games for collaborative problem solving

14 Best Team Building Problem Solving Group Activities For 2024

The best teams see solutions where others see problems. A great company culture is built around a collaborative spirit and the type of unity it takes to find answers to the big business questions.

So how can you get team members working together?

How can you develop a mentality that will help them overcome obstacles they have yet to encounter?

One of the best ways to improve your teams’ problem solving skills is through team building problem solving activities .

“86% of employees and executives cite lack of collaboration or ineffective communication for workplace failures.” — Bit.AI

These activities can simulate true-to-life scenarios they’ll find themselves in, or the scenarios can call on your employees or coworkers to dig deep and get creative in a more general sense.

The truth is, on a day-to-day basis, you have to prepare for the unexpected. It just happens that team building activities help with that, but are so fun that they don’t have to feel like work ( consider how you don’t even feel like you’re working out when you’re playing your favorite sport or doing an exercise you actually enjoy! )

Team Building Problem Solving Group Activities

What are the benefits of group problem-solving activities?

The benefits of group problem-solving activities for team building include:

Better communication
Improved collaboration and teamwork
More flexible thinking
Faster problem-solving
Better proactivity and decision making

Without further ado, check out this list of the 14 best team-building problem-solving group activities for 2024!

Page Contents (Click To Jump)

2. Problem-Solving Templates

Problem-Solving Templates are popular problem-solving activities that involve a group of people working together to solve an issue. The challenge generally involves members of the team utilizing pre-made templates and creating solutions for a given problem with the help of visual aids.

This activity is great for teams that need assistance in getting started on their problem-solving journey.

Why this is a fun problem-solving activity: Problem-Solving Templates offer teams an easy and stress-free way to get the creative juices flowing. The visual aids that come with the templates help team members better understand the issue at hand and easily come up with solutions together.

This activity is great for teams that need assistance in getting started on their problem-solving journey, as it provides an easy and stress-free way to get the creative juices flowing.

Problem Solving Group Activities & Games For Team Building

3. coworker feud, “it’s all fun and games”.

Coworker Feud is a twist on the classic Family Feud game show! This multiple rapid round game keeps the action flowing and the questions going. You can choose from a variety of customizations, including picking the teams yourself, randomized teams, custom themes, and custom rounds.

Best for: Hybrid teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Coworker Feud comes with digital game materials, a digital buzzer, an expert host, and a zoom link to get the participants ready for action! Teams compete with each other to correctly answer the survey questions. At the end of the game, the team with the most competitive answers is declared the winner of the Feud.

How to get started:

Sign up for Coworker Feud
Break into teams of 4 to 10 people
Get the competitive juices flowing and let the games begin!

Learn more here: Coworker Feud

4. Crack The Case

“who’s a bad mamma jamma”.

Crack The Case is a classic WhoDoneIt game that forces employees to depend on their collective wit to stop a deadly murderer dead in his tracks! Remote employees and office commuters can join forces to end this crime spree.

Best for: Remote teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: The Virtual Clue Murder Mystery is an online problem solving activity that uses a proprietary videoconferencing platform to offer the chance for employees and coworkers to study case files, analyze clues, and race to find the motive, the method, and the individual behind the murder of Neil Davidson.

Get a custom quote here
Download the app
Let the mystery-solving collaboration begin!

Learn more here: Crack The Case

5. Catch Meme If You Can

“can’t touch this”.

Purposefully created to enhance leadership skills and team bonding , Catch Meme If You Can is a hybrid between a scavenger hunt and an escape room . Teammates join together to search for clues, solve riddles, and get out — just in time!

Best for: Small teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Catch Meme If You Can is an adventure with a backstory. Each team has to submit their answer to the puzzle in order to continue to the next part of the sequence. May the best team escape!

The teams will be given instructions and the full storyline
Teams will be split into a handful of people each
The moderator will kick off the action!

Learn more here: Catch Meme If You Can

6. Puzzle Games

“just something to puzzle over”.

Puzzle Games is the fresh trivia game to test your employees and blow their minds with puzzles, jokes , and fun facts!

Best for: In-person teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Eight mini brain teaser and trivia style games include word puzzles, name that nonsense, name that tune, and much more. Plus, the points each team earns will go towards planting trees in the precious ecosystems and forests of Uganda

Get a free consultation for your team
Get a custom designed invitation for your members
Use the game link
Dedicated support will help your team enjoy Puzzle Games to the fullest!

Learn more here: Puzzle Games

7. Virtual Code Break

“for virtual teams”.

Virtual Code Break is a virtual team building activity designed for remote participants around the globe. Using a smart video conferencing solution, virtual teams compete against each other to complete challenges, answer trivia questions, and solve brain-busters!

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Virtual Code Break can be played by groups as small as 4 people all the way up to more than 1,000 people at once. However, every team will improve their communication and problem-solving skills as they race against the clock and depend on each other’s strengths to win!

Reach out for a free consultation to align the needs of your team
An event facilitator will be assigned to handle all of the set-up and logistics
They will also provide you with logins and a play-by-play of what to expect
Sign into the Outback video conferencing platform and join your pre-assigned team
Lastly, let the games begin!

Learn more here: Virtual Code Break

8. Stranded

“survivor: office edition”.

Stranded is the perfect scenario-based problem solving group activity. The doors of the office are locked and obviously your team can’t just knock them down or break the windows.

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Your team has less than half an hour to choose 10 items around the office that will help them survive. They then rank the items in order of importance. It’s a bit like the classic game of being lost at sea without a lifeboat.

Get everyone together in the office
Lock the doors
Let them start working together to plan their survival

Learn more here: Stranded

9. Letting Go Game

“for conscious healing”.

The Letting Go Game is a game of meditation and mindfulness training for helping teammates thrive under pressure and reduce stress in the process. The tasks of the Letting Go Game boost resiliency, attentiveness, and collaboration.

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Expert-guided activities and awareness exercises encourage team members to think altruistically and demonstrate acts of kindness. Between yoga, face painting, and fun photography, your employees or coworkers will have more than enough to keep them laughing and growing together with this mindfulness activity!

Reach out for a free consultation
A guide will then help lead the exercises
Let the funny videos, pictures, and playing begin!

Learn more here: Letting Go Game

10. Wild Goose Chase

“city time”.

Wild Goose Chase is the creative problem solving activity that will take teams all around your city and bring them together as a group! This scavenger hunt works for teams as small as 10 up to groups of over 5000 people.

Best for: Large teams

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: As employees and group members are coming back to the office, there are going to be times that they’re itching to get outside. Wild Goose Chase is the perfect excuse to satisfy the desire to go out-of-office every now and then. Plus, having things to look at and see around the city will get employees talking in ways they never have before.

Download the Outback app to access the Wild Goose Chase
Take photos and videos from around the city
The most successful team at completing challenges on time is the champ!

Learn more here: Wild Goose Chase

11. Human Knot

“for a knotty good time”.

The Human Knot is one of the best icebreaker team building activities! In fact, there’s a decent chance you played it in grade school. It’s fun, silly, and best of all — free!

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: Participants start in a circle and connect hands with two other people in the group to form a human knot. The team then has to work together and focus on clear communication to unravel the human knot by maneuvering their way out of this hands-on conundrum. But there’s a catch — they can’t let go of each other’s hands in this team building exercise.

Form a circle
Tell each person to grab a random hand until all hands are holding another
They can’t hold anyone’s hand who is directly next to them
Now they have to get to untangling
If the chain breaks before everyone is untangled, they have to start over again

Learn more here: Human Knot

12. What Would You Do?

“because it’s fun to imagine”.

What Would You Do? Is the hypothetical question game that gets your team talking and brainstorming about what they’d do in a variety of fun, intriguing, and sometimes, whacky scenarios.

Best for: Distributed teams

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: After employees or coworkers start talking about their What Would You Do? responses, they won’t be able to stop. That’s what makes this such an incredible team building activity . For example, you could ask questions like “If you could live forever, what would you do with your time?” or “If you never had to sleep, what would you do?”

In addition to hypothetical questions, you could also give teammates some optional answers to get them started
After that, let them do the talking — then they’ll be laughing and thinking and dreaming, too!

13. Crossing The River

“quite the conundrum”.

Crossing The River is a river-crossing challenge with one correct answer. Your team gets five essential elements — a chicken, a fox, a rowboat, a woman, and a bag of corn. You see, the woman has a bit of a problem, you tell them. She has to get the fox, the bag of corn, and the chicken to the other side of the river as efficiently as possible.

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: She has a rowboat, but it can only carry her and one other item at a time. She cannot leave the chicken and the fox alone — for obvious reasons. And she can’t leave the chicken with the corn because it will gobble it right up. So the question for your team is how does the woman get all five elements to the other side of the river safely in this fun activity?

Form teams of 2 to 5 people
Each team has to solve the imaginary riddle
Just make sure that each group understands that the rowboat can only carry one animal and one item at a time; the fox and chicken can’t be alone; and the bag of corn and the chicken cannot be left alone
Give the verbal instructions for getting everything over to the other side

14. End-Hunger Games

“philanthropic fun”.

Does anything bond people quite like acts of kindness and compassion? The End-Hunger Games will get your team to rally around solving the serious problem of hunger.

Best for: Medium-sized teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Teams join forces to complete challenges based around non-perishable food items in the End-Hunger Games. Groups can range in size from 25 to more than 2000 people, who will all work together to collect food for the local food bank.

Split into teams and compete to earn boxes and cans of non-perishable food
Each team attempts to build the most impressive food item construction
Donate all of the non-perishable foods to a local food bank

Learn more here: End-Hunger Games

Q: What kind of skills do group problem solving activities & games improve?

A: Group problem solving activities and games improve collaboration, leadership, and communication skills.

Q: What are problem solving based team building activities & games?

A: Problem solving based team building activities and games are activities that challenge teams to work together in order to complete them.

Q: What are some fun free problem solving games for groups?

A: Some fun free problem solving games for groups are kinesthetic puzzles like the human knot game, which you can read more about in this article. You can also use all sorts of random items like whiteboards, straws, building blocks, sticky notes, blindfolds, rubber bands, and legos to invent a game that will get the whole team involved.

Q: How do I choose the most effective problem solving exercise for my team?

A: The most effective problem solving exercise for your team is one that will challenge them to be their best selves and expand their creative thinking.

Q: How do I know if my group problem solving activity was successful?

A: In the short-term, you’ll know if your group problem solving activity was successful because your team will bond over it; however, that should also translate to more productivity in the mid to long-term.

Interested in a content partnership? Let’s chat!

Get Started

About SnackNation

SnackNation is a healthy office snack delivery service that makes healthy snacking fun, life more productive, and workplaces awesome. We provide a monthly, curated selection of healthy snacks from the hottest, most innovative natural food brands in the industry, giving our members a hassle-free experience and delivering joy to their offices.

🧩 19 Best Online Team Building Games for Remote Employees in 2024

🧘🏻‍♀️15 Employee Wellbeing Programs for the Ideal Workplace Environment in 2024

30 Engaging Team Building Games to Strengthen Collaboration and Communication

30 interactive team-building games for work enhance collaboration and foster a stronger sense of unity within your team. Elevate your team dynamics now.

Effective teamwork is crucial for achieving organizational success. Team building games provide an excellent opportunity for colleagues to come together, develop strong bonds, and enhance their communication and problem-solving skills.

These team building games for work not only foster collaboration but also inject a dose of fun and excitement into the workplace.

In this blog, we will explore 30 corporate team building games at work that can help your team strengthen their relationships and boost overall productivity.

30 Engaging team building games to strengthen collaboration

Here are 30 engaging and fun team building games for work to strengthen collaboration.

1. Two truths and a lie

This classic icebreaker game is one of the most plates games for team building and encourages team members to share interesting facts about themselves while incorporating a twist. Each person states two true statements and one false statement, and the rest of the team must guess the lie. It's a great way to break the ice and get to know each other better.

2. Human knot

In this physical team building game, participants stand in a circle, reach out, and grab hands with two different people across the circle. Without letting go, the team must work together to untangle themselves, forming a human knot. It promotes problem-solving, communication, and coordination.

3. The minefield

Set up an obstacle course with various objects scattered across a designated area. Blindfold one team member and assign them as the "Navigator," while the rest of the team guides them verbally through the course. The team must rely on effective communication and trust to navigate the "Minefield" successfully.

4. Paper tower challenge

Divide the team into smaller groups and provide each group with a limited amount of tape and sheets of paper. In a given time frame, teams must construct the tallest tower using only the materials provided. This game encourages creativity, collaboration, and strategic planning.

5. Team trivia

Host a trivia game with questions related to your organization, industry, or general knowledge. Divide the team into groups and let them compete against each other. Team trivia promotes friendly competition, problem-solving, and knowledge sharing.

6. Marshmallow challenge

Teams are given a limited amount of spaghetti sticks, tape, and a marshmallow. The objective is to construct the tallest freestanding structure that can hold the marshmallow on top. This game encourages innovation, collaboration, and adaptability.

7. Escape room

Take your team to an escape room, where they must work together to solve puzzles and find clues to escape within a specified time. This immersive game promotes problem-solving, teamwork, and effective communication under pressure.

8. Scavenger hunt

Organize a scavenger hunt within or outside the workplace, where teams must work together to find and collect a list of specific items or complete certain tasks. It encourages teamwork , creativity, and time management.

9. Barter puzzle

Divide a puzzle into different sections and distribute each section to different teams. Teams must then negotiate and trade puzzle pieces to complete their individual puzzles. This game enhances negotiation skills, collaboration, and teamwork.

10. The egg drop challenge

Provide teams with limited materials such as straws, tape, and newspaper. Their task is to build a protective structure that can prevent an egg from breaking when dropped from a height. It encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork.

11. Blind drawing

Divide the team into pairs and provide one person with a picture or image. The other person must listen to verbal instructions and attempt to recreate the image without seeing it. This game emphasizes effective communication, active listening, and attention to detail.

12. Tower of power

Teams are provided with cups, index cards, and tape. The objective is to build the tallest tower using the materials given. However, teams must also come up with a unique feature that sets their tower apart from the rest. It promotes creativity, collaboration, and innovation.

13. The great debate

Choose a thought-provoking topic and divide the team into two groups for and against. Each group must prepare arguments and present their case in a friendly debate format. This game enhances critical thinking, persuasive skills, and respectful communication.

14. Trust walk

One person is blindfolded and paired with a partner who guides them through a designated path without any verbal communication. The blindfolded person must trust their partner's guidance, relying on non-verbal cues and teamwork.

15. Poker tower

Provide teams with a deck of playing cards and ask them to build the tallest tower using the cards. The catch is that each team member can only touch the cards with one hand. It promotes coordination, communication, and strategic planning.

16. Zoom-in

Display zoomed-in images of everyday objects and challenge teams to guess what they are. This game improves observation skills, attention to detail, and teamwork.

17. Group juggling

Provide teams with a set of juggling balls or soft objects. The objective is to keep as many objects in the air as possible without dropping any. It requires coordination, communication, and teamwork.

18. Team cookbook

Ask team members to bring their favorite recipes to create a team cookbook. Each person can share the recipe, and the team can compile them into a digital or physical cookbook. It encourages sharing, collaboration, and creativity outside of work tasks.

19. Office olympics

Organize a series of mini-games or challenges inspired by the olympics within the office. It could include activities like chair races, paper plane throwing, or desk obstacle courses. This game fosters friendly competition, teamwork, and morale.

20. Team reflection circle

End a team building session by forming a circle and providing each team member a chance to reflect on their experience. Participants can share what they learned, their favorite moments, and any insights gained. This activity promotes open communication, reflection, and team bonding.

21. The perfect square

Provide each team with a large sheet of tarp or rope and challenge them to create a perfect square on the ground without talking or using any measuring tools. This game encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and non-verbal communication.

22. Storytelling circle

Sit in a circle and start a story with a few sentences. Each person adds a sentence to the story, building upon what has been said before. This game promotes creativity, active listening, and collaboration.

23. Pipeline

Divide the team into smaller groups and provide them with sections of a pvc pipe or cardboard tubes. The objective is to connect the sections and create a pipeline to transport a small object from one end to the other. It encourages planning, communication, and coordination.

24. Paper bag skits

Prepare a bag with various objects or props. Each team must choose a few items from the bag and create a skit incorporating those items. This game encourages creativity, collaboration, and improvisation.

25. The web

Stand in a circle and have each person hold a ball of yarn. The first person shares a work-related accomplishment or a positive experience and throws the yarn to someone else, holding onto the end. This continues until a web-like pattern is created. It symbolizes the interdependence of the team and the connections between each member.

26. Balloon tower

Provide teams with balloons and tape. The objective is to build the tallest tower using only the balloons and tape. This game encourages creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving.

27. Flip it

Divide the team into pairs and give each pair a small object such as a coin or a pen. Partners must try to flip the object and catch it using the back of their hand. The team that completes the most successful flips in a given time wins. This game promotes coordination, communication, and friendly competition.

28. Corporate charades

Create a list of work-related terms, phrases, or actions, and have team members act them out without speaking while their teammates guess. It encourages teamwork, creativity, and communication.

29. Word association

Sit in a circle and choose a starting word. Each person takes turns saying a word that is associated with the previous word. The game continues, building a chain of related words. This activity enhances creativity, brainstorming, and collaboration.

30. Group art project

Provide each team with a large canvas or poster board and art supplies. Teams must work together to create a collaborative artwork that represents their shared vision or a specific theme. This game promotes creativity, teamwork, and unity.

Geam building games are most effective when tailored to suit your team's specific needs and goals. Choose games that align with your objectives and encourage active participation from all team members. Investing time and effort into team building activities , you can create a stronger, more cohesive, and productive team.

Team building games play a vital role in improving collaboration, communication, and morale within a team. Incorporating these 30 engaging games for team building into your workplace, you can create a positive and inclusive environment where team members can thrive.

Remember, the key to successful team building is to focus on fostering trust, encouraging open communication, and allowing everyone to contribute their unique strengths. So, gather your team and get ready to have fun while building stronger bonds and a more cohesive workforce.

FAQs abot corporate team building games.

Here are some short FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) on team building games.

1. What are team building games?

Team building games are interactive activities designed to promote collaboration, enhance communication, and strengthen relationships within a group or team. These games aim to improve teamwork, trust, problem-solving skills, and overall team dynamics.

2. What are the benefits of team building games?

Team building games offer several benefits, including fostering better communication, building trust and rapport among team members, enhancing problem-solving and decision-making skills, improving collaboration and cooperation, and boosting morale and team spirit.

3. What types of team building games are available?

There are various types of team building games, including icebreakers, problem-solving challenges, trust-building activities, strategic games, outdoor activities , and creative team exercises. The choice of game depends on the specific goals and preferences of the team.

4. How can team building games improve teamwork?

Team building games encourage active participation, communication, and collaboration among team members. By working together to overcome challenges or achieve shared goals, team members learn to trust each other, understand different perspectives, and develop a stronger sense of unity.

5. Can team building games be tailored to specific team needs?

Yes, team building games can be customized to address specific team needs or objectives. Activities can be designed to focus on improving specific skills, addressing communication issues, resolving conflicts, or reinforcing specific values or principles within the team.

6. Are team building games suitable for all types of teams?

Team building games can be adapted to suit different types of teams, whether they are small or large, newly formed or long-established. The games can be tailored to accommodate diverse personalities, roles, and work environments.

7. How can team building games be integrated into the workplace?

Team building games can be integrated into the workplace by incorporating them into team meetings, retreats, workshops, or training sessions. They can also be utilized as energizers during conferences or as regular activities to promote ongoing team development.

Prioritizing Mental Health in the Workplace: A Path to Well-being and Success

100 best subject lines for thank you email after interview expressing gratitude, unlock the biggest secret of engagement to retain your top performers., -->guest contributor -->.

We often come across some fantastic writers who prefer to publish their writings on our blogs but prefer to stay anonymous. We dedicate this section to all superheroes who go the extra mile for us.

Let's begin this new year with an engaged workforce!

Empuls is the employee engagement platform for small and mid-sized businesses to help engage employees and improve company culture.

