Competence: Team members should possess the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively. Continuous development and skill-building help ensure that the team remains competent and capable.
5. Confidence: Trust within the team is essential. Team members need to have confidence in one another’s abilities and in the team’s capacity to succeed. Confidence also includes feeling comfortable enough to share ideas and concerns without fear of judgment.
6. Creativity: Encouraging creative thinking allows teams to come up with innovative solutions to challenges. Teams that foster a culture of creativity can think outside the box and approach problems from different angles.
7. Cohesion: A cohesive team is one that works well together, has a strong sense of unity, and aligns with shared values and goals. Cohesion ensures that the team can function smoothly and efficiently, even in challenging situations.

These seven C’s provide a framework for building a strong, high-performing team that can work together to tackle challenges and achieve success.

41 team-building exercises and activities employees will actually enjoy

Team-building activities are a great way to foster stronger relationships, improve communication, and encourage collaboration among team members.

Whether you're looking for icebreakers, creative problem-solving tasks, or challenges that push your team to think outside the box, these exercises are organized into categories to suit every team’s needs. They can be done in larger or small groups and adjusted for virtual remote teams.

Explore the options below to find engaging activities that your employees will actually enjoy and benefit from.

Team building activities to break the ice

Icebreakers are ideal team-building exercises for new hires in the workplace. They help new recruits adjust to the workplace and get to know seasoned employees.

These events are a fun way to welcome new hires into an unfamiliar environment. They include icebreaker activities such as:

1. Two truths and a lie

Group size: 5-8

Purpose of activity: to build familiarity between colleagues 

Time commitment: 30 minutes

New recruits may struggle to navigate different personalities in the office. To ease into these interactions, companies can organize a game of two truths and a lie. 

This game requires participants to share two honest events, and one lie. This can take place over an arranged break or during lunchtime. 

While gathered, each person presents the truths and lies. It is then up to the listeners to guess what may be true or false.

Two truths and a lie is an easy game to break the ice between workers and a new colleague. They push colleagues to get personal, forming an easy bond.

2. The one-word icebreaker game

Group size: 4-5 people per group

Purpose of activity: to understand feelings towards a work affair

Time commitment: 20 minutes

This game provides an informal avenue to learn employee thoughts on an aspect of work. This could be a new policy, company culture, or even the methods of a supervisor.

The one-word icebreaker game requires a group or groups made of 4-5 people. Within that group, each member is asked to give a one-word descriptor of a work event. 

For honest conversation, each group has a few minutes to discuss the reasons behind their chosen word. After discussions, each group will settle on a chosen word to be shared with other groups.

When these words are shared, they will prompt open discussion between the groups.

3. Office trivia

Group size: 5-20 people

Purpose of activity: to understand feelings towards a work affair

Time commitment: 30-45 minutes

An unfamiliar environment can feel alienating to a new recruit. A trivia session where players answer lighthearted questions can be a warm welcome.

These questions can quiz on the office’s preferred brand of coffee beans. Likewise, queries on colleagues that add cereal before milk, etc, are fun additions.

Office trivia is breezy, with more serious inquiries reserved for appropriate scenarios. The aim is to open up the office as a friendly environment for new recruits.

4. A penny for your thoughts

Group size: 5-7 people

Purpose of activity: to build personal relationships between workers

Time commitment: 35 minutes

This game provides an interesting spin on icebreakers. It requires pennies or coins with listed years and a container to place them in.

With the coins in the container, members of the group will reach in, and identify the year inscribed. The colleague will then share a personal event from that time.

This activity can create a bond between teammates. ​​Colleagues build relationships when they learn personal facts about team members. 

5. What do we have in common?

Group size: 20-50 people

Purpose of activity: to encourage interactions between large organizations

Time commitment: 40-60 minutes

Personal employee engagement in large organizations can be challenging. When departments and personnel rarely interact, a simple exercise can improve relations.

The common game can be carried out in-person or as virtual team building. Over the course of a company lunch, or zoom call, members from different groups are placed in units.

Within these units, members are to find out between 5-10 things they share in common.

It could be a favorite pizza flavor or a shared love for classical music. Considerable probing takes place to learn about shared experiences. This will push colleagues to learn a large amount of information in a short period.

6. Whodunit

Group size: 5-10 people

Purpose of activity: to improve the knowledge colleagues have of team members

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

This is one of those team-building games that offers insight into activities and hobbies teammates engage in outside of work. Whodunit requires a small group of people to write on a note, one interesting thing they’ve done. These include activities like the past winner of a food-eating competition, skydiving, etc.