Quick Links

employee engagement survey software | employee engagement software | employee experience platform | employee recognition software

Benefits of employee rewards | Freelancer rewards | Me time | Experience rewards

Building Culture Garden | Redefining the Intranet for Your Organization | Employee Perks and Discounts Guide

Total Rewards | Employee Background Verification | Quit Quitting | Job Description | Employee of the Month Award

.css-s5s6ko{margin-right:42px;color:#F5F4F3;}@media (max-width: 1120px){.css-s5s6ko{margin-right:12px;}} AI that works. Coming June 5, Asana redefines work management—again. .css-1ixh9fn{display:inline-block;}@media (max-width: 480px){.css-1ixh9fn{display:block;margin-top:12px;}} .css-1uaoevr-heading-6{font-size:14px;line-height:24px;font-weight:500;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;color:#F5F4F3;}.css-1uaoevr-heading-6:hover{color:#F5F4F3;} .css-ora5nu-heading-6{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;color:#0D0E10;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s;transition:all 0.3s;position:relative;font-size:16px;line-height:28px;padding:0;font-size:14px;line-height:24px;font-weight:500;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;color:#F5F4F3;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:hover{border-bottom:0;color:#CD4848;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:hover path{fill:#CD4848;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:hover div{border-color:#CD4848;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:hover div:before{border-left-color:#CD4848;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:active{border-bottom:0;background-color:#EBE8E8;color:#0D0E10;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:active path{fill:#0D0E10;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:active div{border-color:#0D0E10;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:active div:before{border-left-color:#0D0E10;}.css-ora5nu-heading-6:hover{color:#F5F4F3;} Get early access .css-1k6cidy{width:11px;height:11px;margin-left:8px;}.css-1k6cidy path{fill:currentColor;}

Product overview
All features
App integrations

CAPABILITIES

project icon Project management
Project views
Custom fields
Status updates
goal icon Goals and reporting
Reporting dashboards
workflow icon Workflows and automation
portfolio icon Resource management
Time tracking
my-task icon Admin and security
Admin console
asana-intelligence icon Asana Intelligence
list icon Personal
premium icon Starter
briefcase icon Advanced
Goal management
Organizational planning
Campaign management
Creative production
Marketing strategic planning
Request tracking
Resource planning
Project intake
View all uses arrow-right icon
Project plans
Team goals & objectives
Team continuity
Meeting agenda
View all templates arrow-right icon
Work management resources Discover best practices, watch webinars, get insights
What's new Learn about the latest and greatest from Asana
Customer stories See how the world's best organizations drive work innovation with Asana
Help Center Get lots of tips, tricks, and advice to get the most from Asana
Asana Academy Sign up for interactive courses and webinars to learn Asana
Developers Learn more about building apps on the Asana platform
Community programs Connect with and learn from Asana customers around the world
Events Find out about upcoming events near you
Partners Learn more about our partner programs
Support Need help? Contact the Asana support team
Asana for nonprofits Get more information on our nonprofit discount program, and apply.

45 team building games to improve communication and camaraderie

Team building games bring everyone together without the added pressure of work. Here, we’ve listed 45 of the top team building activities broken down by icebreaker, problem solving, indoor, and outdoor games.

As Ashley Frabasilio, Employee Engagement Manager at Asana puts it, “Creating a shared experience for teams to build relationships is one of the best ways to increase trust and encourage collaboration."

Whether you’re looking for indoor or outdoor activities, quick icebreaker games, or activities to bond with your remote team members, we compiled a list of over 45 team building games that you’ll actually enjoy.

How to make team building inclusive

Teams with an inclusive culture tend to be more transparent, supportive, and happy because everyone feels accepted. It’s essential to make any team activity feel productive and enjoyable for the entire group, regardless of personalities or skill sets. Whether you’re working on building an inclusive remote culture or want in-person teams to feel more comfortable together, consider the following for an inclusive team building experience:

Inclusive team building means including everyone. Depending on the type of team building activity, you may benefit from hiring an outside expert to facilitate a team building event that everyone can participate in. Plus, the activity may feel more authentic because a professional is guiding you.

If you have introverts on the team, they may not be as excited about an exercise that involves lots of social interaction and do better in small groups.

Teammates with speech, sight, or hearing impairments may feel left out during a game that involves blindfolding players and communicating without looking at each other.

Physically active games could exclude physically impaired teammates.

Before choosing one of the team building games from this list, take stock of everyone's abilities. Find an activity that everyone on your team can participate in. Maybe even send out an anonymous poll to see what kinds of activities your team would be willing to partake in. Ultimately, the best team building activity will be the one that everyone can enjoy.

Team icebreaker games

Icebreaker questions and activities are the perfect “getting to know you” games but they’re also fun to play with teammates you’ve known for a long time. You can play them to get everyone up to speed for a meeting (especially on those 8am calls) or use them to introduce new team members.

1. Two truths, one lie

Team size : 3+ people

Time : 2–3 minutes per person

How to play : Ask everyone in the group to come up with two facts about themselves and one lie. The more memorable the facts (e.g., I went skydiving in Costa Rica) and the more believable the lies (e.g., I have two dogs), the more fun the game will be! Then, ask each team member to present their three statements and have the group vote on which one they think is the lie.

Why this exercise is great : This game is perfect for groups who don’t know each other well yet. The details you share can be used as building blocks for late conversations (“What else did you do in Costa Rica?”) to give you a better idea of who you’re working with.

2. Penny for your thoughts

Team size : 5+ people

How to play : You’ll need a box full of pennies (or other coins) with years only as old as your youngest team member (not the time to brag about your 1937 collector’s penny). Ask every team member to draw a coin from the box and share a story, memory, or otherwise significant thing that happened to them that year. This can be anything from learning how to ride a bike to landing your first job.

Why this exercise is great : This is a fun twist on a stress-free and simple icebreaker that gives everyone the chance to share a personal story with their team. You can play multiple rounds if the stories are on the shorter side or let team members elaborate on their stories to gain deeper insight into their lives.

3. Mood pictures

How to play : Prepare a variety of images before you play. You can collect newspaper clippings, magazine cutouts, postcards, and posters or print out different images from the internet (Pinterest is a great spot). The images should show landscapes, cities, people, shapes, or animals in a variety of colors and perspectives.

Lay all the images out and ask team members to each pick one that resonates with their current mood. Once everyone has picked an image, ask them to share what they resonated with, how it makes them feel, and why they picked it.

Why this exercise is great : This exercise is a great way to get a meeting or a workshop started because it allows you to get a feel of the room in a creative and unexpected way. You don’t always have to ask your team to pick an image that reflects their mood—it can also be their expectations for a workshop, their feelings about a current project, or how they hope to feel at the end of the day. As they say, a picture’s worth a thousand words, so this exercise makes talking about feelings easier for a lot of people.

4. One word exercise

Time : 5–10 minutes

How to play : Pick a phrase related to the meeting topic and ask everyone to write down one word that comes to mind on a post-it. Then, gather these words on a whiteboard or put them in a presentation. For example, if you’re hosting a meeting about your annual holiday event. Everyone would take a moment to respond with the first word that comes in their head. If the team is responding with words like stress or exhaustion, you might want to rethink your process.

Why this exercise is great : This is a way to collect opinions, thoughts, or feelings about a meeting that’s well within most people’s comfort zone. You’ll have the chance to read the room before diving into the topic and may uncover some concerns or questions to focus on, which will make the meeting more beneficial to everyone.

5. Back-to-back drawing

Team siz e: 4+ people

Time : 5–10 minutes

How to play : Split your team into groups of two and make them sit back to back. Hand one person a pen and piece of paper and show the other person a picture of something that’s fairly simple to draw (e.g., a car, a flower, a house). This person now has to describe the picture to their teammate without actually saying what the item is so they can draw it. They’re allowed to describe shapes, sizes, and textures but can’t say, “Draw a lily.” Once the blind drawing is finished, compare it with the original to see how well you communicated.

Why this exercise is great : This activity is a fun way to polish your communication skills, especially your listening skills. It also gives your team a chance to get creative and innovative by thinking outside the box to describe the image to their teammate.

6. Birthday line up

Team size : 8+ people

Time : 10–15 minutes

How to play : Ask your entire team to form a line in order of their birthdays without talking to each other. You can encourage other forms of communication like sign language, gestures, or nudges. If you want to add a little bit of pressure and excitement to the exercise, add a time limit!

Why this exercise is great : Besides learning everyone’s birthday (which can always come in handy as a conversation starter later on), this exercise encourages your team to learn to communicate towards a common goal without using words. Although this can be a challenge and get frustrating, this exercise promotes problem framing skills, cooperation, and non-verbal communication skills.

7. Charades

Team size : 8–10 people

Time : 10–25 minutes

How to play : Divide your team into groups of four or five people. The person who goes first is given or shown a random object (e.g., printer, stapler, keyboard) in private. They then have to demonstrate how to use the object without actually showing it in front of their team. Their team gets 30 seconds on the clock to shout out the correct word (you can adjust the time depending on the difficulty of the objects).

Then it’s the other team’s turn. You’ll keep playing until every team member has had the chance to demonstrate an object to their team.

Why this exercise is great : This classic game is a nice way to break up a mentally taxing day and get your team to do a creative exercise that isn’t work-related.

8. Swift swap

Team size : 10–20 people

How to play : Split your team into two groups and line them up facing each other. Team A gets a quick observation period (15–30 seconds) in which group members have to memorize as many things about the people in front of them as possible. Then team A turns around while team B changes as many things about their appearance as possible.

Anything from changing the line up order to swapping shoes with someone or changing your hairdo is fair game. After about 45 seconds, team A turns back around and gets 5–10 minutes to find out what’s changed. You can adjust the time depending on the size of your group.

Why this exercise is great : This game is a great way to break up a long day and take everyone’s minds off work for a little while. Your team also gets to practice time-sensitive non-verbal communication during the swapping phase.

9. Code of conduct

Time : 20–30 minutes

How to play : This game is a great way to tune into a new project or workshop. Write the two categories “meaningful” and “enjoyable” on a whiteboard and ask the group to share what they believe is needed to accomplish these two things for your project or workshop. This can be anything from “regular breaks'' to “transparency and honesty,” which could fall under either category.

Everyone will choose ideas that they agree are both meaningful and enjoyable . Record these values in a shared tool to establish the code of conduct for your upcoming project or workshop. This list will function as a reminder for the team to uphold these values.

Why this exercise is great : Whether it’s the first day of a workshop, the beginning of a new project, or simply a Monday morning, this exercise is great to get everyone on your team on the same page. By establishing group norms and values early on and holding everyone accountable with a written code of conduct, you can create a sense of cohesiveness. If you’d like to do this exercise virtually, use our team brainstorming template to collect everyone’s thoughts.

10. Common thread

Team size : 10+ people

Time : 30 minutes

How to play : Divide your team into groups of three to five people. Then ask your team to find things everyone in their group has in common. This can be a favorite TV show, an ice cream flavor nobody likes, or a common hobby. Encourage your teammates to find common threads that aren’t too superficial or obvious. The more things they can find that everyone in the group has in common, the better! If you have the time, bring everyone together afterward and ask the teams to share their experiences.

Why this exercise is great : This fun game allows your team to find commonalities that they may not get a chance to discover otherwise. It’s also a great way to reunite teams that feel a bit divided. Talking about shared likes and dislikes can be helpful to reconnect you with teammates.

Remote or virtual team building games

Bonding with your teammates can be more difficult when you’re working remotely. Remote or virtual team building games can improve remote collaboration , motivate teams , and create a sense of community even though you’re physically apart. You can use Zoom to connect with your teammates or do quick team building exercises via your remote work software during the day.

If your team is located across multiple time zones, you may have to get creative with scheduling. Ashley Frabasilio, Employee Engagement Manager at Asana encourages leaders to schedule these activities during normal work hours. Ensure that the activity is appropriate for all participants in all time zones so no one feels excluded. Using work hours for these exercises can also increase the participation rate because you’re not interfering with personal time.

11. Show and tell

How to play : Ask everyone in your team to bring something they’re proud of or that brings them joy to your next meeting. This can be anything from a pet to a plant, a painting they did, or a certificate they received. Everyone gets two to three minutes to show off their item and answer questions from the team if they have any.

Why this exercise is great : Show and tell isn’t just fun for kids, it’s also a great way to connect with your team. You’re probably going to learn something new about your teammates and may get a couple of conversation starters for your next meeting from this game.

12. Photo caption contest

How to play : Collect a few funny photos—for example a few memes that have recently been circling the internet. Send these to your team before the meeting and ask everyone to submit their best photo caption for each image. You can put these together in a quick presentation and present them to your team during the call. You can have a good laugh together and even vote for the best captions.

Why this exercise is great : This exercise is a fun way to get creative as a team and have a good laugh together.

13. Morning coffee

Time : 15–30 minutes

How to play : Schedule regular coffee calls for your remote team to give everyone a chance to get to know each other like they would in an office setting. You can schedule team calls with four to five people or randomly assign two people to each other that switch every time. You can offer these casual calls once a week, bi-weekly, or once a month, depending on your team size and the interest in this opportunity.

Why this exercise is great : Remote teams don’t often get a chance to just chit-chat and get to know each other without talking about work or feeling like they’re wasting meeting time. By designating 15–30 minutes on a regular basis to a casual call, your team members will have a chance to bond with people they might not typically interact with.

14. Lunch and learn

How to play : Hold a weekly or monthly “lunch and learn” where one team member presents a topic to the whole team during their lunch break. This presentation can be on a tool everyone uses at work, on a lesson learned from a recent project, or even on a book they read that everyone can learn from.

Why this exercise is great : These events are a great opportunity for your team to connect in a more casual yet educational setting. If your team budget allows, send restaurant gift cards to your team members so they can order lunch for the call.

15. Online group game

Time : 30–60 minutes

How to play : Invite your team to play a game online together. This can be an actual video game if everyone happens to use the same console at home or you can download an interactive game (like Jackbox ) which you can screen share with the rest of the group.

Why this exercise is great : Playing a video game or an interactive game that has nothing to do with work can be a fun way to switch things up, create a more casual work environment, and get to know each other better. It will also give people with great sportsmanship a chance to shine!

16. Trivia games

Team size : 6–20 people

Time : 30–90 minutes

How to play : Start a meeting with a quick game of trivia or host a regular virtual trivia night at the end of the work day. You can play a game of office trivia (e.g., facts about the company) or pick random other themes like TV shows, music, or national parks. To mix things up, ask other team members to host trivia night.

Why this exercise is great : Whether you’re making the trivia game office-themed or creating a regular team activity that takes everyone’s minds off of work, you’ll get to spend time with your team playing a competitive, educational, and entertaining game that gives everyone a chance to bond.

17. Quarterly challenge

Time : One month

How to play : Create an optional challenge for your team to participate in. The challenge can be centered around healthy eating, meditation, journaling, or reading. Create a chat or thread where your teammates can exchange their experiences, wins, and questions to keep each other motivated and accountable throughout the month.

Make sure your team knows that participation is optional. It never hurts to ask for feedback to spark future team challenge ideas.

Why this exercise is great : Creating a challenge like this for your team shows them that you care about their work-life balance. By offering a quarterly challenge, you provide your team with the opportunity to share an experience together. Plus, it’s always easier to complete a challenge when you have a team who supports you and an incentive to work toward.

18. Personality test

How to play : Send a personality test to your team and ask everyone to share their results in a chat or during your next team meeting. This can be a formal test like the Enneagram or StrengthsFinder . For something more lighthearted, you can send a fun quiz like the Sorting Hat to find out which Hogwarts house you belong in or a Buzzfeed quiz (e.g., “ What Kitchen Appliance Are You? ”).

Why this exercise is great : Depending on the type of quiz your team takes, this can become a funny icebreaker before you start a meeting or turn into a discussion on your team’s combined strengths and challenges.

Problem solving games

Playing problem solving games with your team helps them level up their teamwork skills, resolve issues, achieve goals, and excel together. Whether you’re using new brainstorming techniques or going out for a team adventure, these fun team building activities are the perfect way to improve your team's problem solving skills.

19. Your first idea

Team size : 5–12 people

Time : 10–20 minutes

How to play : Ask everyone in your team to write down the first idea that pops into their head when they’re presented with the problem. Compile the list and review it as a team.

A fun twist on this game is to ask everyone to write down their worst idea. After reviewing with the team, you may realize that some ideas aren’t that bad after all. You can play this game with a real-life problem, a fictional one, or when you’re brainstorming new ideas to pitch.

Why this exercise is great : We often get too much into our heads about problems and solutions. By writing down the first solution that comes to mind, we can uncover new perspectives and fixes.

20. Back of the napkin

Team size : 6–24 people

Time : 15–20 minutes

How to play : Divide your team into groups of two to four and present them with a variety of open-ended problems. These can be work-related, imaginary, or even environmental problems. Every team gets a napkin and pen that they have to sketch or write their solution on after they’ve discussed the issue as a group. These will then be presented to the rest of the team.

Why this exercise is great : Some of the best ideas have allegedly been recorded on napkins (hey, when creativity strikes you’ll write on anything). This game imitates this scenario while challenging your team to collaborate on solving a creative problem.

21. Create your own

How to play : Each team member will create an original problem-solving activity on their own and present it to the group. Whether this entails a physical, mental, or creative challenge is up to your team. If you have the time, play some of the games afterward!

Why this exercise is great : Coming up with your own games is fun and a real creative challenge. It also allows your team members to showcase their strengths by creating challenges they’ll be prepared to tackle.

22. Spectrum mapping

Team size : 5–15 people

How to play : Present your team with a few topics that you’d like their opinions and insight on. Write them down on a whiteboard and give everyone sticky notes and pens. Ask them to write down their thoughts and pin them on the whiteboard underneath the respective topic.

Now arrange the sticky notes as a team. Try to group similar ideas together to the left of the topic and post outliers toward the right side. This will create a spectrum of popular thoughts and opinions on the left and more extreme ideas on the right.

Why this exercise is great : This game will help you map out the diversity of perspectives your team has on different topics. Remember that unpopular opinions don’t have to be wrong. Embracing this diversity can help you uncover new perspectives and innovative ideas to solve problems you’re facing as a team.

23. What would “X” do?

Team size : 5–10 people

Time : 45–60 minutes

How to play : Present your team with a problem and ask everyone to come up with a famous person or leader they admire. This can be a celebrity, a business person, or a relative. Challenge your teammates to approach the problem as if they were that person and present their solution (extra points for playing in character).

Why this exercise is great : Getting stuck in your own head can often keep you from solving a problem efficiently and effectively. By stepping into the shoes of someone else, you may uncover new solutions. Plus, it’s fun pretending to be someone else for a little while!

24. Team pursuit

Time : 1–3 hours

How to play : Form groups of two to six people that will compete against one another in a series of challenges. You can buy a team pursuit package online or create your own game, which will take a good amount of prep time.

You’ll want to create a set of challenges for your team: cerebral challenges that test logic and intelligence, skill challenges like aptitude tests, and mystery challenges which usually ask for creativity and out-of-the-box thinking (e.g., come up with a unique handshake, take a fun picture, etc.).

Why this exercise is great : A solid game of team pursuit will create a fun challenge that gives everyone a chance to shine and show off their talents. Whether you’re a good runner, a quick thinker, or a creative mind, everyone will be able to contribute to the success of the team. This game will bring your team closer together and show them new sides of their teammates that they may not have been aware of.

25. Code break

Team size : 8–24 people

How to play : This brain teaser is a fun activity that you can play indoors or outdoors to challenge your team. Outback Team Building offers self-hosted, remote-hosted, and on-site hosted events that include several codes your teammates have to find and break to make it through the course.

Why this exercise is great : This challenge requires creative thinking, creates a competitive environment, and works with large groups because you can break off into smaller groups.

26. Escape room

Time : 2–3 hours

How to play : Visiting an escape room is always a unique experience and a great way to spend an afternoon with your team. If you have multiple escape rooms nearby, ask your team if they have a general idea of what theme they’d like to explore (e.g., history, horror, sci-fi) and try to pick something you’ll think everyone will enjoy.

If you’re super creative and have the time and resources, you can put together an escape room on your own!

Why this exercise is great : Solving the mysteries of an escape room with your team will reveal the strengths and weaknesses of your teammates, foster communication and collaboration, build trust, and become a shared memory that connects you together.

Indoor team building games

Most of these indoor games can be played in an office, conference room, or a hallway with a small team, but you may need a bit more space if you’re inviting a larger group to join in.

27. Perfect square

Team size : 4–12 people

How to play : Divide your team into groups of four to six and ask them to stand in a tight circle with their group. Ask everyone to blindfold themselves or close their eyes and give one person a rope. Without looking at what they're doing, the teams now have to pass the rope around so everyone holds a piece of it and then form a perfect square. Once the team is sure their square is perfect, they can lay the rope down on the floor, take off their blindfolds (or open their eyes) and see how well they did.

Why this exercise is great : This game is about more than perfect geometric shapes, it’s an amazing listening and communication exercise. Because no one can see what they're doing, your team members have to communicate clearly while figuring out how to create a square out of a rope. Besides, it’s often really funny to see how imperfect the squares come out.

28. Memory wall

How to play : You’ll need a whiteboard and sticky notes for this game. Write different work-related themes on the whiteboard such as “first day at work,” “team celebration,” and “work travel.” Hand each teammate a few sticky notes and ask them to write down their favorite memories or accomplishments associated with one or more of these themes. Invite everyone to share these with the team to take a walk down memory lane and post the notes on the whiteboard as you go.

Why this exercise is great : This is a nice way to end a week, long day, or workshop because you’ll share positive experiences with one another that will leave your teammates smiling. If you’re finishing up a work trip or multi-day workshop, you can also do a slimmed-down version of this by asking everyone to share their favorite memory or biggest accomplishment of the last few days.

29. Turn back time

How to play : This team building exercise works best in a quiet atmosphere with everyone sitting in a circle. Ask your team to silently think of a unique memory in their lives. You can give them a few minutes to collect their thoughts. Then, ask everyone to share the one memory they’d like to relive if they could turn back time.

Not everyone may be comfortable opening up at first, so be sure to lead with vulnerability and make everyone in the room feel safe about sharing their moment.

Why this exercise is great : This exercise is a great way to help your team members remember their priorities and bond on a deeper level. In a team that’s facing disconnection or stress, sharing personal highlights that aren’t work-related can help create a sense of togetherness. Although the exercise doesn’t take too long, it’s best to do it toward the end of the day so your team has a chance to reflect on what’s been said.

30. Paper plane

Team size : 6–12 people

How to play : Split your team into groups of two to four and hand out card stock. Give each team 10–15 minutes to come up with the best long-distance paper plane design (they’re allowed to do research on their phones or computers) and a name for their airline.

When the paper planes are done, have a competition in a long hallway or outside to see which plane flies the farthest.

Why this exercise is great : This exercise requires team members to collaborate on a project with a tight timeline. It is a great activity to practice communication skills, delegation, and time management.

31. Build a tower

Team size : 8–16 people

How to play : Divide your team into groups of four or five and provide them with 20 sticks of uncooked spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. Challenge each team to build the tallest tower possible using only the supplies you gave them. When finished, the tower has to support the marshmallow sitting on top. Set the timer for 20 minutes and ask everyone to step away from their masterpiece when it runs out so you can crown a winner.

Why this exercise is great : This challenge is a great way to improve problem solving skills and communication within your team. Your team members will have to prototype, build, and present the tower in a short amount of time, which can be stressful. The better they work together, the more likely they are to succeed.

32. Flip it over

Team size : 6–8 people

How to play : Lay a towel, blanket, or sheet on the floor and ask your teammates to stand on it. The goal is to flip the piece over without ever stepping off of it or touching the ground outside of the fabric. You can make the challenge more difficult by adding more people to the team or using a smaller sheet.

Why this exercise is great : This exercise requires clear communication, cooperation, and a good sense of humor. It’s a great way to find out how well your teammates cooperate when presented with an oddly difficult task.

33. Sneak a peek

Team size : 4–20 people

How to play : Create a structure out of Lego pieces and hide it in a separate room. Divide your team into groups of two to four people and give them enough Legos to replicate the structure in 30 minutes or less.

One player per team is allowed to sneak a peek at the original structure for 15 seconds, then run back and describe it to their team. The person who gets to sneak a peek rotates so everyone gets to see the original at some point during the game. The team that first completes the structure as close to the original wins!

Why this exercise is great : During this game your team gets to focus on teamwork and communication. Since only one person at a time is allowed to look at the original, team members may see and describe different things. The more complex the structure is, the harder this game will be.

34. Pyramids

How to play : Pick a large open area for this game like a hallway, a meeting room, or the cafeteria. Divide your team into groups of four to six and give each team 10 paper cups. Ask the teams to stand in a line with about 8–10 feet between the team members. Now it’s a race against time!

The first person in each line has to build a pyramid with four cups at the base. Once they’re done, the second player has to help them carry the pyramid to their station (this can be on the floor or at a table). They can slide it on the floor or carry it together but if the pyramid falls apart, the players have to reassemble it on the spot before continuing their journey. At the next station, the second player has to topple the pyramid and rebuild it before the third player gets to help them carry it to the next station. This continues until the pyramid reaches the last station. The team that finishes first wins the game

Why this exercise is great : This game is fun to play during a mid-day break, fosters communication skills, and promotes teamwork.

35. Shipwrecked

Team size : 8–25 people

How to play : The premise of the game is that you’re stranded on a deserted island and only have 25 minutes to secure survival items off the sinking ship. Place items like water bottles, matches, food, etc., in the “shipwreck area.” You can also print pictures on index cards to make things a bit easier. The quantity of each item should be limited, with some items having more than others (e.g., more water than food, fewer tarps than teams, more knives than ropes, etc.).

Divide your team into groups of two (or more if it’s a large team). Once the clock starts, they have to gather as many items as they deem worthy from the shipwreck and rank them in order of importance. Since the items are limited (some more than others), the teams will not only have to prioritize the items within their own group of people but also negotiate, trade, and exchange items with other teams.

Why this exercise is great : This game will challenge problem-solving abilities, encourage collaboration, and enable your team to flex their leadership skills. Typically, teams with strong leadership qualities will have the most success in making these quick decisions.

36. Team flag

Time : 30–45 minutes

How to play : Divide your team into groups of two to four people and provide them with paper and pens. Each group now has to come up with an emblem or flag that represents their team. Once everyone has completed their masterpiece, they have to present it to the rest of the teams, explaining how they came up with the design. This exercise is also a great opportunity to discuss how each group identified their common values and created alignment during the design process.

Why this exercise is great : This is a great way to get the creative juices flowing. Your team will not only have to come up with a unique design that represents their collective identity but they’ll also have to collaborate on putting pen to paper and presenting their flag or emblem at the end of the game.

37. Salt and pepper

How to play : You’ll need a list of things that go well together like salt and pepper, left sock and right sock, day and night, peanut butter and jelly, or yin and yang. Write these words on individual pieces of paper and tape one sheet of paper on every team member's back.

Ask your team to mingle and find out what’s written on their back by asking questions that can only be answered with yes or no (e.g., “Am I sweet? Do you wear me? Am I cold?”). Once the participants find out who they are, they have to find their match!

Why this exercise is great : Your team can use this game to bond with one another and improve their communication skills. If you have a large team, this exercise also gives them a chance to interact with people they may not usually get to talk to.

38. Sell it

Time : 45–90 minutes

How to play : Ask your teammates to each bring a random object to the meeting. Everyone then has to come up with a logo, slogan, and marketing plan to sell this object. After 30 minutes, each team member has to present their new product to the rest of the team. If you have a larger team, divide them into groups of 2–4 people and ask them to collaborate on their product pitch.

Why this exercise is great : This game is great to switch things up if you don’t already work in marketing or sales. It’s also fun to play with others as it allows your team to get creative and have fun with everyday objects.

39. The barter puzzle

Time : 1–2 hours

How to play : Divide your team into groups of three or four people and give each a different jigsaw puzzle of the same difficulty level. Ask them to complete the puzzle as a team. The twist: each puzzle is missing a few pieces that are mixed in with an opposing team’s puzzle. The teams have to figure out ways to get the pieces they need from the other teams by negotiating, trading pieces, or even exchanging teammates. Every decision has to be made as a team. The first team to complete their puzzle wins.

Why this exercise is great : Every decision made will have to be a group decision which challenges your team to improve their problem solving skills.

Outdoor team building exercises

If you want to get a larger group together for a team building exercise, why not take things outside? Outdoor team building is also a great way to get your teammates to interact without the distractions of screens or smartphones. Whether you want to catch a breath of fresh air or get some sunshine together, these exercises will help you bond with your teammates outside of the office.

40. The minefield

Team size : 4–10 people

How to play : Create a minefield in a parking lot or another large, open space by sporadically placing objects like papers, balls, cones, and bottles. Split your team into groups of two and ask one person to put on a blindfold. The other person now has to guide the blindfolded teammate through the minefield only using their words. The blindfolded person is not allowed to talk and will be eliminated if they stop walking or step on anything in the minefield.

The objective of the game is to make it to the other side of the minefield. The teams can then switch so another person will be blindfolded and guided through the field on their way back. You can also distribute pieces the blindfolded person has to pick up on their way through the field to add another difficulty level.

Why this exercise is great : This game is not just a trust exercise for your teammates but also a fun way to practice active listening skills and clear communication.

41. Earth-ball

Team size : 5–20 people

Time : 15–45 minutes

How to play : You’ll need a balloon, beach ball, or volleyball for this activity. Ask your team to stand in a circle and keep the balloon or ball in the air for as long as possible. To make it a real challenge, no one can touch the ball twice in a row. The bigger your team, the more fun this game will be!

Why this exercise is great : This fun challenge is a great way to get your team moving. If you’re struggling to keep the ball up for longer, try to come up with a strategy to improve your time.

42. Scavenger hunt

How to play : Put together a scavenger hunt for your team. This can be in the form of a list of photographs they have to take (e.g., something red, all teammates in front of the company logo, the CEO’s car, etc.), items they have to collect (e.g., company brochure, yellow sticky note with manager’s signature on it, ketchup packet from the cafeteria, etc.), or other activities they have to complete on a designated route.

Why this exercise is great : The more people that tag along, the more fun this game will be. You can group people together who don’t know each other very well to allow them time to bond during this exercise. Try to come up with company-specific quests for your team so they learn a few fun facts along the way. You can offer prizes for the most creative team or the first to finish the challenge to boost motivation.

43. Egg drop

Time : 60–90 minutes

How to play : Divide your team into groups of two or three people and give each team a raw egg (keep some extras in case they break before the grand finale). Then put out supplies like tape, straws, rubber bands, newspapers, and balloons so the teams can build a structure for the raw egg that will protect it from a fall out of a second or third story window.

Each team has 60 minutes to complete their structure. When the time is up, ask your teams to gather their eggs and egg cages to drop them out of the window. This grand finale will reveal which team engineered and built the best cage.

Why this exercise is great : Collaborating on a design and building a cage will challenge your team’s problem solving and collaboration skills.

44. Team outing

Team size : Any

How to play : Plan an outing for your team. You could attend a cooking class or go to a museum together. If you want to have something your teammates can work toward, plan to run a 5K together or host a ping pong tournament. You can also do something more casual like inviting your team to hangout at a bowling alley after work where you can play a few games in a casual and fun setting.

Why this exercise is great : Taking your team somewhere new will help break down some of the walls we often build in a professional setting. While you’re still at a company function, you’re more inclined to connect through casual conversation at a restaurant or park than you would at the office.

45. Volunteer as a team

How to play : Organize a team event during your regularly scheduled workday. This can be a charity event, yard sale, or fundraiser for a cause your team cares about. Even though these are enjoyable, scheduling them during work hours makes this feel like more of a perk than an obligation.

If your team members have a few causes they’re truly passionate about, consider making this a monthly or quarterly event. You can also rotate the charities that you’re helping out to accommodate your team’s different interests.

Why this exercise is great : Experiencing helper’s high can improve your personal health and mental state. Sharing this rush that doing good can give you will help your team bond on a deeper level.

Benefits of team building

Team building is more than a fun break from your everyday routine at work. It also:

Improves communication, trust, and collaboration skills

Promotes a collaborative culture by bringing teammates together

Fosters agile decision making and problem solving skills

Boosts team productivity and morale

Uses creativity and outside-of-the-box thinking

Ashley Frabasilio believes that:

A common goal is to create a memorable and meaningful experience for folks to connect. Some questions to consider when planning an impactful team-building activity include: What do I hope folks walk away with? I.e., a new skill, a deeper connection to one another, personal development, a moment of delight, etc.”

Ask yourself these questions before proposing a team building activity so you can reap the full benefits of the exercise.

Bring your team together, creatively

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to build your team’s confidence, connection, and teamwork skills. While team building is fun, it’s also important to connect with your team on an everyday basis. To build one of those connections in your day-to-day work, the right collaboration software is key.

Looking for the right collaboration tool? See how Asana keeps your team connected, no matter where you’re working.

Related resources

How to accomplish big things with long-term goals

Fix these common onboarding challenges to boost productivity

30-60-90 day plan: How to onboard new hires with ease

15 types of employee performance reviews

How it works

For Business

Join Mind Tools

Article • 0 min read

Team Building Exercises – Problem Solving and Decision Making

Fun ways to turn problems into opportunities.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Whether there's a complex project looming or your team members just want to get better at dealing with day-to-day issues, your people can achieve much more when they solve problems and make decisions together.

By developing their problem-solving skills, you can improve their ability to get to the bottom of complex situations. And by refining their decision-making skills, you can help them work together maturely, use different thinking styles, and commit collectively to decisions.

In this article, we'll look at three team-building exercises that you can use to improve problem solving and decision making in a new or established team.

Exercises to Build Decision-Making and Problem-Solving Skills

Use the following exercises to help your team members solve problems and make decisions together more effectively.

Exercise 1: Lost at Sea*

In this activity, participants must pretend that they've been shipwrecked and are stranded in a lifeboat. Each team has a box of matches, and a number of items that they've salvaged from the sinking ship. Members must agree which items are most important for their survival.

Download and print our team-building exercises worksheet to help you with this exercise.

This activity builds problem-solving skills as team members analyze information, negotiate and cooperate with one another. It also encourages them to listen and to think about the way they make decisions.

What You'll Need

Up to five people in each group.
A large, private room.
A "lost at sea" ranking chart for each team member. This should comprise six columns. The first simply lists each item (see below). The second is empty so that each team member can rank the items. The third is for group rankings. The fourth is for the "correct" rankings, which are revealed at the end of the exercise. And the fifth and sixth are for the team to enter the difference between their individual and correct score, and the team and correct rankings, respectively.
The items to be ranked are: a mosquito net, a can of petrol, a water container, a shaving mirror, a sextant, emergency rations, a sea chart, a floating seat or cushion, a rope, some chocolate bars, a waterproof sheet, a fishing rod, shark repellent, a bottle of rum, and a VHF radio. These can be listed in the ranking chart or displayed on a whiteboard, or both.
The experience can be made more fun by having some lost-at-sea props in the room.

Flexible, but normally between 25 and 40 minutes.

Instructions

Divide participants into their teams, and provide everyone with a ranking sheet.
Ask team members to take 10 minutes on their own to rank the items in order of importance. They should do this in the second column of their sheet.
Give the teams a further 10 minutes to confer and decide on their group rankings. Once agreed, they should list them in the third column of their sheets.
Ask each group to compare their individual rankings with their collective ones, and consider why any scores differ. Did anyone change their mind about their own rankings during the team discussions? How much were people influenced by the group conversation?
Now read out the "correct" order, collated by the experts at the US Coast Guard (from most to least important): - Shaving mirror. (One of your most powerful tools, because you can use it to signal your location by reflecting the sun.) - Can of petrol. (Again, potentially vital for signaling as petrol floats on water and can be lit by your matches.) - Water container. (Essential for collecting water to restore your lost fluids.) -Emergency rations. (Valuable for basic food intake.) - Plastic sheet. (Could be used for shelter, or to collect rainwater.) -Chocolate bars. (A handy food supply.) - Fishing rod. (Potentially useful, but there is no guarantee that you're able to catch fish. Could also feasibly double as a tent pole.) - Rope. (Handy for tying equipment together, but not necessarily vital for survival.) - Floating seat or cushion. (Useful as a life preserver.) - Shark repellent. (Potentially important when in the water.) - Bottle of rum. (Could be useful as an antiseptic for treating injuries, but will only dehydrate you if you drink it.) - Radio. (Chances are that you're out of range of any signal, anyway.) - Sea chart. (Worthless without navigational equipment.) - Mosquito net. (Assuming that you've been shipwrecked in the Atlantic, where there are no mosquitoes, this is pretty much useless.) - Sextant. (Impractical without relevant tables or a chronometer.)

Advice for the Facilitator

The ideal scenario is for teams to arrive at a consensus decision where everyone's opinion is heard. However, that doesn't always happen naturally: assertive people tend to get the most attention. Less forthright team members can often feel intimidated and don't always speak up, particularly when their ideas are different from the popular view. Where discussions are one-sided, draw quieter people in so that everyone is involved, but explain why you're doing this, so that people learn from it.

You can use the Stepladder Technique when team discussion is unbalanced. Here, ask each team member to think about the problem individually and, one at a time, introduce new ideas to an appointed group leader – without knowing what ideas have already been discussed. After the first two people present their ideas, they discuss them together. Then the leader adds a third person, who presents his or her ideas before hearing the previous input. This cycle of presentation and discussion continues until the whole team has had a chance to voice their opinions.

After everyone has finished the exercise, invite your teams to evaluate the process to draw out their experiences. For example, ask them what the main differences between individual, team and official rankings were, and why. This will provoke discussion about how teams arrive at decisions, which will make people think about the skills they must use in future team scenarios, such as listening , negotiating and decision-making skills, as well as creativity skills for thinking "outside the box."

A common issue that arises in team decision making is groupthink . This can happen when a group places a desire for mutual harmony above a desire to reach the right decision, which prevents people from fully exploring alternative solutions.

If there are frequent unanimous decisions in any of your exercises, groupthink may be an issue. Suggest that teams investigate new ways to encourage members to discuss their views, or to share them anonymously.

Exercise 2: The Great Egg Drop*

In this classic (though sometimes messy!) game, teams must work together to build a container to protect an egg, which is dropped from a height. Before the egg drop, groups must deliver presentations on their solutions, how they arrived at them, and why they believe they will succeed.

This fun game develops problem-solving and decision-making skills. Team members have to choose the best course of action through negotiation and creative thinking.

Ideally at least six people in each team.
Raw eggs – one for each group, plus some reserves in case of accidents!
Materials for creating the packaging, such as cardboard, tape, elastic bands, plastic bottles, plastic bags, straws, and scissors.
Aprons to protect clothes, paper towels for cleaning up, and paper table cloths, if necessary.
Somewhere – ideally outside – that you can drop the eggs from. (If there is nowhere appropriate, you could use a step ladder or equivalent.)
Around 15 to 30 minutes to create the packages.
Approximately 15 minutes to prepare a one-minute presentation.
Enough time for the presentations and feedback (this will depend on the number of teams).
Time to demonstrate the egg "flight."
Put people into teams, and ask each to build a package that can protect an egg dropped from a specified height (say, two-and-a-half meters) with the provided materials.
Each team must agree on a nominated speaker, or speakers, for their presentation.
Once all teams have presented, they must drop their eggs, assess whether the eggs have survived intact, and discuss what they have learned.

When teams are making their decisions, the more good options they consider, the more effective their final decision is likely to be. Encourage your groups to look at the situation from different angles, so that they make the best decision possible. If people are struggling, get them to brainstorm – this is probably the most popular method of generating ideas within a team.

Ask the teams to explore how they arrived at their decisions, to get them thinking about how to improve this process in the future. You can ask them questions such as:

Did the groups take a vote, or were members swayed by one dominant individual?
How did the teams decide to divide up responsibilities? Was it based on people's expertise or experience?
Did everyone do the job they volunteered for?
Was there a person who assumed the role of "leader"?
How did team members create and deliver the presentation, and was this an individual or group effort?

Exercise 3: Create Your Own*

In this exercise, teams must create their own, brand new, problem-solving activity.

This game encourages participants to think about the problem-solving process. It builds skills such as creativity, negotiation and decision making, as well as communication and time management. After the activity, teams should be better equipped to work together, and to think on their feet.

Ideally four or five people in each team.
Paper, pens and flip charts.

Around one hour.

As the participants arrive, you announce that, rather than spending an hour on a problem-solving team-building activity, they must design an original one of their own.
Divide participants into teams and tell them that they have to create a new problem-solving team-building activity that will work well in their organization. The activity must not be one that they have already participated in or heard of.
After an hour, each team must present their new activity to everyone else, and outline its key benefits.

There are four basic steps in problem solving : defining the problem, generating solutions, evaluating and selecting solutions, and implementing solutions. Help your team to think creatively at each stage by getting them to consider a wide range of options. If ideas run dry, introduce an alternative brainstorming technique, such as brainwriting . This allows your people to develop one others' ideas, while everyone has an equal chance to contribute.

After the presentations, encourage teams to discuss the different decision-making processes they followed. You might ask them how they communicated and managed their time . Another question could be about how they kept their discussion focused. And to round up, you might ask them whether they would have changed their approach after hearing the other teams' presentations.

Successful decision making and problem solving are at the heart of all effective teams. While teams are ultimately led by their managers, the most effective ones foster these skills at all levels.

The exercises in this article show how you can encourage teams to develop their creative thinking, leadership , and communication skills , while building group cooperation and consensus.

* Original source unknown. Please let us know if you know the original source.

You've accessed 1 of your 2 free resources.

Get unlimited access

Discover more content

The plan-do-check-act process.

How to Minimize Risk

PDCA (Plan Do Check Act)

Continually Improving, in a Methodical Way

Add comment

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment!

Get 30% off your first year of Mind Tools

Great teams begin with empowered leaders. Our tools and resources offer the support to let you flourish into leadership. Join today!

Sign-up to our newsletter

Subscribing to the Mind Tools newsletter will keep you up-to-date with our latest updates and newest resources.

Subscribe now

Business Skills

Personal Development

Leadership and Management

Member Extras

Discover something new today

Overcoming procrastination.

Discover effective techniques to help you beat your procrastination habit

Improving Productivity

How to get more done by focusing on critical tasks, managing stress and achieving flow

How Emotionally Intelligent Are You?

Boosting Your People Skills

Self-Assessment

What's Your Leadership Style?

Learn About the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Way You Like to Lead

Recommended for you

How to ace a video interview.

Impressing Potential Employers Remotely

Business Operations and Process Management

Strategy Tools

Customer Service

Business Ethics and Values

Handling Information and Data

Project Management

Knowledge Management

Self-Development and Goal Setting

Time Management

Presentation Skills

Learning Skills

Career Skills

Communication Skills

Negotiation, Persuasion and Influence

Working With Others

Difficult Conversations

Creativity Tools

Self-Management

Work-Life Balance

Stress Management and Wellbeing

Coaching and Mentoring

Change Management

Team Management

Managing Conflict

Delegation and Empowerment

Performance Management

Leadership Skills

Developing Your Team

Talent Management

Problem Solving

Decision Making

Member Podcast

Book a Demo

></center></p><h2>13 Problem-Solving Activities & Exercises for Your Team</h2><ul><li>December 4, 2023</li><li>Project Management</li><li>21 min read</li></ul><p><center><img style=

Are you looking to enhance your or your team’s problem-solving abilities? Engaging in activities specifically designed to stimulate your and your team’s critical thinking skills can be an excellent way to sharpen your problem-solving prowess. Whether you enjoy puzzles, brain teasers, or interactive challenges, these activities provide an opportunity to overcome obstacles and think creatively.