This note is then placed into a container that other members of the group pick from.

Teammates are required to guess which colleague fits the bill of the note selected. They will give reasons why opening discussions as to why this may be correct or wrong. 

7. Lost on a desert island

Group size: 5-20 people

Purpose of activity: to get teammates excited for upcoming goals

Time commitment: 45-50 minutes

Team members of any age can enjoy learning more about their colleagues. The premise of this game centers on players lost and stuck on a deserted island. 

They share with each other, one item they would bring along with them and why. 

This gives co-workers an intimate look at objects and feelings held dear by group members.

Team building activities for teamwork

Activities that encourage teamwork boost elements that ensure a team is healthy. With the right exercises, team members learn the value of communication and partnership. Colleagues can build trust when executing tasks. 

8. The marshmallow challenge

Group size: groups of 4 members

Purpose of activity: to test how creatively teams work together

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

Team members are given 20 sticks of spaghetti, one marshmallow, plus one yard of string and tape.

Using these materials, each team is to create the tallest freestanding structure possible.

Colleagues are pushed to work together on a creative, lighthearted task. But while this activity is laid back, members learn the strong effects of collaboration.

When the structures are built, players determine the winner using a measuring tape.

9. Frostbite

Group size: groups of five or six people

Purpose of activity: to encourage cooperation between team members

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

This game is similar to a scavenger hunt but requires more imagination. Also necessary are sticky notes or post-its, toothpicks, thick cardboard boxes, and a fan.

Ignoring the office or other environment, participants pretend to be in the Arctic. Team members are to build the shelter for their survival. In a democratic setting, teammates elect a leader to guide them through this activity.

The team lead will give instructions on how this structure should be built. they are unable to take part due to frostbite suffered during the journey. While blindfolded, team members build the structure using the leader's verbal instructions.

This task will teach supervisory abilities and instruction-taking skills. Members also learn the value of time management during tasks.

10. Human knot

Group size: 8-16 people

Purpose of activity: to build collaboration between team members

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

This game is ideal for large teams and can really push people outside of their comfort zones. While gathered in a circle, team members join right and left hands with a person opposite them. Teammates cannot hold hands with the person next to them.

When all members have their hands in a knot, the game requires this knot to be untangled without releasing their hands. It requires communication and careful instruction to be successful.

The first team to stand in a perfect circle with hands joined wins.

11. Gutterball

Group size: 8-20 people

Purpose of activity: to build collaboration between team members

Time commitment: 30-60 minutes

In this game, team members are tasked with moving a ball from one end of the room to another. This game can be made more challenging by including obstacles throughout the game. 

12. The egg drop

Group size: groups of 5-8 people

Purpose of activity: to promote teamwork between team members

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

The egg drop is a fun activity to determine how well team members work together. Using different materials, teammates build a structure to support a falling egg.

The team that builds a surface to withstand the fragile egg drop wins. It’s important for each participant to feel like a winner. Team members can discuss collaborative skills learned from the task.

13. Scavenger hunt

Group size: 8-16 people

Purpose of activity: to work together to find an object

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

A scavenger hunt is a great opportunity for seasoned and new workers to explore the company (or conference room). The physical and factual parts of the office can be understood when hunts are well executed.

For team-building, colleagues go in search of hidden facts and questions around the office.

This can be achieved with a single team of co-workers. In larger organizations, groups or departments can compete against each other.

14. Birthday lineup

Group size: 8-15 people

Purpose of activity: to show how well team workers can co-operate

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

This game will begin with groups of 8-15 people standing side-by-side. Once in a file, they will re-shuffle in line with their birthdates. Team members are filed according to months and days.

However, this should be communicated without speaking. The game is played by using signs and symbols to interact. Ideally, the entire group will be standing in order of their birthdays by the end of the exercise.

This exercise reveals how well teammates can coordinate on tasks.

15. Perfect square

Group size: groups of 6

Purpose of activity: to apply another form co-operation 

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

In groups of six, team members form a circle around a rope. They are blindfolded to begin the game.

The members will then form a square by communicating in different ways.

This will offer practice on effective interaction among partners.