By immersing yourself in problem-solving activities, you can develop valuable strategies, improve your decision-making abilities, and boost your overall problem-solving IQ. Get ready to unlock your full potential and tackle any challenge that comes your way with these exciting activities for problem-solving.

In this article, we will explore activities for problem-solving that can help enhance your team’s problem-solving skills, allowing you to approach challenges with confidence and creativity.

What Are Problem Solving Activities?

Problem-solving activities or problem-solving exercises are interactive games requiring critical thinking to solve puzzles. They enhance teamwork & critical thinking. Examples include building towers, navigating simulated challenges, and fostering creativity and communication.

For instance, imagine a team working together to construct the tallest tower using limited materials. They strategize, communicate ideas, and problem-solve to create the best structure, promoting collaboration and inventive thinking among team members.

Some widely practiced problem-solving activities include:

A Shrinking Vessel: Teams must fit into a shrinking space, testing their cooperation and adaptability.
Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower: Participants build a tower using marshmallows and spaghetti, promoting creative engineering.
Egg Drop: Protecting an egg from a fall challenges problem-solving skills.
Desert Island Survival: Teams simulate survival scenarios, encouraging creative solutions.
Rolling Dice: A simple yet effective game involving chance and decision-making.
Build a Tower: Constructing a stable tower with limited resources fosters teamwork and innovation, etc.

13 Easy Activities For Problem-Solving Ideas to Enhance Team Collaboration

Team building activities offer a great opportunity to test problem-solving abilities and promote effective collaboration within a group to problem solving group activities. By engaging in these activities, teams can break the monotony of the workplace and create a more inclusive and welcoming environment.

Here are nine easy-to-implement activities that can bring substantial change to your team culture and overall workplace dynamics.

#1. Crossword Puzzles

Objective: To enhance problem-solving skills, vocabulary, and cognitive abilities through engaging crossword puzzles.

Estimated Time: 15-20 Minutes

Materials Needed:

Crossword puzzle sheets
Pens or pencils
Distribute crossword puzzle sheets and pens/pencils to each participant.
Explain the rules of crossword puzzles and the goal of completing as many clues as possible within the given time.
Participants individually or in pairs work on solving the crossword puzzle by filling in the correct words.
Encourage critical thinking, word association, and collaborative discussions for solving challenging clues.
At the end of the time limit, review the answers and discuss any interesting or challenging clues as a group.
Enhanced Problem-Solving: Participants engage in critical thinking while deciphering clues, promoting effective problem-solving skills.
Vocabulary Expansion: Exposure to new words and phrases within the crossword improves vocabulary and comprehension.
Cognitive Stimulation: The mental exercise of solving the puzzle stimulates the brain, enhancing cognitive abilities.
Team Collaboration: If done in pairs, participants practice collaboration and communication to solve clues together.
Achievement and Motivation: Successfully completing the crossword brings a sense of accomplishment and motivates individuals to explore more puzzles.

Tips for Facilitators:

Provide varying levels of crossword puzzles to accommodate different skill levels.
Encourage participants to share strategies for solving challenging clues.
Emphasize the fun and educational aspects of the activity to keep participants engaged.

#2. A Shrinking Vessel

Estimated Time: 10-15 Minutes

Materials Needed: A rope and a ball of yarn
Prepare the Setting: Lay a rope on the floor in a shape that allows all team members to stand comfortably inside it. For larger teams, multiple ropes can be used, dividing them into smaller groups.
Enter the Circle: Have all team members stand inside the rope, ensuring that nobody steps outside its boundaries.
Shrinking the Circle: Begin gradually shrinking the rope’s size, reducing the available space inside the circle.
Adapt and Maintain Balance: As the circle shrinks, team members must make subtle adjustments to maintain their positions and balance within the shrinking area.
The Challenge: The objective for the team is to collectively brainstorm and find innovative ways to keep every team member inside the circle without anyone stepping outside.
Collaboration and Communication: The activity promotes teamwork and open communication as participants strategize to stay within the shrinking circle.
Adaptability: Team members learn to adapt swiftly to changing circumstances, fostering agility and flexibility.
Creative Problem-Solving: The challenge encourages inventive thinking and brainstorming to find unique solutions.
Trust Building: By relying on each other’s actions, participants build trust and cohesion among team members.
Time-Efficient: The short duration makes it an ideal icebreaker or energizer during meetings or workshops.
Observe and Facilitate: Monitor the team’s dynamics and offer guidance to encourage equal participation and effective problem-solving.
Encourage Verbalization: Prompt participants to voice their ideas and collaborate vocally, aiding in real-time adjustments.
Debrief Thoughtfully: Engage the team in a discussion afterward, reflecting on strategies employed and lessons learned.
Emphasize Adaptability: Highlight the transferable skill of adaptability and its significance in both professional and personal contexts.

#3. Human Knots

Objective: Improving Collaboration & enhancing Communication Skills

Estimated Time: 15-20 minutes

Materials: None required

Procedure:

Organize your team into a compact circle. For more sizable teams, subdivide them into smaller clusters, with each cluster forming its own circle.
Direct each individual to grasp the hands of two other people in the circle, with the exception of those positioned directly adjacent to them. This action will result in the formation of a complex “human knot” within the circle.
Present the challenge to the group: to unravel themselves from this entanglement while maintaining their hold on each other’s hands. If preferred, you can establish a specific time limit.
Observe the team members collaborating to unravel the knot, witnessing their collective effort to devise solutions and free themselves from the intricate puzzle.
Team Cohesion: The activity encourages team members to interact closely, promoting bonding and understanding among participants.
Effective Communication: Participants practice clear and concise communication as they coordinate movements to untangle the knot.
Problem-Solving: The challenge stimulates creative thinking and problem-solving skills as individuals work collectively to find the optimal path for untangling.
Adaptability: Participants learn to adapt their actions based on the evolving dynamics of the human knot, fostering adaptability.
Trust Building: As individuals rely on each other to navigate the intricate knot, trust and cooperation naturally develop.
Set a Positive Tone: Create an inclusive and supportive atmosphere, emphasizing that the focus is on collaboration rather than competition.
Encourage Verbalization: Urge participants to articulate their intentions and listen to others’ suggestions, promoting effective teamwork.
Observe Group Dynamics: Monitor interactions and step in if needed to ensure everyone is actively engaged and included.
Reflect and Share: Conclude the activity with a debriefing session, allowing participants to share their experiences, strategies, and key takeaways.
Vary Grouping: Change group compositions for subsequent rounds to enhance interactions among different team members.

#4. Egg Drop

Helps With: Decision Making, Collaboration

A carton of eggs
Construction materials (balloons, rubber bands, straws, tape, plastic wrap, etc.)
A suitable location for the activity
Assign each team a single egg and random construction materials.
Teams must create a carrier to protect the egg from breaking.
Drop the carriers one by one and increase the height if necessary to determine the most durable carrier.
The winning team is the one with the carrier that survives the highest drop.
Decision Making: Participants engage in critical decision-making processes as they select construction materials and determine carrier designs.
Collaboration: The activity necessitates collaboration and coordination among team members to construct an effective carrier.
Problem-Solving: Teams apply creative problem-solving skills to devise innovative methods for safeguarding the egg.
Risk Management: Participants learn to assess potential risks and consequences while making design choices to prevent egg breakage.
Celebrating Success: The victorious team experiences a sense of accomplishment, boosting morale and promoting a positive team spirit.
Provide Diverse Materials: Offer a wide range of construction materials to stimulate creativity and allow teams to explore various design options.
Set Safety Guidelines: Prioritize safety by specifying a safe drop height and ensuring participants follow safety protocols during construction.
Encourage Brainstorming: Prompt teams to brainstorm multiple carrier ideas before finalizing their designs, fostering diverse perspectives.
Facilitate Reflection: After the activity, lead a discussion where teams share their design strategies, challenges faced, and lessons learned.
Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize the significance of teamwork in achieving success, acknowledging effective communication and cooperation.

#5. Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower

Helps With: Collaboration

Estimated Time: 20-30 Minutes

Materials Needed (per team):

Raw spaghetti: 20 sticks
Marshmallow: 1
String: 1 yard
Masking tape: 1 roll
Tower Construction: Instruct teams to collaborate and utilize the provided materials to construct the tallest tower possible within a designated time frame.
Marshmallow Support: Emphasize that the tower must be capable of standing independently and supporting a marshmallow at its highest point.
Prototype and Iterate: Encourage teams to engage in prototyping and iteration, testing different design approaches and refining their tower structures.
T eamwork and Communication: Promote effective teamwork and communication as team members coordinate their efforts to build a stable and tall tower.
Evaluation Criteria: Evaluate each tower based on its height, stability, and the successful placement of the marshmallow at the top.
Collaboration: Participants collaborate closely, sharing ideas and working together to design and construct the tower.
Innovative Thinking: The activity encourages innovative thinking as teams experiment with different strategies to build a stable tower.
Time Management: Teams practice time management skills as they work within a specified time limit to complete the task.
Problem-Solving: Participants engage in creative problem-solving to address challenges such as balancing the marshmallow and constructing a sturdy tower.
Adaptability: Teams adapt their approaches based on trial and error, learning from each iteration to improve their tower designs.
Set Clear Guidelines: Clearly explain the materials, objectives, and evaluation criteria to ensure teams understand the task.
Foster Creativity: Encourage teams to think outside the box and explore unconventional methods for constructing their towers.
Emphasize Collaboration: Highlight the importance of effective communication and teamwork to accomplish the task successfully.
Time Management: Remind teams of the time limit and encourage them to allocate their time wisely between planning and construction.
Reflect and Share: Facilitate a discussion after the activity, allowing teams to share their design choices, challenges faced, and lessons learned.

Objective: To engage participants in the strategic and analytical world of Sudoku, enhancing logical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Estimated Time: 20-25 Minutes

Sudoku puzzle sheets
Pencils with erasers
Distribute Sudoku puzzle sheets and pencils to each participant.
Familiarize participants with the rules and mechanics of Sudoku puzzles.
Explain the goal: to fill in the empty cells with numbers from 1 to 9 while adhering to the rules of no repetition in rows, columns, or subgrids.
Encourage participants to analyze the puzzle’s layout, identify potential numbers, and strategically fill in cells.
Emphasize the importance of logical deduction and step-by-step approach in solving the puzzle.
Provide hints or guidance if needed, ensuring participants remain engaged and challenged.
Logical Thinking: Sudoku challenges participants’ logical and deductive reasoning, fostering analytical skills.
Problem-Solving: The intricate interplay of numbers and constraints hones problem-solving abilities.
Focus and Patience: Participants practice patience and attention to detail while gradually unveiling the solution.
Pattern Recognition: Identifying number patterns and possibilities contributes to enhanced pattern recognition skills.
Personal Achievement: Successfully completing a Sudoku puzzle provides a sense of accomplishment and boosts confidence.
Offer varying levels of Sudoku puzzles to cater to different skill levels.
Encourage participants to share strategies and techniques for solving specific challenges.
Highlight the mental workout Sudoku provides and its transferable skills to real-life problem-solving.

Helps With: Communication, Problem-solving, & Management

A lockable room
5-10 puzzles or clues
Hide the key and a set of clues around the room.
Lock the room and provide team members with a specific time limit to find the key and escape.
Instruct the team to work together, solving the puzzles and deciphering the clues to locate the key.
Encourage efficient communication and effective problem-solving under time pressure.
Communication Skills: Participants enhance their communication abilities by sharing observations, ideas, and findings to collectively solve puzzles.
Problem-solving Proficiency: The activity challenges teams to think critically, apply logical reasoning, and collaboratively tackle intricate challenges.
Team Management: The experience promotes effective team management as members assign tasks, prioritize efforts, and coordinate actions.
Time Management: The imposed time limit sharpens time management skills as teams strategize and allocate time wisely.
Adaptability: Teams learn to adapt and adjust strategies based on progress, evolving clues, and time constraints.
Clear Introduction: Provide a concise overview of the activity, emphasizing the importance of communication, problem-solving, and time management.
Diverse Challenges: Offer a mix of puzzles and clues to engage various problem-solving skills, catering to different team strengths.
Supportive Role: Act as a facilitator, offering subtle guidance if needed while allowing teams to independently explore and solve challenges.
Debriefing Session: Organize a debriefing session afterward to discuss the experience, highlight successful strategies, and identify areas for improvement.
Encourage Reflection: Encourage participants to reflect on their teamwork, communication effectiveness, and problem-solving approach.

#8. Frostbite for Group Problem Solving Activities

Helps With: Decision Making, Trust, Leadership

An electric fan
Construction materials (toothpicks, cardstock, rubber bands, sticky notes, etc.)
Divide the team into groups of 4-5 people, each with a designated leader.
Blindfold team members and prohibit leaders from using their hands.
Provide teams with construction materials and challenge them to build a tent within 30 minutes.
Test the tents using the fan to see which can withstand high winds.
Decision-Making Proficiency: Participants are exposed to critical decision-making situations under constraints, allowing them to practice effective and efficient decision-making.
Trust Development: Blindfolding team members and relying on the designated leaders fosters trust and collaboration among team members.
Leadership Skills: Designated leaders navigate the challenge without hands-on involvement, enhancing their leadership and communication skills.
Creative Problem Solving: Teams employ creative thinking and resourcefulness to construct stable tents with limited sensory input.
Team Cohesion: The shared task and unique constraints promote team cohesion and mutual understanding.
Role of the Facilitator: Act as an observer, allowing teams to navigate the challenge with minimal intervention. Offer assistance only when necessary.
Clarity in Instructions: Provide clear instructions regarding blindfolding, leader restrictions, and time limits to ensure a consistent experience.
Debriefing Session: After the activity, conduct a debriefing session to discuss team dynamics, leadership approaches, and decision-making strategies.
Encourage Communication: Emphasize the importance of effective communication within teams to ensure smooth coordination and successful tent construction.
Acknowledge Creativity: Celebrate creative solutions and innovative approaches exhibited by teams during the tent-building process.

#9. Dumbest Idea First

Helps With: Critical Thinking & Creative Problem Solving Activity

Estimated Time: 15-20 Minutes

Materials Needed: A piece of paper, pen, and pencil

Problem Presentation: Introduce a specific problem to the team, either a real-world challenge or a hypothetical scenario that requires a solution.
Brainstorming Dumb Ideas: Instruct team members to quickly generate and jot down the most unconventional and seemingly “dumb” ideas they can think of to address the problem.
Idea Sharing: Encourage each participant to share their generated ideas with the group, fostering a relaxed and open atmosphere for creative expression.
Viability Assessment: As a team, review and evaluate each idea, considering potential benefits and drawbacks. Emphasize the goal of identifying unconventional approaches.
Selecting Promising Solutions: Identify which seemingly “dumb” ideas could hold hidden potential or innovative insights. Discuss how these ideas could be adapted into workable solutions.
Divergent Thinking: Participants engage in divergent thinking, pushing beyond conventional boundaries to explore unconventional solutions.
Creative Exploration: The activity sparks creative exploration by encouraging participants to let go of inhibitions and embrace imaginative thinking.
Critical Analysis: Through evaluating each idea, participants practice critical analysis and learn to identify unique angles and aspects of potential solutions.
Open Communication: The lighthearted approach of sharing “dumb” ideas fosters open communication, reducing fear of judgment and promoting active participation.
Solution Adaptation: Identifying elements of seemingly “dumb” ideas that have merit encourages participants to adapt and refine their approaches creatively.
Safe Environment: Foster a safe and non-judgmental environment where participants feel comfortable sharing unconventional ideas.
Time Management: Set clear time limits for idea generation and sharing to maintain the activity’s energetic pace.
Encourage Wild Ideas: Emphasize that the goal is to explore the unconventional, urging participants to push the boundaries of creativity.
Facilitator Participation: Participate in idea generation to demonstrate an open-minded approach and encourage involvement.
Debriefing Discussion: After the activity, facilitate a discussion on how seemingly “dumb” ideas can inspire innovative solutions and stimulate fresh thinking.

This activity encourages out-of-the-box thinking and creative problem-solving. It allows teams to explore unconventional ideas that may lead to unexpected, yet effective, solutions.

#10: Legoman

Helps With: Foster teamwork, communication, and creativity through a collaborative Lego-building activity.

Estimated Time: 20-30 minutes

Lego bricks
Lego instruction manuals

Procedure :

Divide participants into small teams of 3-5 members.
Provide each team with an equal set of Lego bricks and a Lego instruction manual.
Explain that the goal is for teams to work together to construct the Lego model shown in the manual.
Set a time limit for the building activity based on model complexity.
Allow teams to self-organize, build, and collaborate to complete the model within the time limit.
Evaluate each team’s final model compared to the manual’s original design.
Enhanced Communication: Participants must communicate clearly and listen actively to collaborate effectively.
Strengthened Teamwork: Combining efforts toward a shared goal promotes camaraderie and team cohesion.
Creative Problem-Solving: Teams must creatively problem-solve if pieces are missing or instructions unclear.
Planning and Resource Allocation: Following instructions fosters planning skills and efficient use of resources.
Sense of Achievement: Completing a challenging build provides a sense of collective accomplishment.
Encourage Participation: Urge quieter members to contribute ideas and take an active role.
Highlight Teamwork: Emphasize how cooperation and task coordination are key to success.
Ensure Equal Engagement: Monitor group dynamics to ensure all members are engaged.
Allow Creativity: Permit modifications if teams lack exact pieces or wish to get creative.
Focus on Enjoyment: Create a lively atmosphere so the activity remains energizing and fun.

#11: Minefield

Helps With: Trust, Communication, Patience

Materials Needed: Open space, blindfolds

Mark a “minefield” on the ground using ropes, cones, or tape. Add toy mines or paper cups.
Pair up participants and blindfold one partner.
Position blindfolded partners at the start of the minefield. Direct seeing partners to verbally guide them through to the other side without hitting “mines.”
Partners switch roles once finished and repeat.
Time partnerships and provide prizes for the fastest safe crossing.
Trust Building: Blindfolded partners must trust their partner’s instructions.
Effective Communication: Giving clear, specific directions is essential for navigating the minefield.
Active Listening: Partners must listen closely and follow directions precisely.
Patience & Support: The exercise requires patience and encouraging guidance between partners.
Team Coordination: Partners must work in sync, coordinating movements and communication.
Test Boundaries: Ensure the minefield’s size accommodates safe movement and communication.
Monitor Interactions: Watch for dominant guidance and ensure both partners participate fully.
Time Strategically: Adjust time limits based on the minefield size and difficulty.
Add Obstacles: Introduce additional non-mine objects to increase challenge and communication needs.
Foster Discussion: Debrief afterward to discuss communication approaches and trust-building takeaways.

#12: Reverse Pyramid

Helps With: Teamwork, Communication, Creativity

Materials Needed: 36 cups per group, tables

Form small groups of 5-7 participants.
Provide each group with a stack of 36 cups and a designated building area.
Explain the objective: Build the tallest pyramid starting with just one cup on top.
Place the first cup on the table, and anyone in the group can add two cups beneath it to form the second row.
From this point, only the bottom row can be lifted to add the next row underneath.
Cups in the pyramid can only be touched or supported by index fingers.
If the structure falls, start over from one cup.
Offer more cups if a group uses all provided.
Allow 15 minutes for building.

Teamwork: Collaborate to construct the pyramid.

Communication: Discuss and execute the building strategy.

Creativity: Find innovative ways to build a tall, stable pyramid.

Clarify Expectations: Emphasize the definition of a pyramid with each row having one less cup.

Encourage Perseverance: Motivate groups to continue despite challenges.

Promote Consensus: Encourage groups to work together and help each other.

Reflect on Failure: Use collapses as a metaphor for overcoming obstacles and improving.

Consider Competitions: Modify the activity for competitive teams and scoring.

#13: Stranded

Helps With: Decision-making, Prioritization, Teamwork

Materials Needed: List of salvaged items, paper, pens

Present a scenario where teams are stranded and must prioritize items salvaged from a plane crash.
Provide teams with the same list of ~15 salvaged items.
Instruct teams to agree on an item ranking with #1 being the most important for survival.
Teams share and compare their prioritized lists. Identify differences in approach.
Discuss what factors influenced decisions and how teams worked together to agree on priorities.
Critical Thinking: Weighing item importance requires analytical thinking and discussion.
Team Decision-Making: Coming to a consensus fosters team decision-making capabilities.
Prioritization Skills: Ranking items strengthen prioritization and justification abilities.
Perspective-Taking: Understanding different prioritizations builds perspective-taking skills.
Team Cohesion: Collaborating toward a shared goal brings teams closer together.
Encourage Discussion: Urge teams to discuss all ideas rather than allow single members to dominate.
Be Engaged: Circulate to listen in on team discussions and pose thought-provoking questions.
Add Complexity: Introduce scenarios with additional constraints to expand critical thinking.
Highlight Disagreements: When priorities differ, facilitate constructive discussions on influencing factors.
Recognize Collaboration: Acknowledge teams that demonstrate exceptional teamwork and communication.

Now let’s look at some common types of problem-solving activities.

Types of Problem-Solving Activities

The most common types of problem-solving activities/exercises are:

Creative problem-solving activities
Group problem-solving activities
Individual problem-solving activities
Fun problem-solving activities, etc.

In the next segments, we’ll be discussing these types of problem-solving activities in detail. So, keep reading!

Creative Problem-Solving Activities

Creative problem solving (CPS) means using creativity to find new solutions. It involves thinking creatively at first and then evaluating ideas later. For example, think of it like brainstorming fun game ideas, discussing them, and then picking the best one to play.

Some of the most common creative problem-solving activities include:

Legoman: Building creative structures with LEGO.
Escape: Solving puzzles to escape a room.
Frostbite: Finding solutions in challenging situations.
Minefield: Navigating a field of obstacles.

Group Problem-Solving Activities

Group problem-solving activities are challenges that make teams work together to solve puzzles or overcome obstacles. They enhance teamwork and critical thinking.

For instance, think of a puzzle-solving game where a group must find hidden clues to escape a locked room.

Here are the most common group problem-solving activities you can try in groups:

A Shrinking Vessel
Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower
Cardboard Boat Building Challenge
Clue Murder Mystery
Escape Room: Jewel Heist
Escape Room: Virtual Team Building
Scavenger Hunt
Dumbest Idea First

Individual Problem-Solving Activities

As the name suggests, individual problem-solving activities are the tasks that you need to play alone to boost your critical thinking ability. They help you solve problems and stay calm while facing challenges in real life. Like puzzles, they make your brain sharper. Imagine it’s like training your brain muscles to handle tricky situations.

Here are some of the most common individual problem-solving activities:

Puzzles (jigsaw, crossword, sudoku, etc.)
Brain teasers
Logic problems
Optical illusions
“Escape room” style games

Fun Problem-Solving Activities

Fun problem-solving activities are enjoyable games that sharpen your critical thinking skills while having a blast. Think of activities like the Legoman challenge, escape rooms, or rolling dice games – they make problem-solving exciting and engaging!

And to be frank, all of the mentioned problem-solving activities are fun if you know how to play and enjoy them as all of them are game-like activities.

Team Problems You Can Address Through Problem Solving Activities

Fun problem-solving activities serve as dynamic tools to address a range of challenges that teams often encounter. These engaging activities foster an environment of collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, enabling teams to tackle various problems head-on. Here are some common team problems that can be effectively addressed through these activities:

Communication Breakdowns:

Activities like “Escape,” “A Shrinking Vessel,” and “Human Knots” emphasize the importance of clear and effective communication. They require teams to work together, exchange ideas, and devise strategies to accomplish a shared goal. By engaging in these activities, team members learn to communicate more efficiently, enhancing overall team communication in real-world situations.

Lack of Trust and Cohesion:

Problem-solving activities promote trust and cohesiveness within teams. For instance, “Frostbite” and “Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower” require teams to collaborate closely, trust each other’s ideas, and rely on each member’s strengths. These activities build a sense of unity and trust, which can translate into improved teamwork and collaboration.

Innovative Thinking:

“Dumbest Idea First” and “Egg Drop” encourage teams to think outside the box and explore unconventional solutions. These activities challenge teams to be creative and innovative in their problem-solving approaches, fostering a culture of thinking beyond traditional boundaries when faced with complex issues.

Decision-Making Challenges:

Activities like “Onethread” facilitate group decision-making by providing a platform for open discussions and collaborative choices. Problem-solving activities require teams to make decisions collectively, teaching them to weigh options, consider different viewpoints, and arrive at informed conclusions—a skill that is transferable to real-world decision-making scenarios.

Leadership and Role Clarification:

Activities such as “Frostbite” and “Egg Drop” designate team leaders and roles within groups. This provides an opportunity for team members to practice leadership, delegation, and role-specific tasks. By experiencing leadership dynamics in a controlled setting, teams can improve their leadership skills and better understand their roles in actual projects.

Problem-Solving Strategies:

All of the problem-solving activities involve the application of different strategies. Teams learn to analyze problems, break them down into manageable components, and develop systematic approaches for resolution. These strategies can be adapted to real-world challenges, enabling teams to approach complex issues with confidence.

Team Morale and Engagement:

Participating in engaging and enjoyable activities boosts team morale and engagement. These activities provide a break from routine tasks, energize team members, and create a positive and fun atmosphere. Elevated team morale can lead to increased motivation and productivity.

By incorporating these fun problem-solving activities, teams can address a variety of challenges, foster skill development, and build a more cohesive and effective working environment. As teams learn to collaborate, communicate, innovate, and make decisions collectively, they are better equipped to overcome obstacles and achieve shared goals.

The Benefits of Problem Solving Activities for Your Team

#1 Better Thinking

Problem-solving activities bring out the best in team members by encouraging them to contribute their unique ideas. This stimulates better thinking as team managers evaluate different solutions and choose the most suitable ones.

For example, a remote team struggling with communication benefited from quick thinking and the sharing of ideas, leading to the adoption of various communication modes for improved collaboration.

#2 Better Risk Handling

Team building problem solving activities condition individuals to handle risks more effectively. By engaging in challenging situations and finding solutions, team members develop the ability to respond better to stressful circumstances.

#3 Better Communication

Regular communication among team members is crucial for efficient problem-solving. Engaging in problem-solving activities fosters cooperation and communication within the team, resulting in better understanding and collaboration. Using tools like OneThread can further enhance team communication and accountability.

#4 Improved Productivity Output

When teams work cohesively, overall productivity improves, leading to enhanced profit margins for the company or organization. Involving managers and team members in problem-solving activities can positively impact the company’s growth and profitability.

How Onethread Enhances the Effect of Problem Solving Activities

Problem-solving activities within teams thrive on collaborative efforts and shared perspectives. Onethread emerges as a potent facilitator, enabling teams to collectively tackle challenges and harness diverse viewpoints with precision. Here’s a comprehensive view of how Onethread amplifies team collaboration in problem-solving initiatives:

Open Channels for Discussion:

Onethread’s real-time messaging feature serves as a dedicated hub for open and seamless discussions. Teams can engage in brainstorming sessions, share insightful observations, and propose innovative solutions within a flexible environment. Asynchronous communication empowers members to contribute their insights at their convenience, fostering comprehensive problem analysis with ample deliberation.

Centralized Sharing of Resources:

Effective problem-solving often hinges on access to pertinent resources. Onethread’s document sharing functionality ensures that critical information, references, and research findings are centralized and readily accessible. This eradicates the need for cumbersome email attachments and enables team members to collaborate with precise and up-to-date data.

Efficient Task Allocation and Monitoring:

Problem-solving journeys comprise a series of tasks and actions. Onethread’s task management capability streamlines the delegation of specific responsibilities to team members. Assign tasks related to research, data analysis, or solution implementation and monitor progress in real time. This cultivates a sense of accountability and guarantees comprehensive coverage of every facet of the problem-solving process.

Facilitated Collaborative Decision-Making: Navigating intricate problems often demands collective decision-making. Onethread’s collaborative ecosystem empowers teams to deliberate over potential solutions, assess pros and cons, and make well-informed choices. Transparent discussions ensure that decisions are comprehensively comprehended and supported by the entire team.

Seamless Documentation and Insights Sharing:

As the problem-solving journey unfolds, the accumulation of insights and conclusions becomes pivotal. Onethread’s collaborative document editing feature empowers teams to document their discoveries, chronicle the steps undertaken, and showcase successful solutions. This shared repository of documentation serves as a valuable resource for future reference and continuous learning.

With Onethread orchestrating the backdrop, team collaboration during problem-solving activities transforms into a harmonious fusion of insights, ideas, and actionable steps.

What are the 5 problem-solving skills?

The top 5 problem-solving skills in 2023 are critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and data literacy. Most employers seek these skills in their workforce.

What are the steps of problem-solving?

Problem-solving steps are as follows: 1. Define the problem clearly. 2. Analyze the issue in detail. 3. Generate potential solutions. 4. Evaluate these options. 5. Choose the best solution. 6. Put the chosen solution into action. 7. Measure the outcomes to assess effectiveness and improvements made. These sequential steps assist in efficient and effective problem resolution.

How do you teach problem-solving skills?

Teaching problem-solving involves modelling effective methods within a context, helping students grasp the problem, dedicating ample time, asking guiding questions, and giving suggestions. Connect errors to misconceptions to enhance understanding, fostering a straightforward approach to building problem-solving skills.

So here is all about “activities for problem solving”.No matter which activity you choose, engaging in problem-solving activities not only provides entertainment but also helps enhance cognitive abilities such as critical thinking, decision making, and creativity. So why not make problem solving a regular part of your routine?

Take some time each day or week to engage in these activities and watch as your problem-solving skills grow stronger. Plus, it’s an enjoyable way to pass the time and challenge yourself mentally.

So go ahead, grab a puzzle or gather some friends for a game night – get ready to have fun while sharpening your problem-solving skills!

Let's Get Started with Onethread

Onethread empowers you to plan, organise, and track projects with ease, ensuring you meet deadlines, allocate resources efficiently, and keep progress transparent.

By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy .

Giving modern marketing teams superpowers with short links that stand out.

Live Product Demo

Filter by Keywords

25 Agile Games to Boost Team Performance and Collaboration

Engineering Team

January 18, 2024

Agile software development embraces iterations, adaptation, and people over processes. While efficient execution is crucial, culture and engagement also play a key role. Agile teams that collaborate effectively tend to outperform the competition.

But building connection, trust, and alignment takes work. This is where agile games come in handy.

These games create opportunities for learning, feedback, and fun in quick bursts. They could be icebreakers at standups, or complex simulations to solve pressing problems. Playing together unlocks creativity, improves psychological safety, and energizes teams.

So we’ve brought you 25 agile games that offer practical, enjoyable ways to strengthen team dynamics and drive agile proficiency.

Get ready to energize your team meetings and planning sessions!

What Are Agile Games?

Benefits of agile games for team building, optimal situations for implementing agile games, 1. kanban pizza game, 2. agile clock, 3. impact & effort matrix, 4. estimation game, 5. design sprints, 6. four-step sketch, 7. stop start continue, 8. agile jeopardy, 9. product box, 10. speed boat, 11. spiderweb, 12. agile ball point game, 13. dot voting, 14. the marshmallow challenge, 15. lean coffee, 16. the iteration game, 17. scrum simulation with lego, 18. the name game, 19. crazy eights, 20. user story mapping, 21. the penny game, 22. agile bingo, 23. the non-musical chairs, 24. tower building, 25. empathy mapping, make learning and improvement fun with agile games.

Agile games are short, playful team activities used in agile software development to energize collaboration, surface insights, and drive improvements.

Agile games encourage experimentation, feedback, and adaptation in a psychologically safe environment. They help agile teams and project managers to enhance team performance and foster team building .

Unlike usual team-building activities, agile games focus on the nuances and challenges of working in an agile environment. They help your team understand and apply key agile concepts such as iterative development, continuous feedback, and adaptive release planning .

Playing agile games encourages discussion, active listening, and working together towards shared goals. Games can, thus, help build stronger agile software development teams through the following:

Enhanced communication: Agile games break down barriers, encouraging open dialogue and clearer communication among team members. They let your team express ideas and feedback in a psychologically safe setting, leading to improved understanding and collaboration
Higher morale and engagement: Agile games uplift team spirit by introducing an element of fun and competition, leading to a team that eager to contribute and participate
Improved problem-solving skills: These games present scenarios that require quick thinking and adaptability. So teams learn to think creatively and develop practical solutions together, enhancing their problem-solving capabilities
Strengthened team bonding: Agile games create shared experiences that help forge stronger bonds between team members. These shared experiences are crucial for building trust and understanding within the team
Reinforced agile principles: Through games, team members internalize key agile concepts such as iterative development, flexibility, and continuous improvement. This reinforcement helps in embedding agile practices into the team’s daily routine
Enhanced learning experience: Agile games provide a practical and enjoyable hands-on learning experience. This approach helps team members retain agile concepts more effectively than traditional teaching methods

Can’t wait to start implementing agile games? Hold on just a while and check out this list of the most suitable situations to incorporate agile games.

Agile team-building games fit various situations within the agile software development cycle, such as:

During sprint planning: Agile games are a great way to kick off a sprint planning session. They help warm up the team, fostering creativity and encouraging a collaborative mindset essential for effective sprint planning
In retrospectives: Post-sprint retrospectives greatly benefit from agile games. They offer a relaxed environment for teams to discuss what worked, what didn’t, and how they can improve processes
In team building sessions: Team building sessions are perfect opportunities to conduct agile games. These sessions aim to strengthen the team bond. Games provide a fun way to do that
In problem-solving meetings: When your team faces a challenge, agile games can help with creative problem-solving and encourage out-of-the-box thinking
While onboarding new team members: Agile games can help newly onboarded team members feel included and understand team dynamics in a stress-free way
For breaking monotony and routine: Agile teams sometimes get caught up in their day-to-day tasks. These games can be a refreshing change of pace, re-energizing the team
Before major project milestones: Conducting agile games before major milestones can help align the team’s focus, rejuvenate their minds, and ensure everyone is on the same page with the project’s goals

By choosing the right moment for these games, agile teams can maximize their benefits, leading to improved performance , better communication, and a more cohesive team.

And if you use ClickUp as your project management platform , you can easily integrate agile processes into your workflows. This integration will help your team apply the insights and skills from the games to their daily tasks and projects.

25 Agile Games to Improve Teamwork and Collaboration

Here’s a list of 25 agile games designed to enhance teamwork, morale, and engagement within agile teams.

The Kanban Pizza Game is a fun, hands-on activity designed to teach teams about the Kanban system. By simulating a pizza-making process, each team member learns key Kanban principles such as task visualization, workflow management , and limiting work in progress.

You start by splitting participants into teams of 4-5 each as pizza shops. You then give each team a table with columns titled Backlog, Make, Bake, Deliver. Teams also get sticky notes representing pizza orders.

In the first round, teams take orders from the backlog and go through the process column. Only a WIP (work-in-progress) limit of one pizza per column is allowed, and customers get angry if the order takes over three minutes.

In the second round, you add an “Expedite” column after the “Bake” column and teams prioritize rush orders in “Expedite”. As you progress to round three, you increase the WIP limit to two per column and add more orders to simulate load.

The aim is to optimize the pizza-making process by applying Kanban strategies.

Teams can transfer these learnings to real sprints by setting up digital Kanban boards in the ClickUp Board View .

The Agile Clock game is designed to deepen understanding of the Agile Manifesto’s 12 principles. It challenges teams to succinctly express these principles, honing their grasp of agile concepts and improving team communication.

Teams must represent each of the 12 Agile Manifesto principles in a limited time frame. They can do this by distilling each principle into a few words or a simple image on a sticky note, creating a ‘clock’ with each principle stuck at different ‘hours.’ The exercise emphasizes effective communication, quick thinking, and a deep understanding of agile values.

Integrating these lessons with ClickUp Goals allows for real-time tracking and adjustments, translating skills learned from the game into practical project management capabilities.

The Impact & Effort Matrix game is a strategic activity used in agile environments to help teams prioritize tasks.

Participants list potential tasks or features and then plot them on a matrix based on their estimated impact and the effort needed to complete them. The exercise encourages teams to think critically about where to focus their resources to drive maximum value.

ClickUp’s Priority Matrix Template can further help teams visualize and organize these priorities, leading to improved project planning and execution as well as team cohesion.

The Estimation Game is an agile exercise aimed at improving a team’s ability to estimate the time and resources needed for tasks. This game is crucial in agile projects, particularly for Sprint planning and backlog grooming, where accurate estimations are key to successful project delivery.

The goal is to reach a consensus on each task’s estimation through discussion and collaboration between each team member in remote teams, fostering a better understanding of task complexity and resource allocation.

Using the Time Estimates ClickApp , teams can set estimates for how long individual tasks take. Based on these estimates, they can better plan the time required for the entire project. For large tasks with multiple assignees, you can also set different Time Estimates for each person.

Design Sprints are structured brainstorming sessions aimed at rapid problem-solving and prototyping within agile Scrum teams.

The process typically spans five phases. Teams start by understanding the problem, then brainstorm a range of solutions (Diverge), narrow down to the most feasible ones (Converge), build prototypes, and finally test these with real users.

The iterative nature of this game encourages constant refinement and agile thinking. Using the ClickUp Sprints Template , teams can plan, execute, and review each phase of the design sprint, integrating these agile methodologies into their project workflows.

The Four-Step Sketch is an agile game focused on rapid ideation and collaborative problem-solving. It encourages a Scrum team to quickly visualize solutions to given problems or challenges, promoting innovative thinking and creative design skills in the agile production process.

The process involves four steps: sketching the idea individually, sharing and discussing sketches within the team, combining and refining ideas, and finally, creating a unified solution.

ClickUp Whiteboards are an excellent tool for this purpose. They enable team members to brainstorm, sketch, and share ideas in a dynamic environment. Plus you can transform your ideas into ClickUp Tasks directly from your Whiteboards. Adding context to your work also becomes easier as Whiteboards can be linked to files, Docs, and more within ClickUp.

Stop Start Continue is an agile retrospective game designed to enhance continuous improvement within teams. It encourages open feedback and constructive dialogue, focusing on identifying practices that should be stopped, started, or continued for better project outcomes.

The process involves three steps. First, each team member individually reflects and lists the practices or processes they think the team should stop doing, start doing, and continue doing. Then, these ideas are shared and discussed collectively. Finally, the team agrees on specific actions to be taken in each category (stop, start, continue) for future projects or sprints.

Pro tip: Use the ClickUp SSC Template to organize, track, and implement these insights, which lead to tangible improvements in your agile practices.

Agile Jeopardy is a quiz-style game designed to reinforce and test a Scrum team’s understanding of agile principles and practices. It’s an engaging way to ensure team members are aligned with agile methodologies and can recall key concepts effectively.

Teams compete to answer questions on select agile topics, gaining points for correct answers and possibly losing points for incorrect ones. This format encourages learning in a fun, competitive environment.

Reinforce and test the team’s understanding of agile principles through this engaging quiz game. Create and manage the quiz content collaboratively with ClickUp Docs , turning it into a dynamic and interactive learning experience that extends beyond just a game. Use Docs to maintain a quizzing wiki with nested pages and styling options that can be reused by different teams.

The Product Box game helps teams better understand and communicate their product’s value proposition. It encourages innovation and customer-focused thinking by having team members design a ‘box’ for their product.

Teams discuss and decide what to include in their box, simulating the agile production process of defining and prioritizing product features based on customer feedback and marketability.

Use ClickUp for product development to extend the value of this exercise beyond the game. Showcase product designs in beautiful Docs, brainstorm ideas using ClickUp Mind Maps and Whiteboards, and plan your product roadmap with the ClickUp Product Roadmap Template !

Speed Boat is an agile retrospective game that helps teams identify factors accelerating or hindering their progress.

Start by drawing a speedboat on a whiteboard or large sheet of paper. Give each team member sticky notes and markers.

Participants write issues slowing the team down on individual sticky notes—one issue per note. They place the sticky notes on the speedboat drawing as “anchors” weighing it down.

Then the team discusses each issue and how to resolve it. You can remove notes or “anchors” from the boat as solutions are identified and the boat catches more “wind”.

Documenting and tracking these discussions using the ClickUp SWOT Analysis Template ensures that your team applies the insights gained from the game to actual projects. This leads to improved Scrum team performance.

Spiderweb is a team-building exercise that involves creating a physical web to symbolize team interconnectedness and dependency. It’s particularly effective in illustrating how each team member’s contributions are crucial to the overall success of the project.

The connections & dependencies can be translated into ClickUp Mind Maps to clearly represent how each team member’s work contributes to the overall project.

It encourages continued recognition of each person’s role in the team and fosters a collaborative environment, aligning with agile principles of teamwork and collective responsibility.

The Agile Ball Point Game teaches teams about agile production processes and the importance of self-organization. It demonstrates the principles of flow, process efficiency, and continuous improvement.

Teams pass balls to simulate a workflow process, learning about bottlenecks and how to optimize operations. Each time aims at getting as many balls through the system as possible in three sprints.

There are some rules to keep in mind:

The ball needs to start and end with the same person
The ball must have passed through everyone in the team
The ball must have air time
It can’t be passed to the person next to them
If the ball is dropped, it does not count

The game emphasizes the importance of teamwork, communication, and iterative process improvements.

Dot Voting is a simple yet effective retrospective technique used in the agile methodology. It’s particularly useful to prioritize ideas, problems, or solutions.

The team starts by brainstorming and listing ideas, issues, or improvements on a board or a shared document. Each team member is then given a limited number of ‘dots’ (votes), which they can distribute among the listed items.

They can place all their dots on one item or spread them across several. The items with the most dots are prioritized for discussion and action. This process helps the team to identify and agree on the key focus areas collectively.

Teams can then create tasks for each high-priority item, using ClickUp’s features to assign, track, and update their progress. This ensures that insights from the retrospective are actioned upon, aligning with agile principles of continuous improvement and team-driven decision-making.

The objective in this agile game is to build the tallest freestanding structure using items like spaghetti sticks, tape, string, and a marshmallow. The catch? You’ve limited time to do so and you must have the marshmallow at the top.

The activity encourages teams to prototype rapidly, test their structures, and iterate based on what works and what doesn’t.

The game captures the agile mindset of learning through action. And the short timeframe promotes creativity under pressure.

You can treat the game as a project and record the teams’ strategies and outcomes using the ClickUp Retrospectives Template , helping teams apply the lessons in everyday project management.

Lean Coffee is an open-format meeting style where a team democratically chooses and explores discussion topics.

Participants gather and propose topics for discussion by writing them on sticky notes or cards. These topics are then prioritized through a group voting process. The format encourages active participation, ensuring that the most relevant and pressing issues are addressed.