16. Play board games or puzzles

Group size: 8-20 people

Purpose of activity: to collaborate with members

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

Office-friendly board games and jigsaw puzzles are a fun spin on collaboration. There are many work puzzles, strategy, or icebreaker games for colleagues to attempt. Board games are usually designed for smaller teams. If you have a large group, you might have to play multiple games, split the entire team into smaller teams, or get creative with the rules.

Team building activities to boost creativity

Creativity comes in many forms. Most any activity that encourages individuals to think outside of the box will ignite their creative minds. These games call upon communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

17. Classify this

Group size: 8-16 people

Purpose of activity: to build collaboration between team members

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

This is a chance for team members to express creative thinking for tasks. Different objects are grouped together. These can be items around the office. Coffee supplies, paperweights, water bottles, etc will do. Around 20 objects are used when playing.

In groups of twos or fours, team members will classify the objects into a group that links them all. The groups find common denominators in each item. 

Each group elects a speaker to explain the reasoning behind each cluster.

18. Salt and Pepper

Group size: Pairs of 2

Purpose of activity: to build collaboration between team members

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

This game is played in pairs. Each group is labeled as a pair, e.g., macaroni and cheese, water and oil, peanut butter and jelly. Every group member will have one name taped to his back.

To find out what is written, each player will ask five yes or no questions. The pairs will then find each other.

19. Sales pitch

Group size: 8 people

Purpose of activity: to build collaboration between team members

Time commitment: 45 minutes

Team members can engage in quick reasoning through a sales pitch. This exercise follows each person as they select one item from the office. For the next 15 minutes, they'll craft a sales pitch promoting it.

Each object will be given a name, logo, and motto. They’ll also give a whiteboard presentation explaining why their fountain pen, sheets of paper, or office pin should be patronized.

20. A compliment circle

Group size: 8-16 people

Purpose of activity: to share different ways team members appreciate each other

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

A team can be built and strengthened from regular recognition. While gathered in a circle, team members acknowledge the effort made by colleagues. It can be anything from thanks for being a listening ear, to efficiency in deliverables.

Strategic team-building activities

These exercises demonstrate how each person views the workplace. Strategic exercises target brand identity in the office. Employees swap ideas on what they believe about the company’s goals.

This opens up an environment to stay on track with company missions. New team members can review details and key learnings from orientation, game show style.

21. Company Concentration

Group size: 3-6 people

Purpose of activity: to get teammates excited for upcoming goals

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

This game is a work-friendly version of Concentration. Cards containing names and images of colleagues may be made. Cards may also have company facts like the logo, mission statement, motto, values, etc. 

Each player then selects two cards to see if they match. The quickest to match the cards wins.

22. Minefield

Group size: 8-16 people

Purpose of activity: to improve trust and partnership between colleagues

Time commitment: 45-50 minutes

To play this game, around 20 small objects are required. This can be anything from lunchboxes to coffee mugs. In pairs of two, one blindfolded person will be led by a seeing partner. They are to navigate the obstacle course using clear communication.

23. All the news

Group size: 8-20 people

Purpose of activity: to get teammates excited for upcoming goals

Time commitment: 45-50 minutes

This game encourages team members to get excited about projected goals. In groups of 3-6, team members in a department share headlines of potential feats.

These headlines are shared as in a newspaper article. As a unit or through a spokesperson, the measures required to reach this are reviewed.

This may be played by in-office workers and members of remote teams.

24. Slideshow

Group size: 8-20 people

Purpose of activity: to apply team effort when exploring an idea

Time commitment: 45-50 minutes

Team members select any topic of their choice. In specified groups, each idea is analyzed and presented. This highlights that team members can work together, even away from usual tasks.

Slideshow exercises also help to hone presentation skills.

25. Shrinking vessel

Group size: 8-10 people

Purpose of activity: to explore adaptability within the team

Time commitment: 30 minutes

The shrinking vessel is ideal for small teams. The idea is that players are on a sinking ship, and are required to huddle close. Members are placed within a boundary marked by a rope. The game requires that the boundary is tightened. This requires creativity and athletic ability for members to stay within confines.

26. Memory wall

Group size: 8-20 people

Purpose of activity: to recall special moments in the office and their effects on the team

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

The Memory Wall activity encourages teams to document significant events, accomplishments, and shared experiences on a shared whiteboard or sticky notes. By recounting these meaningful memories, you encourage team bonding, appreciate their growth, and identify key factors that have shaped their identity and success.