Using ClickUp Lists to organize and prioritize discussion topics ensures these conversations are productive and aligned with the team’s goals.

The Iteration Game is an agile exercise focusing on the principle of iterative development. It teaches teams the value of making small, continuous improvements to a product or process, reflecting a core concept in agile methodologies.

Teams work on a project or task in multiple short iterations, with each iteration aiming to improve upon the last. The game often involves a simple, repeatable task, allowing teams to see the impact of iterative changes and the importance of feedback in shaping the final outcome.

Scrum Simulation with LEGO is an engaging and hands-on game that teaches the fundamentals of Scrum methodology using LEGO blocks. This exercise is particularly effective for illustrating the Scrum framework, roles, and ceremonies in a tangible and interactive way.

Teams use LEGO blocks to simulate the Scrum process, from Sprint planning to review. Team members take on roles like Scrum Master and Development Team, learning about collaboration, iteration, and incremental development in a fun setting.

Plan and track each sprint using the ClickUp Agile Scrum Management Template , offering a digital counterpart to the physical LEGO simulation, combining hands-on learning with practical application.

The Name Game is a simple yet effective activity designed to improve team bonding and memory skills. It’s particularly beneficial for new teams or teams with new members, helping to break the ice and foster a sense of familiarity and camaraderie.

In this game, one note-taker tries to note down a stream of information such as names, goals, and challenges flowing in from multiple sources simultaneously. The sources are the team members, and each member takes turns being the note-taker.

The challenge increases as more names and facts are added, requiring participants to pay close attention and remember more information. This game is great for building listening skills and helping team members learn more about each other.

Use ClickUp Tasks creatively to store and reference these names and facts. It’s an excellent tool for reinforcing information and fostering team camaraderie.

Crazy Eights is an agile brainstorming and ideation game that encourages rapid idea generation. It’s often used in design thinking and agile workshops to spark creativity and explore a wide range of solutions.

Each participant gets a sheet of paper divided into eight sections. They have eight minutes to sketch or write down eight different ideas, spending one minute on each. The focus is on quantity over quality, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking.

ClickUp time tracking features can be used in similar brainstorming sessions to ensure time-boxed idea generation. Ideas from Crazy Eights can be recorded in ClickUp, either as tasks, in Docs, or on Whiteboards, for further development and implementation.

This method helps translate quick, creative brainstorming into actionable project tasks, aligning with agile methodologies focused on iterative and collaborative development.

User Story Mapping helps teams empathize with users and understand their needs. It’s a collaborative process that helps teams create a user-focused framework for product development, ensuring that the final product aligns closely with customer requirements.

The process involves organizing user stories along a timeline or workflow, identifying dependencies, and prioritizing tasks based on user value. This mapping helps teams understand the big picture and make informed decisions about what to build first.

ClickUp’s User Story Template is a collaborative tool for creating, sharing, and further developing these user stories, ensuring user needs are central to project planning and execution.

This game shows the concept of batch size and its impact on workflow in production systems. It’s particularly effective in teaching teams about the impact of work-in-progress limits and optimizing process flows.

The game is played in rounds, each with different rules for how pennies can be passed. Teams handle pennies (or similar small items) in different batch sizes, learning about efficiency and process flow.

The objective is to complete the task as quickly as possible, highlighting how different approaches affect overall efficiency and throughput.

Use ClickUp for Agile teams to improve workflows based on your needs, collaborate in one place, and customize tasks. It allows your team to get high-level views and fast-track development.

Agile Bingo is a playful way to reinforce agile concepts and practices. It turns the learning process into an engaging activity, promoting a deeper understanding of agile concepts in a relaxed environment.

Create Bingo cards with terms like “MVP”, “Retrospective”, “User Story” etc., and prepare a pool of definitions for each term. Take turns pulling definitions and reading them aloud.

The team members will mark matching terms on their cards. The first to complete a row, column, or diagonal—or fill the entire card—shouts “Bingo!” and wins.

The Non-Musical Chairs is a discussion-based agile game focused on open communication and addressing team dynamics. Unlike its musical counterpart, this game centers on dialogue and reflection, making it an excellent tool for agile team building and problem-solving.

In this activity, team members sit in a circle with one fewer chair than the number of participants. When the music stops, instead of racing for a chair, the person left standing shares their thoughts on a pre-determined topic related to team performance or dynamics.

Following the game, ClickUp Form View can help document insights, feedback, and action points from these discussions, helping teams track progress and make necessary adjustments.

Engage teams in a creative and strategic exercise of building the tallest tower using limited resources.

The exercise demands creativity, strategy, and effective communication as team members decide how to best use their resources to achieve the goal. It’s an exercise in balancing ambition with practicality, encouraging teams to think innovatively while managing constraints.

Using ClickUp for project management , teams can plan their building strategies, review their approaches post-activity, and apply these learnings to improve teamwork and project management skills.

Empathy Mapping is a powerful game for understanding user perspectives and needs. It’s a collaborative activity that focuses on building empathy for the target audience, which is crucial for user-centered product development.

The process involves brainstorming and discussing user experiences, needs, and motivations, and then organizing these insights into the empathy map. This exercise encourages teams to step into their users’ shoes, fostering a deeper understanding of user needs and behaviors.

ClickUp’s Empathy Map Whiteboard Template offers a collaborative space for creating, sharing, and developing these empathy maps, integrating these valuable user insights into the team’s project planning and development process.

Using these 25 agile games for your team’s learning is more than just a fun diversion. It’s a strategic move toward building a stronger, more cohesive, and high-performing agile team.

Each game, with its unique focus and learning outcomes, will enhance various aspects of agile teamwork, from improving communication and problem-solving skills to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.

ClickUp is the ideal platform to bring these games to life in a real-world context. Whether tracking progress in the Kanban Pizza Game using Board View, organizing discussions from Lean Coffee with Lists, or reflecting on team dynamics with the Stop Start Continue template, ClickUp enhances the effectiveness of each game.

Embrace these agile games as a catalyst for growth, and let ClickUp be your partner in this journey of continuous improvement.

Start transforming your team’s dynamics today with ClickUp for Agile Teams .

Questions? Comments? Visit our Help Center for support.

Receive the latest WriteClick Newsletter updates.

Thanks for subscribing to our blog!

Please enter a valid email

Free training & 24-hour support
Serious about security & privacy
99.99% uptime the last 12 months

Skip to content
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

unremot.com

Developer marketplace

What are problem solving activities?

The success of a company or organization depends heavily on the managers’ ability to help workers develop their problem solving skills. Problem solving activities that address areas such as teamwork and cooperation, adaptability or reinforcement of decision-making strategies help.

All processes of problem solving begin with the identification of the problem. The team will then evaluate the possible course of action and select the best way to tackle it. This needs a profound understanding of your team and its core strengths.

Not only among corporates, but problem solving activities find their use in educational settings as well. Students who are good at solving problems will become much more successful than those who are not. Remote work and education are on the rise.

Enabling smooth interpersonal communication to solve problems can become a task in these situations. However, engaging all the people concerned in problem solving activities before shifting to the remote space can ease the process.

Also Read: Keen to invest in bitcoins – find a trustworthy bitcoin trader now!

Key skills evaluated in problem solving activities

Problem solving skills refer to the necessary thinking skills that an individual or group uses when met with a challenge. Many issues require the use of several skills; others are easy and may require only one or two skills. These are some skills that help to solve problems,

Communication skills
Decision-making skills
Analytical thinking
Negotiation skills
Logical reasoning
Persistence
Lateral thinking

Problem solving skill examples

Several problems occur at the workplace. Problem solving skills can be technical problems that occur on websites or apps or addressing client concerns. Problems could be simple or complex. Business managers spend time and resources to solve problems.

They encourage their team to improve their analytical and logical abilities. Common issues in companies can be exploding data or changing technology, or financial management.

Did you know? Emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in problem solving!

Also Read: Keen to invest in Ethereum – find a trustworthy ETHtrader now!

Problem solving scenarios

Many problem solving scenarios occur at work. The basis to solve any problem is to evaluate and arrive at a solution. Analytical skill or problem solving ability is a skill many employers evaluate while hiring candidates.

Strong problem solving skills can be an asset to any organization. Organizations organize problem and solution activities to improve the problem solving abilities in the workplace.

1. Decision making games

Businesses are looking for new and innovative ways to stimulate their staff. Decision making games help employees to learn new skills and work effectively as a team. Decision making activities help to improve the creative problem solving and decision-making skills of the team. Here are some best Decision-making games,

1. Dumb Idea first – This game gives a hypothetical problem that could occur in your company. Ask each manager to think of the dumbest solution to the problem. After compiling the list of the ideas, the team reviews them.

You have a brainstorming session to make the “dumb ideas” feasible. This problem solving exercise underlines the importance of out-of-box thinking.

Benefits: Decision-making skill

Time duration: 10 to 15 minutes

Team size: 2 to more team managers

Material: Paper and pencil

2. Egg Drop Idea – The objective of the game is to build a container to protect the egg when dropped from a specified height using the material provided. Each team nominates a presenter who explains why the egg will survive the fall.

Once they have presented the idea, the team drops the egg to check if the idea has worked. Egg drop pyramid activities like the marshmallow challenge help teams to think on their feet.

Benefit: Decision-making skill and is a top problem solving skill example

Time duration: 15 – 30 minutes

Team size: 6 or more

Material: A cartoon of eggs, aprons to protect clothes, material for packing (cardboard, tape, elastics, plastic straws, etc.), material to clean up.

Instructions:

Every team gets an egg and should choose from the building materials.
Grant everyone 20-30 minutes to build an egg carrier and guard against breaking.
Remove each egg carrier from a ledge (that is, over a balcony) to see which carrier prevents it from cracking.
If several eggs survive, continue to heighten until only one egg remains.

3. Dog, Rice, and Chicken – The dog, rice, and chicken game can be fun decision-making activities for adults. In this game, one team member plays the farmer, and the other team members are villagers who advise him. The farmer has to take three items chicken, dog, and rice across the river by boat.

There are the following constraints:- only one item can be carried on the boat. He cannot leave the chicken and dog alone because the dog will eat the chicken. He cannot leave the chicken alone with the rice because the chicken will eat the rice grains.

Benefit: creative problem solving examples that are applicable at work.

Time duration: 10-15 minutes.

Also Read: Keen to invest in bitcoins – find a trustworthy bitcoin broker now!

2. Teambuilding puzzle

Team building exercises are fun and creative ways to get your team to work together and improve problem solving skills.

1. Lost at Sea – In this game, you and your friends have chattered a yacht to sail across the Atlantic Ocean. Since you do not have any navigation experience, you hire a captain and a two-person crew. Unfortunately, the crew and captain die when a fire breaks out on the yacht.

The yacht is severally damaged and is sinking. You and your friends have managed to save 15 items and a lifeboat. Your task is to rank the 15 items while you are waiting to be rescued. The activity lost at sea team building underlines the importance of problem solving skills in the workplace.

Benefits: Team building exercise and interaction

Time duration: 30 to 40 minutes

Team size: 4 to 6

Material: Lost in sea ranking for interaction chart for each member

2. Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower – The marshmallow team-building activities have the goal of building the tallest tower as quickly as possible. To make the task more challenging the marshmallow is placed at the top of the tower. This is a fun puzzle activity for team building.

Benefit: Teambuilding puzzle

Time duration: 30 minutes

Material required: 20 sticks on raw uncooked spaghetti, a marshmallow, masking thread, and yarn of thread.

3. Go for Gold – This is an example of a marshmallow challenge similar to activities. The objective of this exercise is to create a structure using pipes, rubber tubing, and cardboard to carry a marble from point A to point B using gravity.

Benefit: team building problem solving scenario examples

Team size: Minimum 6 persons

Material required: Each member has different material

Also Read: Keen to learn about bitcoins – find an experienced bitcoin consultant now!

3. Work Problem Solving

Work problem solving activities help to use the skills you used in problem solving activities in your workplace.

1. Create your own – this game aims to create a brand new problem solving activity for the organization. The team can brainstorm for 1 hour. After one hour each team has to give a presentation about their activity outlining the key benefits.

Benefit: Understanding the problem solving process. Build creativity, improve negotiation, and Decision-making skills

When the participants arrive, you declare that they will create an original problem solving activity on their own, rather than spending an hour on an existing problem solving team-building exercise.
Divide members into teams and encourage them to develop a new problem solving team-building exercise that will fit well with the organization. The activity should not be one they have engaged in or heard of before.
Every team has to show their new activity to everyone else after an hour and outline the main benefits.

2. Shrinking Vessel – make a shape on the floor using a rope where all the team members can fit. Reduce the size every 10 -15 minutes. The real challenge for the team is figuring out how to work together and keep everyone together.

Benefits: Adaptability and cognitive diversity

Material: Rope and large room

Place on the floor a big circle of rope. Position your whole team inside the circle.
Lessen the circle size steadily. When it gets smaller, advise the team to keep the entire team inside the circle. Nobody must move out of the loop. See how small you can make the area until it cannot remain inside.

3. Legoman – the team is divided into groups of two or more people. Select an impartial individual who will make a structure in 10 minutes. Each team will compete to recreate it in fifteen minutes. Only one person is allowed to see the structure. They need to communicate vital parameters like color, shape, and size.

Benefits: Communication

Tools: Lego

4. What Would X Do – This problem solving activity stimulates teams to think of new ideas.

Benefits: Instant problem solving
Time Duration: 10-15 minutes
Materials Required: N/A
Let every team pretend to be someone famous.
Every team needs to address the issue as if they were a famous person. Which are the choices they would consider? How will they do this?
It helps all to consider options they may not have initially thought of.

Tip: Before you decide, a problem is worth solving, weigh the risks of solving it versus not solving it.

Also Read: Keen to invest in crypto – find the best crypto financial advisor now!

4. Team building riddles

Team building riddles are a great way to show the team group problem solving is usually more effective.

1. Barter puzzle – the team is broken into groups. Give each team a different jigsaw puzzle to solve. The groups have to complete the puzzle at the same time. The twist in the game is that some pieces of their puzzle belong to other puzzles.

The goal is to complete the puzzle before the other teams. Each group has to come with their method to convince other teams to handover the pieces they need, either by bartering pieces or donating time to the other teams. This puzzle piece team-building activity helps teams to collaborate.

Benefit: Team building and negotiating.

Material: Jigsaw puzzle for each team

Time: 30 minutes

2. Scavenger Hunt – in this game, each team has a list of the article to locate and bring back. The goal of the game is to finish the assigned list first. In the scavenger hunt, the team has a time limit to make the game more challenging. You have the flexibility of having the hunt outside or within the premises. The team-building puzzle game helps the team to look for creative solutions.

3. Escape – the goal is to solve clues and find the key to unlock the door in a limited time. Hide the key and a list of clues around the room. The team has 30 to 60 minutes to figure out the clues and unlock the door.

Benefit: Team building exercise

Material: Rope, key, lockable room, 5 to 10 puzzles

Also Read: Interested in crypto – find an expert crypto consultant now!

5. Work together problems

Work together on problems helps to underline the need to collaborate while solving issues at work. Group challenge activities help the team work well together.

1. Bonding belt – each group is divided into 5 to 6 participants, who are bound together with rope or tape so that their movements are limited. The team has to reach from point A to point B, and the time is recorded. The teams collaborate to beat their previous score.

Benefits: Helps the team to collaborate and skills for problem solving scenario/

Time: 20 to 30 minutes

Material: Cling film, belt, or rope

2. Scramble puzzle – the team members with blindfolds sit in a circle with the puzzle. The teammate without the blindfold sits outside the circle, with their back to the group. The blindfolded group tries to assemble the pieces of the puzzle. The outsider who has the same puzzle gives the team instructions to solve it.

Benefits: trust, leadership, and communication

Material: Preschool-level puzzles and blindfolds.

3. Flip it over – this is a classic work-together problem. In this game, 6 to 8 participants stand together on a blanket/towel/tarp. The challenge is to flip over the blanket or reverse it. The rule is that none of the participants can leave the blanket.

Benefit: Work together exercise

Duration: 30 minutes

Material: Blanket

Also Read: Building a blockchain – browse varied blockchain consulting services now!

6. Team building survival games

Team building survival games helps to fine-tune problem solving scenarios that may occur at work. The activities encourage creative problem solving and decision making.

1. Stranded – Stranded helps in building effective communication. In this setting, the team is stranded in an office. The rooms will be locked, and doors and windows cannot be broken down. The team is asked to make a list of 10 items that they need to survive.

They need to rank items in the order of their importance. The team has to agree on the items and the order. Stranded is one of several popular survival team-building exercises.

Benefit: Team building and Decision-making exercises

Your team is stuck inside the building. Doors are closed, so there is no option to kick down the doors or smash the windows.
Grant the team 30 minutes to determine what ten things they need to thrive in the office and list them in order of importance.
The goal of the game is to get everyone to agree in 30 minutes about the ten things and their ranking.

2. Minefield – you randomly place items around the room or hallway and there is no clear path from one end of the room to another. The team is divided into pairs. One team member is blindfolded, and the other team member is the guide.

The guide navigates the blindfolded person across the minefield. The two partners cannot touch. This survival team-building activity underlines the need for clear communication.

Benefits: Communication and collaborative problem solving

Duration: 10-15 minutes

Material: Blindfold, empty room or hallway, and collection of random items.

3. Frostbite – in this survival scenario team-building exercise the team is trapped in Siberia. Each team has to elect a team captain. The team has to build a storm shelter with the material provided.

The twist in the game is the team captains cannot help physically since they have frostbite. Other team members are suffering snow blindness and are blindfolded. The electric fan will be turned on in 30 minutes to see if the shelter built will survive the storm.

Benefit: Leadership, skills action plan, and team building survival games

Team size: 4 to 5 members

Material: An electric fan, blindfold, simple building materials like cardboard paper, rubber bands, toothpicks, masking tape, straws, sticky notes, etc.

Also Read: Lost your bitcoins? Find a bitcoin recovery expert to retrieve it!

7. Group decision making games

Group decision making games help encourage creative problem solving and decision making at work. Here is a bunch of group decision making games

1. Reverse Pyramid – the team members stand in a pyramid shape. The next step is to flip the base and apex of the pyramid. The limiting factor in only three persons can move.

Benefits: Group Decision-making and collaboration

2. Tower of Hanoi – in this game, there are three towers/posts/rods with 5 or more discs arranged conical shape with the smallest shape at the top. The objective of the game is to move the entire stack to another location retaining the shape. Some conditions of the games are only one disc can be moved at a time. Only the top disc can be moved. Another rule of the game is larger disc cannot be put on a smaller disc.

Benefits: This team-building exercise helps problem solving within the participants.

3. Human Knot – the team stands in a circle every person holds hands with a person not standing next to them. When everyone is cross-connected, the aim is to untangle the structure without letting go of anybody’s hand.

Benefit: group problem solving

Also Read: Interested in crypto – find an expert digital asset investor now!

8. Funny problem solving games

We need to solve problems for personal and professional lives. Funny problem solving exercises are a light way. Funny problem solving can help reduce stress levels.

1. Pencil drop – in the pencil drop challenge, one end of the pencil is tied to a pencil and the other is tied around the waist of a team member. The other team member puts the pencil into the bottle placed below. The participants are not allowed to use their hands.

Benefit: Team bonding

Team size: 2 members each

Material: Some pencil and bottle

2. Blind drawing – this game requires two players to sit back to back. One participant describes an image in front of them without giving stating anything obvious. The other participant needs to draw it using the description. The outcome can be fun.

3. Be the character – in this activity, you pretend to be an imaginary character while trying to solve a problem. This game gives a unique perspective on your solution and whether the solution is feasible for other members.

Also Read: Keen to invest in crypto – find a trustworthy cryptocurrency consultant now!

9. Group problem solving activities for adults

Group problem solving activities are very efficient, especially for adults. These can be used in any setting to enhance problem solving skills.

1. Human Knots

Benefits: Communication skills, collaboration
Time Duration: 10 – 15 minutes.

This is one of the most straightforward group problem solving activities that can be done with any group. It facilitates communication and critical thinking in the face of a challenging and complex question. Various group members will possibly suggest a variety of solutions, and each will need to be reviewed and adopted by the organization as a whole.

Have the group stand in a small circle (make several circles when you are a larger group). Every person in the loop will hold the hands of 2 other people who are not directly next to them. That would make a messy crossed arms knot.
Ask the group to disentangle themselves without moving their hands at any point in time. They may be unable to disentangle completely to form a circle again. Still, they would have begun to work together to solve the problem by the end of the activity.

2. Frostbite

Benefits: Leadership, decision-making, trust, adaptability
Time Duration: 30 minutes.
Materials Required: An electric fan, blindfold, simple building materials like cardboard paper, rubber bands, toothpicks, masking tape, straws, sticky notes, etc.

Your group is trapped in the barren deserts of Siberia, and a sudden winter storm is approaching. You have to create a shelter with only the materials in hand that can survive the storm’s harsh winds. The leader of your expedition was afflicted with frostbite in both hands, sadly, and all the others experience severe snow blindness.

Divide the group into clusters of 4-5. Every group will have to elect a chief.
Group leaders are not allowed to use their hands to support the group in any way, and group members should be blindfolded during the exercise.
The groups have 30 minutes to build a small tent structure that can withstand the wind from the fan’s highest location.

3. Dumbest Idea First

Benefits: Critical thinking, creative problem solving, quick problem solving
Time Duration: 15 – 20 minutes
Materials Required: Pen or pencil, a piece of paper.

Dumbest Idea First is one of the most creative problem solving activities for groups. This can encourage your creativity by thinking out of the box and lead you to ideas that would typically sound too insane to work. You can broaden the possibilities by looking at these crazy solutions first, and find potential alternatives that might not be as obvious.

Present your team with a question. It could be a real-world dilemma facing the group, or it could be a created scenario. For example, your company attempts to beat a rival to win a high-paying customer contract, but the customer bends to your competitors. You have a short period before they make the final decision to change their mind.
With the given question, advise your group to come up with the dumbest ideas to tackle the issue. Anything can be written down.
After each person has put forward a few ideas, go through the list, and analyze each plan to see which are the most feasible. List them from the highest level of feasibility to the lowest level.

4. Wool Web

Benefits: Leadership, communication
Time Duration: 30 minutes
Materials Required: Some balls of yarn.

As hard as replicating the magnitude of the real-world problems is, that is no excuse not to try! Wool web creates a dilemma that appears complicated at first, but groups will learn to break down complicated challenges into solvable problems one move at a time.

This happens by using the right strategy and working together. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most stimulating problem solving activities for adults.

Split the group into similarly large teams. Every time, it receives a yarn ball.
Tell each team to turn the yarn ball into a vast web. Give them around 5-10 minutes to do this. When done, rotate all the teams so that every team is on a yarn web they have not set up.
Every group must choose one person to untangle the web. That individual would be blindfolded and be guided by the rest of the team on how to unwind the web using only verbal instructions. The first team to achieve it wins the game.

5. Tallest Tower

Benefits: Creative thinking, collaboration
Materials Required: 1 bag of marshmallows, one packet of uncooked spaghetti.

Simple building projects can help group members create strategies to overcome box issues. Tallest Tower is another one of the most creative problem solving activities. Groups will compete with only two materials to make the tallest tower in a fixed period.

Divide the group into two, which have an equal number of players. Provide 20 – 30 uncooked spaghetti noodles and 3-4 marshmallows to every team.
Groups must compete in the provided period to build the tallest tower using only the materials supplied. A marshmallow has to be set at the top of the tower.

Also Read: Struggling with blockchain – find an expert blockchain analyst now!

10. Problem solving activities for students

Below is a bunch of problem solving activities for students and kids,

1. Brainstorm Bonanza – Brainstorm Bonanza is one of the best problem solving activities for students. As a teacher, making your students create lists relevant to something you are teaching at the moment can be a fantastic way to help them expand their knowledge of a subject when learning to solve problems.

Benefits: Problem solving
Materials Required: Pen and paper

1. If you are discussing a real, current, or fictional occurrence that did not work out well, let your students imagine ways that the protagonist or participants might have produced a better, more favorable result.

2. They can brainstorm independently or in groups.

2. Clue Me In – this is one of the most enjoyable problem solving games. It facilitates logical thinking and cognitive development.

Benefits: Cognitive development, logical thinking
Time Duration: 20 minutes
Materials Required: A bag, clues, items as necessary
Select a collection of things relating to a specific occupation, social phenomenon, historical incident, object, etc.
Assemble individual objects (or pictures of things) commonly linked to the target response.
Place all of them in a bag (five-10 clues ought to be enough).
Then, have a student reach into the bag and take out clues one by one.
Select a minimum number of clues to draw before they make their first guess (two-three).
After that, the student should guess, pulling each clue until they think it is right.
See how quickly the student can solve the riddle.

3. Survivor Scenario – Create a hypothetical situation that allows students to think creatively to make it through. One example may be being stuck on an island, realizing that three days of help would not come.

The community has a small amount of food and water and has to establish shelter from the island’s objects. This would undoubtedly be one of the fascinating problem solving activities for students.

Benefits: Logical thinking, collaboration
Encourage working together as a group.
Listen to each student who has an idea about making it safe and secure across the three days.

4. Moral Dilemmas – Create several potential moral dilemmas that your students can face in life, write down, and place each object in a bowl or container. These things may include items like, “I’ve seen a good friend of mine shoplifting. What is it that I would do?” or “The cashier gave me an additional $1.50 in change after I purchased candy from the shop. What is it that I would do?”

Benefits: Logical thinking
Time Duration: 5 minutes per student
Materials Required: Container, bits of paper with moral dilemmas written
Ask every student to draw an item from the bag one after the other and read it aloud.
They must then tell the class the response on the spot as to how they would handle the situation.

5. Problem solving box – this is an activity that will help on both cognitive and emotional levels for students.

Benefits: Logical thinking, decision making
Materials Required: Box, paper, pen
Have your students design and decorate a medium-sized box with a top slot. Name it as the “Problem Solving Box.”
Invite students to write down anonymously and apply any concerns or problems they may have at school or at home, which they do not appear to be able to work out on their own.
Let a student draw one of the things from the box once or twice a week, and read it aloud.
Finally, as a group, let the class work out the best way students can approach the problem and eventually solve it.

Also Read: Invest large in bitcoins – get a profitable deal from a bitcoin OTC broker now!

11. Problem solving activities for kids

Below is a bunch of problem solving activities for kids,

1. Puzzle-solving – Solving puzzles is one of the best problem solving activities for kids out there. Essentially, every puzzle is a big collection of muddled-up items to figure out and bring back together again.

Kids must be introduced to puzzles with regularity. These are useful for improving skills in reasoning. The best kinds to choose from are wooden puzzles with a wooden frame. They last long, and the structure serves as the foundation to direct children during construction.

Benefits: Reasoning skills
Time Duration: Varies
Materials Required: Puzzles according to the age level

Instructions:

Show the kids a demo of how a particular puzzle can be solved.
Then, let them choose a puzzle of their liking from the available choices.
Ask them to solve their chosen puzzles.

2. Memory Games – Memory games will improve memory and attention to detail for your child.

Benefits: Attention to detail
Materials Required: Matching pairs of images
Using matching pairs of images and turn them all face down, shuffled, on a table.
Take turns to pick any two cards, and face them on the table.
You hold the cards if you turn over a similar pair, and if the pair does not match, turn the cards over before it is your turn to try again.
A teacher/parent must encourage the kids to concentrate on where the pictures are, and seek to find a matching pair on each turn.

3. Building games – Construction toys like building blocks, wooden blocks, or legos should be a staple in a kid’s home every day. Playing with them is one of the most fun problem solving activities for kids. Anything that your child builds is a challenge as it involves thinking about what to create and how to put together the parts to get a workable and usable design.

Benefits: Decision making
Materials Required: Construction toys.

1. Let your child build a challenge openly and often, and ask him/her to build a particular structure, with conditions. For instance:

Create two towers with a bridge that connects them.
Create a creature that stands alone and has three arms.

2. Observe how your child uses trial-and-error before finding a way to bring the idea into motion.

4. Tic-Tac-Toe – this is an excellent game for teaching decision-making skills. It encourages kids to think before they act and weigh the potential consequences.

Materials Required: Pencil, paper
Draw a simple tic-tac-toe table on paper or chalkboard.
Take turns to add a nought or a cross to the table to see who is the first to make a line of three.
Your kid will likely catch on in no time before placing their symbol and start thinking carefully.
Coloured counters or different items can be used to play this game as well.

5. Building a Maze – This activity is fun and fits for any age. It will also be a lot more enjoyable than doing a maze in an activity book, particularly for younger kids.

Materials Required: Chalk
Draw a big maze with jumbo chalk on the paving. Make passages, including one or two, which end in an impasse. Teach your kid how to get out of it.
Make the maze more complicated and add more dead-end passages as your child gets better at figuring out a path and finding the way out.

Also Read: Developing a blockchain – hire an expert blockchain developer now!

What is a problem solving process?

When a team or person faces an issue or obstacle, it can be tempting to quickly track a potential solution and set up a fast fix. This could happen without understanding the complexity of the problem and pursuing a systematic approach to seeking a solution.

The attempts to address issues or obstacles may become unstructured and frustrating without a consistent method. End-to-end processes for problem solving offer a mechanism for a community to tackle any size or nature, and see results. Problem solving activities for adults, kids, and students can help make the problem solving process very useful.

Army problem solving process

There are 7 steps to problem solving army model,

Recognize and define the problem – The first step army problem solving process is defining the problem precisely and determining the root cause.
Gather facts and make assumptions – You need to gather all information you have at your disposal. Common resources for information may be documentation and policies. Assumptions are unsubstantiated facts. Use facts rather than assumptions when you need to analyze the scope of the problem.
Generate alternatives – One of the key steps in military problem solving is finding ways to solve the problem. Ideally, it best to have multiple approaches to solve the problem. Take input from peers and subordinates if possible.
Analyze possible solutions – Analyze each possible solution with advantages and disadvantages. You evaluate each solution according to screening and feasibility criteria. Reject the solution when it fails in the screening process.
Compare Alternatives – Another crucial step in the army problem solving model is to evaluate alternatives for cost and benefits. You need to consider your experience and immediate future. Tabulating each solution with the pros and cons will help clear the picture.
Make an executive your decision – Make a decision and prepare an action plan, and put it in motion.
Assess the result – You need to monitor the implementation of the plan and modify it if required. Establishing critical steps and milestones will help to ensure success.

Army problem solving games

Capture the flag – the game helps in team building and army problem solving. Two teams compete against one another to retrieve a flag or object from the opposing team camp base and get into their camp base. This game is flexible, and ground rules need to be set before the game starts.
Paintball – Paintball is a fun military problem solving activity. You can have many modifications and variations of the paintball game. The aim is to fire paint pellets at the opposing team. Laser tag is another variation of the game.
Firing blind – Firing blind is a game where each team has a large number of water balloons. At the other end of the field has to hit the target is protected by a tarp from direct firing. The team has to hit the target that is covered. One team member acts as the observer and directs the team to hit the target with the water balloons.

Also Read: Interested in NFT – find an expert NFT consultant now!

Obstacles to problem solving

Problem solving can take time and patience, one of the best ways to solve any problem is pausing and evaluating the problem. Obstacles to problem solving are,

Misdiagnosis – Misdiagnosis is a common problem can occur due to preconceived idea, biases or judgments. Defining and having a concrete understanding of the problem is the first step in the problem solving activity. This can be difficult. If you are not careful, you may spend your time and resources solving the wrong problem and finding the wrong solution.
Communication bias – Communication barriers are caused when we are unable to explain the problem to the team, or presuming we know more than everyone else. Everyone on the team must be on the same page. You may need to acknowledge you have a limited understanding of the problem.
Solution bias – A common obstacle in problem solving is thinking there may be a universal solution or thinking the same solution can solve multiple problems. You need to evaluate a problem independently than try to force-fit a solution that worked previously.
Cognitive bias – One of the barriers to finding an effective solution is cognitive bias, or the tendency to jump to conclusions. To find solutions fast firms often end up with an irrelevant solution. This may cause more problems down the line.
Lack of empathy – Every problem is associated with human emotions or abilities. It is important to identify and recognize people affected by the problem or it will be difficult to find a solution that will solve help.

Also Read: Developing an NFT – hire an expert NFT developer now!

Famous virtual problem solving software

Traditionally watercoolers chat is a great way to bring people together and help team members interact with one another. A virtual water cooler has a similar concept where people interact in a similar virtual setting or a dedicated virtual room. It allows remote teams to bond. Software that offers virtual water coolers services,

unremot.com – provides users with a unique water cooler experience. The app provides unique solutions to remote teams.
Microsoft Teams
Informal Whatsapp group
Donut over slack channels

Blockchain & Crypto

Best Crypto Trading Tools You Need to Know About

It's 2023, and crypto trading is still waxing strong, getting more popular as the day passes. …

Continue Reading about Best Crypto Trading Tools You Need to Know About

Decoding the Layers: Simplifying Crypto Wallet Security

In this article, we will delve deep into the intricacies of crypto wallet security and provide …

Continue Reading about Decoding the Layers: Simplifying Crypto Wallet Security

Uniswap: A Decentralized Exchange Protocol for Ethereum Tokens

In this article, we will explore what Uniswap is, how it works, and why it has become so …

Continue Reading about Uniswap: A Decentralized Exchange Protocol for Ethereum Tokens

Background checks in less than 30 minutes!

Get the background checks completed for anyone in less than 30 minutes. Just enter the email ID and press start verification!

Tales of Soldiers and Civilians, By Ambrose Bierce

Why do you need unchek?

Don't have a personal office yet?

Nurture healthy conversations at your office with 360-degree virtual experiences of your real-office water coolers, cafeterias, and game zones!

...it’s not nice to talk about people behind their backs, but that’s not to say that gossip doesn’t have any social value. In fact, it has plenty. Gossip is the foundation of our species’ survival...

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, by Yuval Noah Harari

Select from many spaces.

11 Innovative team-building games for improved collaboration and efficiency

Discover creative team-building ideas that engage your employees, boost collaboration and improve efficiency. Then learn how best to implement them.

Sometimes you need to do things differently to really make a change. Take Steve Jobs: His unconventional approach totally revolutionized the tech industry. Before Apple was founded in 1976, the industry focused almost entirely on technical specifications when designing computers.

But Steve Jobs and Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak, prioritized aesthetics, user experience, and simplicity. Their approach led to groundbreaking products that would completely change the way people communicate.

If it hadn’t been for the two Steves shaking things up, the general public might not have adopted at-home computers until decades later. Similarly, when you’re trying to improve efficiency and collaboration in your team, relying solely on conventional training methods may not be enough.

That’s because it’s human nature to stick to our most familiar routines and workflows—which makes it challenging for people to adapt to new ways of working and communicating. Luckily, you can take a less conventional approach to your team’s development using games.

By infusing an element of fun, team-building games help you cultivate a collaborative and dynamic work culture and a pathway to essential skills like trust, communication, and problem-solving.

In this article, we look at a list of team-building games, exploring how they work and which skills they build. We also look at how you can integrate these into your company culture for the best results.

Want to have fun while building team efficiency? Switchboard's persistent rooms make everything from project meetings to team huddles multiplayer. Learn more .

Comparison table

How team-building games boost efficiency

Traditional training methods like webinars have their place, but they risk becoming one-sided and monotonous. Team-building games bring an element of fun to the learning process and encourage active participation—which is one of the most effective ways to improve learning retention, according to research .

Maximizing people’s chances of retaining information means they can put their new skills into practice in their daily work. So, gamifying learning and taking short breaks will improve your team’s ability to learn and become more skilled.

Team-building games also increase camaraderie, trust, and communication, because everyone has to collaborate to solve challenges and achieve their common goals. Communication is key to reducing duplicated work and eliminating unnecessary “work about work,” making your team more efficient in the long run.

11 fresh virtual team-building activities that help improve efficiency

Not only do games generally improve your team’s ability to learn new skills and collaborate with each other, but there are even specific team-building activities you can use to increase efficiency .

Here are 11 activities to try in virtual meetings and workshops—as well as in-person training sessions.

Quick team-building games for meetings

The team-building games you hold in meetings should enhance collaboration and problem-solving skills without derailing the main agenda. Here are four quick activities to try in your next team meeting.

Virtual bingo is a great way to promote friendly competition and create a fun atmosphere at the start of your team meeting. Since it’s a game most people know already, you won’t lose any time explaining how to play. But, to make sure you’re using the time efficiently, you could even tailor your bingo card to include tasks relating to your current project.

For example, sales teams could allocate 10 minutes at the start of their weekly meeting for bingo. Each week, team members complete different tasks on their bingo card, like “summarize a recent successful customer outcome for a case study” or “note down one strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat (SWOT) related to your current project.” The first person to complete every task gets a reward.

Number of players:

At least two people are needed to play Bingo.

How to play:

Bingo is easy to set up because all you really need is a virtual bingo card—you could use a digital whiteboard or even just a spreadsheet!—and a timer.

Your game can be as work-focused or silly as you like. For a more lighthearted game, personalize it to your team by including specific actions or scenarios like “Suni is wearing a bright color” or “Alex’s cat makes a cameo appearance during the call.” To make the game fun and encourage camaraderie, always be respectful and avoid poking fun at your colleagues.

You can also create your bingo card with your team’s fun facts and call out employees’ names instead of numbers. Players will need to match the name with the right option on their cards. For example, if the bingo card says “plays the guitar” players will need to check that row when you say “Andres”.

If you need inspiration, download a template like our video conferencing bingo card below.

Skills it develops:

Observation: Successful bingo players quickly recognize and identify patterns on their cards, such as horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines, which enhances their pattern recognition skills.
Focus: Bingo demands continuous attention and concentration as players must stay engaged throughout the game to avoid missing any action.
Communication: Players must actively pay attention to the meeting and look out for the situations in their cards and process them accurately. This improves their auditory processing and listening skills.
Camaraderie: Engaging in friendly competition or collaborating to help each other complete their bingo cards can promote a positive team spirit and strengthen relationships.

Role-playing and adventure games

Role-play adventure games like Dungeons & Dragons are having a comeback—and can be a fun way to encourage team building and collaboration. These games require players to think on their feet and work together to find solutions to all kinds of problems and puzzles.

Traditionally, an adventure campaign takes hours to play. But shorter “one-shot” versions are ideal for team building because you can play in bursts of 20 minutes and finish a game in 6 weeks.

Number of players:

Ideally, a group of 3 to 6 players is recommended.

How to play:

Before you play, each player creates a unique character with distinct abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. The Dungeon Master sets the scene and narrative, describing the world, quests, and challenges that the characters will face. Players then use their creativity and decision-making skills to navigate through the adventure.

You can look at online resources to create scenarios and incorporate puzzles. And all you need for the game itself is a dice.

Collaboration: These games often require players to work together as a team to overcome challenges and achieve objectives. Players learn to leverage each other's strengths, delegate tasks, and support one another.
Communication: Players communicate within the game to share information, discuss strategies, and coordinate actions. Clear and concise communication is crucial for understanding goals and making strategic decisions.
Problem-solving: Role-playing and adventure games present players with intricate puzzles, mysteries, and obstacles that require creative problem-solving. Players learn to analyze situations, break down problems, and devise innovative solutions.
Decision-making: Players learn to weigh options, consider potential consequences, and make informed choices under pressure.
Creative thinking: In role-playing games, players often create unique characters with distinct personalities, backgrounds, and abilities. This encourages creative thinking and imagination.

Virtual office board games

Games like Code Names and Jeopardy promote team bonding by providing a space for your team to switch off from work and enjoy some friendly competition. And with a virtual environment like Switchboard , where you can collaborate on the same screen, it’s easy to bring everyone together for quick impromptu sessions at the start of a meeting.

For example, you can open the Code Names browser-based app on your Switchboard room and get everyone to interact and play the game without switching tabs. This makes the game more enjoyable because teammates get to see each other’s faces as they play.

Most games require between 4 and 10 players.

Send instructions to your employees to access the relevant online platform on their devices, or add them to your Switchboard room. In games like Code Names, players cooperate to decipher clues and guess the right words while in Jeopardy, teams compete in a trivia-style format, answering questions across different categories.

Skills it develops:

Collaboration: These games often require players to work together to achieve a common objective. Players learn to communicate, coordinate, and pool their efforts to succeed as a team.
Strategy: Players develop skills in analyzing the current situation, predicting future developments, and planning accordingly.
Problem-solving: Players think on their feet, adjust their strategies, and solve problems in real time.
Time management: Players learn to make decisions within a limited timeframe and prioritize actions based on their importance.
Trust: Trust is built through open and honest communication. Players learn to share information, express concerns, and provide feedback to create a trusting environment.

Office trivia

Running an office trivia session is a quick way to engage your team and get them thinking. You don’t need bags of creativity here either—because you can limit yourself to three questions per week and do a roundup of scores at the end of the quarter.

You can also play trivia asynchronously by launching polls or surveys in your team chat. For example, create a form using an online free tool and ask people to add their names and submit their answers. Shout out the winner in the next meeting.

Ideal for teams of all sizes.

Office trivia games are typically run virtually over video conferencing platforms or a digital workspace like Switchboard. You’ll ask a series of questions and team members will respond from their devices—use the chat or an external tool like Kahoot! to collect responses. Be sure to reveal the answers and keep track of scores as you go along!

To keep your trivia game relevant, you could include questions about the team’s KPIs or company history. Alternatively, ask about industry trends and recent training to help encourage continuous learning.

Knowledge sharing: Players contribute facts, insights, and answers, creating opportunities for cross-functional learning.
Collaboration: Office trivia is often played in teams, requiring participants to collaborate and combine their knowledge to answer questions collectively. Players learn to leverage each other's strengths and work together toward a common goal.
Attention to detail: Players learn to analyze information critically and distinguish between similar-sounding options, honing their ability to spot subtle differences.
Knowledge retention: Players engage in active recall as they retrieve information from memory to answer trivia questions. This cognitive process enhances long-term retention.

Team-building games for workshops and ideation sessions

The games you play in workshops can afford to be a little longer and therefore, more immersive and interactive. By incorporating these three activities, your workshops will become more dynamic and enjoyable.

Six Thinking Hats

The Six Thinking Hats technique, introduced by Edward de Bono, involves using six metaphorical "thinking hats" of different colors to guide group discussions and decision-making. Each hat represents a specific perspective and participants metaphorically "wear" each hat, taking turns to think from that specific perspective.