27. Guess who

Group size: groups of three to four people

Purpose of activity: to build connections between team members

Time commitment: 45-50 minutes

Led by a moderator, team members are split into groups. Using clues shared by the coordinator, each group will decide who may be knocking on their door.

The person knocking may be a member of the company being described. Team members may also take on celebrity personalities to be decoded.

Problem-solving team-building activities

These exercises permit team members to find unique ways to collaborate. Participants will be able to flex their communication skills and expand their problem-solving capabilities.

28. Murder-mystery games

Group size: 8-50 people

Purpose of activity: to encourage imaginative ways of collaboration

Time commitment: 45-50 minutes

In this engaging team building exercise, participants work together to solve a murder mystery. Team members must cooperate to carefully examine clues, follow the rules of the game, and uncover the story behind the crime through clear, effective communication.

The Murder Mystery Challenge encourages creative problem-solving, as players must piece together information, share insights, and make deductions as a group. This activity provides valuable insights into each team member's interpersonal and analytical skills.

29. Bridge build

Group size: two teams made of 8-16 people

Purpose of activity: to promote teamwork through challenges

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

In this team-building exercise, participants are tasked with constructing a bridge using random materials. However, there's a twist - the bridge must be built collaboratively, with each team responsible for constructing one-half. For an added challenge, team members are prohibited from speaking to one another during the challenge.

To succeed, participants must rely on non-verbal communication, coordination, and problem-solving skills. As they work together to design and build their respective bridge segments, they'll need to adapt quickly to unexpected challenges and leverage each other's strengths. This activity is an excellent way to build trust, improve collaboration, creativity, and team bonding.

30. Plot me out

Group size: groups of 4-6 people

Purpose of activity: to build a rapport between colleagues

Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

Movie and television show buffs will enjoy this game. Here, a moderator narrates the plot of a movie. Players grouped into teams are to guess what movie or television show is described.

This provides a laid back atmosphere for workers to relax and interact.

Collaborative innovation challenges

These activities are designed to foster creativity and strategic thinking, requiring teams to innovate while working collaboratively. The goal is to challenge the status quo and drive creative problem-solving in a fun, engaging way.

These activities are also great opportunities for team members to get to know each other better, ultimately building the best team through collaboration and shared experiences. Many of these challenges encourage a bit of improv as teams adapt to dynamic situations, which helps boost creativity and team bonding.

31. Paper tower challenge

Group size: 4-8 people per team
Purpose of activity: To foster innovation and strategic thinking
Time commitment: 20-30 minutes

In this activity, teams are tasked with building the tallest freestanding paper tower using only paper and tape. The catch? They are limited to a set number of sheets and must decide as a group how to use their materials efficiently.

This game encourages collaboration, creativity, teamwork, and a bit of improv as teams adjust their plans along the way. It’s also a great chance for team members to get to know each other’s problem-solving styles, which helps form the best team dynamic.

32. Puzzle exchange

Group size: 4-8 people per team
Purpose of activity: To promote creative problem-solving and resource-sharing
Time commitment: 30-45 minutes

Teams are each given a unique puzzle to solve. After a set time, part of their puzzle is exchanged with another team. Now, they must collaborate and share information to complete the new, combined puzzle.

This activity builds trust, communication, and teamwork as participants adapt to unexpected challenges. It's an excellent way for team members to get to know each other's skills while working towards becoming the best team.

33. Build a boat

Group size: 5-10 people per team
Purpose of activity: To foster teamwork and creativity under pressure
Time commitment: 45-60 minutes

In this challenge, teams are provided with limited materials such as cardboard, tape, and plastic sheets. They must design and build a boat that can hold one team member and stay afloat in a pool of water. Teams must improv as they adapt their boat designs on the fly. This challenge promotes teamwork and creative problem-solving while giving participants a great opportunity to get to know each other’s working styles and bond as a team.

34. Innovators' auction

Group size: 5-8 people per team
Purpose of activity: To foster negotiation skills and resource management
Time commitment: 30-40 minutes

Each team is given a set of tokens to "bid" on various materials for an invention they will create. Teams must strategize on how to use their limited resources to secure the best materials, and then they work together to invent a new product or solution. This challenge helps teams get to know each other’s strengths and strategic thinking abilities, and successful improvisation during the auction process ensures the best team emerges.

35. Chain reaction

Group size: 6-12 people per team
Purpose of activity: To promote creativity and teamwork through engineering
Time commitment: 45-60 minutes

Teams are tasked with creating a complex chain reaction machine (like a Rube Goldberg machine) using a variety of everyday objects. The goal is to make one action trigger the next, leading to a final event.

This activity fosters innovation, teamwork, and improv as teams adjust their designs to ensure the entire chain works perfectly. It’s a fun and engaging way to get to know how each team member thinks, helping them build the best team for problem-solving.

36. Tower defense

Group size: 4-8 people per team
Purpose of activity: To promote creative problem-solving and teamwork
Time commitment: 30-40 minutes

Each team is tasked with building a tower using straws and marshmallows. The twist is that other teams will try to "attack" their tower using projectiles like paper balls. Teams must improv their defenses on the spot and collaborate to protect their towers. This challenge promotes competitive spirit, problem-solving, and teamwork, helping the team to get to know each other’s strengths in a high-pressure environment while striving to become the best team.

37. Supply chain challenge

Group size: 8-12 people per team
Purpose of activity: To foster problem-solving, logistics, and teamwork
Time commitment: 45 minutes

In this challenge, teams must create a mock supply chain using limited resources. They must transport "goods" (such as balls or small objects) through an obstacle course without touching the items. This activity tests teams' coordination skills and requires improvisation to overcome unexpected challenges.

By the end, participants gain insights into each other's logistics and problem-solving abilities, helping identify the optimal team composition for future initiatives.

38. Collaborative mural

Group size: 6-10 people per team
Purpose of activity: To promote creative collaboration and communication
Time commitment: 60 minutes

Teams are given a large canvas and various art supplies. The challenge is to collaboratively create a mural that reflects their team values or goals. Each team member must contribute to the final piece, but they are encouraged to communicate and share ideas. This is a great way for teams to get to know each other’s creative sides and explore improv as they adapt their mural design on the fly. It’s a collaborative effort to build the best team through art.

39. The innovator's pitch

Group size: 5-8 people per team
Purpose of activity: To encourage creativity and innovation in problem-solving
Time commitment: 30-45 minutes

In this challenge, small groups are tasked with creating a new product or service based on a given prompt. They must develop a concept, devise a marketing strategy, and flex their communication skills by pitching their idea to a panel or other teams.

This activity requires teams to improvise their presentations when facing unexpected questions, helping participants showcase their public speaking and innovation skills. It's an ideal way to identify the optimal team composition for future creative projects.

40. Reverse engineering challenge

Group size: 6-12 people per team
Purpose of activity: To enhance problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking
Time commitment: 45-60 minutes

Teams are presented with a simple mechanical device, such as a toy or small gadget, and challenged to disassemble and reassemble it. The objective is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the internal mechanics and functionality of the item.

This activity encourages teams to improvise problem-solving strategies as they navigate unexpected hurdles, while also providing insights into the technical expertise within the group. The Reverse Engineering Challenge is an ideal way to identify the optimal team composition for tackling complex technical projects.

41. Escape room challenge

Group size: 6-12 people per team

Purpose of activity: To improve communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills

Time commitment: 60-90 minutes

The Escape Room Challenge immerses teams in a high-pressure, time-sensitive scenario where they must work together to solve a series of puzzles and clues in order to "escape" the room before the time runs out. This activity encourages team bonding, communication, and creative thinking as participants navigate the challenges. It's an engaging way to build trust, test adaptability, and foster a spirit of collaboration among team members.

Grow your skills through team-building activities

Team building games and activities can be a fun, engaging way to exercise new skills, build camaraderie, and get to know one another better. Whether meeting in small groups, remotely, or in person, finding opportunities to incorporate these kinds of team-building exercises into your workspace or next corporate retreat can be incredibly valuable.

Employees and participants will benefit from the chance to change up their daily routines, collaborate in different ways, and get to know their colleagues — and themselves — on a deeper level. Activities that foster communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and a spirit of bonding can help strengthen workplace relationships, boost morale, and unlock new levels of creativity and productivity.

From virtual scavenger hunts to blindfolded puzzles, there are endless team-building games and icebreakers to choose from. By dividing into small teams and working together to overcome challenges, solve problems, or answer trivia, colleagues can build trust, develop their communication, and strengthen their overall teamwork.

So whether you're planning a corporate team-building event, a remote team bonding session, or just want to inject some fun and camaraderie into your office, consider incorporating some of these exciting team-building activities. They're a great way to engage employees, foster connections, and unlock the full potential of your workforce.