Using Six Thinking Hats in workshops facilitates a comprehensive and structured approach to discussions, enabling teams to explore diverse perspectives, make informed decisions, and solve problems more creatively. You can be intentional about assigning hats, for example, you could give the creativity hat to the more process-driven leader to invite them to think from a different point of view.

Ideal for 3 or more players

The six thinking hats include:

White hat: Stay objective and neutral. Focus on facts and data to analyze known facts and identify knowledge gaps.
Blue hat: Guide the thinking process. Set the agenda, facilitate each hat to fulfill its role, and summarize the outcomes of the discussion.
Red hat: Be guided by intuition and emotions. Note any hunches or gut feelings and don’t worry about justification.
Green hat: Consider the alternatives and be creative. Try thinking outside the box to consider new ideas and opportunities.
Black hat: Be cautious. Use critical thinking to analyze potential risks and challenges.
Yellow hat: Embrace optimism. Consider the best possible outcomes of an idea while noting its strengths and potential value.

You can either give everyone an opportunity to wear each hat by dividing the workshop itself into corresponding segments, e.g. for the first 10 minutes everyone wears the red hat, followed by 10 minutes for the white hat, and so on.

Alternatively, you can give each team member one or more hats to “wear” throughout the session to get everyone thinking at the same time. Use a digital whiteboard to record ideas and observations as you go.

Skills it develops :

Critical thinking: Each thinking hat represents a specific aspect of thinking (i.e. logical, emotional, creative), guiding participants to systematically analyze a situation.
Empathy: The yellow hat (positive) encourages participants to consider the positive aspects and benefits. This hat promotes empathy by helping individuals understand the potential positive impacts of a decision on various stakeholders.
Problem-solving: The green hat (creative) focuses on generating creative solutions and alternative ideas. Participants engage in brainstorming and lateral thinking, fostering innovative problem-solving approaches.
Collaboration: The white hat (factual) involves objective and factual thinking. By sharing information and data, participants contribute to informed discussions, promoting collaborative decision-making based on shared understanding.
Creativity: The red hat (emotional) encourages participants to express their feelings, intuitions, and gut reactions. This emotional perspective can lead to unconventional ideas and creative insights.

Skills workshops and team quizzes

Encourage team members to run their own mini-workshops to develop their presentation skills and facilitate knowledge sharing. Ask them to include mini-quizzes and games to keep each other engaged and connected. You can also bring in external professionals once a month to run team-building events.

This gives you the opportunity to discover someone’s skills or reward them for what they know. For example, Zara from the marketing team is great at automating spreadsheets. You’ve seen people manually doing simple, automatable tasks like color coding cells. Ask Zara to give a 15-minute workshop on how to do it. These presentations can also happen async as the host can record themselves explaining the topic.

Suitable for any group size.

Team members take turns hosting skills workshops. These can be based on professional skills, such as verbal communication, or hobbies – for example, a craft class. Create a template structure to make it easier for individuals to run the sessions and for the rest of the group to participate.

Provide them with a quizzing app like Kahoot! to rate people’s understanding at the end of the presentation. Depending on the meeting time, you can host 1-3 presentations in a day.

Communication: In team quizzes, participants discuss and share answers, leading to improved communication within the team. They learn to articulate their thoughts and ideas concisely.
Leadership: Workshops can provide opportunities for participants to take on leadership roles, such as facilitating group activities or guiding discussions.
Knowledge sharing: Skills workshops involve sharing expertise, best practices, and insights. Participants contribute their knowledge, and the interactive nature of workshops facilitates peer-to-peer learning.
Creativity: Team quizzes can incorporate creative questions that require out-of-the-box thinking. This challenges participants to think creatively and consider unique perspectives.
Active listening: Active listening is essential during team quizzes to hear teammates' answers, discuss potential responses, and ensure accurate answers are provided.

Virtual volunteering

Volunteering to participate in virtual beach cleans or bake sales builds community and motivates team members to collaborate—and even compete!—with one another. And you don’t always have to gather your team physically in the same place to give back to the community.

For example, you can send everyone branded T-shirts and ask them to take pictures doing volunteer work for one of the approved causes. You can also meet once a month or quarter to share highlights and even give bonuses or prizes to team members who achieve certain goals.

Suitable for any group size.

Encourage employees to participate in virtual volunteering activities of their choice. Even if the activity itself requires physical participation, like a sponsored run, employees can log their volunteer hours, milestones, and experiences using a shared online space like a Slack channel. Or if you use an online collaborative workspace like Switchboard, you could set up a persistent room where everyone can check each other’s progress and meet to share highlights once a quarter.

Remember to recognize and celebrate each other’s efforts through regular updates, leaderboards, or virtual awards ceremonies to promote feelings of accomplishment and team camaraderie.

You can also start meetings by reviewing the volunteering scorecard or by sharing a slideshow of pictures of employees doing community work. This shouldn’t be mandatory and people can choose to sit out of the activity without any implications.

Skills it develops:

Collaboration: Participants learn to work together effectively despite geographical boundaries and time zones.
Problem-solving: Volunteers learn to identify and address issues that arise during remote collaboration, such as communication gaps or technical difficulties.
Empathy: Virtual volunteering often involves supporting causes that benefit underserved communities or addressing specific needs. Volunteers practice empathetic listening and understanding to effectively address those needs.

In-person team-building games

You can also build trust in the workplace by running in-person team building games. Here are three great examples that won’t take long to run.

This game is a great team-building activity that challenges participants to protect a raw egg from cracking when dropped from a height. It’s a fun way to encourage healthy competition with guaranteed laughs.

This game also allows people to think of a problem (dropping an egg without cracking it) from different perspectives. Encourage cross-functional teams to work together on the solution.

Well-suited for small groups. Try limiting the number of egg drops from five to seven.

Divide the participants into teams and provide each team with materials such as straws, tape, rubber bands, and newspapers. Within a time limit, teams must use these materials to design and construct a protective device or container for the raw egg.

After constructing their devices, each team should take turns dropping their egg containers, and the first team with the egg that remains intact wins. You can also offer an incentive for the best team to increase competition.

Collaboration: Participants discuss and share their thoughts, strategies, and concerns to create a successful design. Clear and open communication is crucial for coordinating efforts.
Problem-solving: The game presents a real-world engineering problem—designing a device to protect an egg from impact. Teams analyze the challenge, identify potential risks, and devise solutions to address them.
Creativity: Teams think creatively to come up with unique and innovative designs for their protective structures.

Human knot

Being energizing and active, the human knot works well to break up long meetings or as an icebreaker activity (we explore how this could look in the next section).

Be mindful of your team’s abilities and avoid playing this sort of physical game if there are people with any kind of mobility limitations or disabilities. You might want to try other activities rather than asking them to “sit this one out”.

Ideal for medium to large groups.

In the Human Knot, a group of people form a circle and reach across to hold the hands of those standing opposite them. The task is to untangle the human knot without releasing anyone's hand, aiming to create a complete circle with linked hands intact.

You can break the team into smaller groups and reward the team who untangles the knot faster. Play this for around 30 minutes.

Collaboration: Participants work closely together and rely on each other's movements to untangle the human knot.
Active listening: To untangle the knot, participants actively listen to each other's instructions and respond accordingly.
Problem-solving: Participants analyze the arrangement of hands and bodies to determine the most effective sequence of movements for untangling the knot. Problem-solving skills come into play as they figure out how to maneuver without letting go.
Trust-building: The game often develops physical trust as participants hold hands and allow others to guide their movements as they maneuver through the knot

Perfect square

The Perfect Square is a challenging and memorable activity that’s great for building interdependence within a team. It also encourages teamwork and communication as people will need to complete a task together while being blindfolded.

This game invites your team to create a perfect square using a rope but you could potentially use the idea to ask your team to form any other shape while being blindfolded.

Suitable for medium to large groups. ‍

Blindfold all participants and provide each team with a length of rope. Without the ability to see, team members must communicate and collaborate to arrange the rope on the ground to create a perfect square.

Make sure you have all the materials needed to perform the game. If you’re short on budget, you can ask each team member to bring a scarf or a sweater that you can use for the blindfold.

Team building: Success relies on the contributions of each team member. Participants learn to value each other's strengths and recognize the importance of cooperation.
Problem-solving: Participants analyze the shapes, spatial relationships, and angles to find the best configuration. This encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Trust building: Participants rely on each other's contributions to complete the task successfully. This builds trust as individuals support and encourage each other throughout the process.

How to make team-building exercises part of your company culture

To maintain employee engagement and ensure that the skills learned in team-building games become habits, you need to integrate them into part of your regular workflows. Here are three easy ways to do so.

1. Use meeting icebreaker games

You don't have to play a full game every time—spend 10 minutes on an icebreaker in your team meetings to encourage team collaboration and create a positive atmosphere. These short and fun sessions can set a positive tone for the meeting and boost team collaboration.

2. Hold regular team-building activities

Incorporate team-building activities regularly, whether during team off-sites, workshops, or as part of quarterly events. Making these activities a part of the routine reinforces their importance and allows team members to continuously develop their skills and working relationships and make at least a few of them mandatory to ensure involvement.

3. Create opportunities for spontaneous interactions

To make team-building exercises an integral part of your company culture, create opportunities for spontaneous game interactions among team members. You can do this by setting up persistent virtual game rooms inside Switchboard. These stay open at all times to allow your team to jump in and connect.

Create stronger processes with team-building games

Steve Jobs often advocated for breaking routines and exploring new avenues. As a result, he built one of the most revered tech companies in the world. But you don’t need to be a visionary to positively impact your organization’s performance.

Even simple team-building games break up the monotony of day-to-day work and encourage employees to collaborate in new ways.

By incorporating them into your weekly meetings and monthly workshops, you’ll disrupt any stale team dynamics and break participants out of their habitual ways of interacting. It’s a fun way to discover breakthrough insights, improve problem-solving, and strengthen team dynamics.

‍ To implement your team-building games effectively, however, you need a platform that can bring everyone together – no matter where and when they are working.

Switchboard has an interactive collaborative environment and persistent rooms where your team can have multiplayer experiences. This allows you to create a constantly connected, engaged team that learns to work increasingly efficiently together.

Want to have fun while building team efficiency? Switchboard's persistent rooms make everything from project meetings to team huddles multiplayer. Learn more .

Frequently asked questions about efficiency team-building games

What are some of the benefits of team building.

Team building benefits the whole team by improving communication skills, collaboration, trust, and working relationships. It enhances problem-solving skills, boosts morale, and increases productivity, leading to a cohesive and high-performing team. Team games also help get members of the group out of their comfort zone, and build a positive culture and work environment.

What are team-building games?

Team-building games are interactive activities designed to encourage communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and team cohesion among participants. Fun team-building activities are often used in workshops, training sessions, or corporate events to enhance teamwork and build a positive and productive team culture.

Keep reading

Musings on remote work and the future of collaboration

6 tips for how to give creative feedback

5 best design feedback tools for highly collaborative teams

Stop, collaborate, and listen.

Get product updates and Switchboard tips and tricks delivered right to your inbox.

You can unsubscribe at any time using the links at the bottom of the newsletter emails. More information is in our privacy policy.

Want to have fun while building team efficiency?

Switchboard's persistent rooms make everything from project meetings to team huddles multiplayer.

Professional Services
Creative & Design
See all teams
Project Management
Workflow Management
Task Management
Resource Management
See all use cases

Apps & Integrations

Microsoft Teams
See all integrations

Explore Wrike

Book a Demo
Take a Product Tour
Start With Templates
Customer Stories
ROI Calculator
Find a Reseller
Mobile & Desktop Apps
Cross-Tagging
Kanban Boards
Project Resource Planning
Gantt Charts
Custom Item Types
Dynamic Request Forms
Integrations
See all features

Learn and connect

Resource Hub
Educational Guides

Become Wrike Pro

Submit A Ticket
Help Center
Premium Support
Community Topics
Training Courses
Facilitated Services
Collaboration

The importance of problem-solving skills in today’s workplace

According to a 2019 report by McKinsey , soft skills are increasingly important in today's world — and problem-solving is the top area in which skills are lacking. A company or team’s success weighs heavily on the willingness of managers to help employees improve their problem-solving abilities. Team building activities targeting focus areas like communication and collaboration, adaptability, or strengthening decision-making techniques help.

All problem-solving processes start with identifying the problem. Next, the team must assess potential courses of action and choose the best way to tackle the problem. This requires a deep understanding of your team and its core strengths. A problem-solving exercise or game helps identify those strengths and builds problem-solving skills and strategies while having fun with your team.

Problem-solving games aren't for just any team. Participants must have an open mind and accept all ideas and solutions . They must also have an Agile mindset and embrace different structures, planning, and processes. Problems usually arise when we least expect them, so there's no better way to prepare than to encourage agility and flexibility.

Another aspect to keep in mind when engaging in problem-solving games and activities: There are no winners or losers. Sure, some games might end with a single winner, but the true goal of these exercises is to learn how to work together as a team to develop an Agile mindset. The winning team of each game should share their strategies and thought processes at the end of the exercise to help everyone learn.

Here’s a list of fun problem-solving activity examples to try with your team. From blindfolds to raw eggs, these problem-solving, team-building activities will have your team solving problems faster than Scooby and the gang.

Classic team-building, problem-solving activities

1. a shrinking vessel.

Helps with: Adaptability

Why adaptability is important for problem-solving: Adaptability is highly associated with cognitive diversity, which helps teams solve problems faster , according to the Harvard Business Review. Innovation and disruption are happening faster than ever before . People, teams, and organizations that can adapt will come out on top.

What you’ll need:

A rope or string

Instructions:

1. Using the rope, make a shape on the floor everyone can fit into.

2. Slowly shrink the space over 10-15 minutes.

3. Work together to figure out how to keep everyone within the shrinking boundaries.

2. Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower

Helps with: Collaboration

Why collaboration is important for problem-solving: “Collectively, we can be more insightful, more intelligent than we can possibly be individually,” writes Peter Senge in The Fifth Discipline . We can solve problems better as a team than we can alone, which means developing your team’s collaboration skills will lead to better problem-solving outcomes.

What you’ll need (per team):

20 sticks of uncooked spaghetti
1 roll of masking tape
1 yard of string
1 marshmallow

1. The goal of this exercise is to see which team can use the materials provided to build the tallest tower within an allotted time period. The tower must be able to stand on its own.

2. To make this exercise more challenging, try adding a marshmallow to the top of the tower. This team problem-solving exercise helps people think on their toes while building camaraderie and leadership.

3. Egg Drop

Helps with: Collaboration, decision-making

Why decision-making is important for problem-solving: Making decisions isn’t easy , but indecision leads to team paralysis, stagnant thinking, and unsolved problems. Decision-making activities help your team practice making quick, effective choices. Train your team’s decision-making muscles and they will become more adept at problem-solving.

A carton of eggs
Basic construction materials such as newspapers, straws, tape, plastic wrap, balloons, rubber bands, popsicle sticks, etc., tarp, or drop cloth
A parking lot, or some other place you don’t mind getting messy!

1. Each team gets an egg and must select from the construction materials.

2. Give everyone 20-30 minutes to construct a carrier for the egg and protect it from breaking.

3. Drop each egg carrier off a ledge (i.e. over a balcony) and see whose carrier protects the egg from breaking.

4. If multiple eggs survive, keep increasing the height until only one egg is left.

4. Stranded

Helps with: Communication, decision-making

Why communication is important for problem-solving: More employees work remotely than ever before. Good communication skills are vital to solving problems across virtual teams . Working on communication skills while your team is together will help them solve problems more effectively when they’re apart.

Here's the setting: Your team has been stranded in the office. The doors are locked, and knocking down the doors or breaking the windows is not an option. Give your team 30 minutes to decide on ten items in the office they need for survival and rank them in order of importance. The goal of the game is to have everyone agree on the ten items and their rankings in 30 minutes.

Creative problem-solving activities

Helps with: Communication

What you'll need:

1. Divide everyone into small teams of two or more.

2. Select an overseer who isn't on a team to build a random structure using Lego building blocks within ten minutes.

3. The other teams must replicate the structure exactly (including size and color) within 15 minutes. However, only one member from each group may look at the original structure. They must figure out how to communicate the size, color, and shape of the original structure to their team.

4. If this is too easy, add a rule that the member who can see the original structure can't touch the new structure.

A lockable room
5-10 puzzles or clues (depending on how much time you want to spend on the game)

1. The goal of this exercise is to solve the clues, find the key, and escape a locked room within the time allotted.

2. Hide the key and a list of clues around the room.

3. Gather the team into the empty room and "lock" the door.

4. Give them 30 minutes to an hour to find the key using the clues hidden around the room.

7. Frostbite

Helps with: Decision-making, adaptability

A blindfold
1 packet of construction materials (such as card stock, toothpicks, rubber bands, and sticky notes) for each team
An electric fan

Instructions: Your employees are Arctic explorers adventuring across an icy tundra! Separate them into teams of four or five and have them select a leader to guide their exploration. Each team must build a shelter from the materials provided before the storm hits in 30 minutes. However, both the team leader’s hands have frostbite, so they can’t physically help construct the shelter, and the rest of the team has snow blindness and is unable to see. When the 30 minutes is up, turn on the fan and see which shelter can withstand the high winds of the storm.

8. Minefield

An empty room or hallway
A collection of common office items

1. Place the items (boxes, chairs, water bottles, bags, etc.) around the room so there's no clear path from one end of the room to the other.

2. Divide your team into pairs and blindfold one person on the team.

3. The other must verbally guide that person from one end of the room to the other, avoiding the "mines."

4. The partner who is not blindfolded can't touch the other.

5. If you want to make the activity more challenging, have all the pairs go simultaneously so teams must find ways to strategically communicate with each other.

9. Blind Formations

1. Have the group put on blindfolds and form a large circle.

2. Tie two ends of a rope together and lay it in a circle in the middle of the group, close enough so each person can reach down and touch it.

3. Instruct the group to communicate to create a shape with the rope — a square, triangle, rectangle, etc.

4. If you have a very large group, divide them into teams and provide a rope for each team. Let them compete to see who forms a particular shape quickest.

Quick and easy problem-solving activities

10. line up blind.

1. Blindfold everyone and whisper a number to each person, beginning with one.

2. Tell them to line up in numerical order without talking.

3. Instead of giving them a number, you could also have them line up numerically by height, age, birthday, etc.

11. Reverse Pyramid

Helps with: Adaptability, collaboration

1. Have everyone stand in a pyramid shape, horizontally.

2. Ask them to flip the base and the apex of the pyramid moving only three people.

3. This quick exercise works best when smaller groups compete to see who can reverse the pyramid the fastest.

12. Move It!

Chalk, rope, tape, or paper (something to mark a space)

1. Divide your group into two teams and line them up front to back, facing each other.

2. Using the chalk, tape, rope, or paper (depending on the playing surface), mark a square space for each person to stand on. Leave one extra empty space between the two facing rows.

3. The goal is for the two facing lines of players to switch places.

4. Place these restrictions on movement:

Only one person may move at a time.
A person may not move around anyone facing the same direction.
No one may not move backward.
A person may not move around more than one person on the other team at a time.

13. Human Knot

1. Have everyone stand in a circle, and ask each person to hold hands with two people who aren’t directly next to them.

2. When everyone is tangled together, ask them to untangle the knot and form a perfect circle — without letting go of anyone's hand.

Our last two problem-solving activities work best when dealing with an actual problem:

14. Dumbest Idea First

Helps with: Instant problem-solving

1. "Dumb" ideas are sometimes the best ideas. Ask everyone to think of the absolute dumbest possible solution to the problem at hand.

2. After you have a long list, look through it and see which ones might not be as dumb as you think.

3. Brainstorm your solutions in Wrike. It's free and everyone can start collaborating instantly!

15. What Would X Do

1. Have everyone pretend they're someone famous.

2. Each person must approach the problem as if they were their chosen famous person. What options would they consider? How would they handle it?

3. This allows everyone to consider solutions they might not have thought of originally.

Looking for more team-building and virtual meeting games? Check out these virtual icebreaker games or our Ultimate Guide to Team Building Activities that Don't Suck.

Additional resources on problem-solving activities

Problem-Solving Model : Looking for a model to provide a problem-solving structure? This detailed guide gives you the tools to quickly solve any problem.
The Simplex Process: Popularized by Min Basadur's book, The Power of Innovation , the Simplex Process provides training and techniques for each problem-solving stage. It helps frame problem-solving as a continuous cycle, rather than a “one and done” process.
Fun Problem-Solving Activities and Games : Looking for more ideas? Check out this list of interesting and creative problem-solving activities for adults and kids!
The Secret to Better Problem-Solving: This article provides tips, use cases, and fresh examples to help you become a whiz at solving the toughest problems.

How to organize problem-solving activities with Wrike

If you want to make problem-solving activities more effective, consider using team collaboration software such as Wrike.

Wrike’s pre-built actionable meeting notes template helps you keep track of meeting discussions, assign action items, and keep everyone in the loop. It’s an effective tool to streamline your problem-solving sessions and turn insights into real projects.

Brianna Hansen

Brianna is a former Content Marketing Manager of Wrike. When she’s not writing about collaboration and team building games, you’ll find her in the kitchen testing out the latest recipes, sharing her favorite wine with friends, or playing with her two cats.

7 Teamwork Terrors and How to Conquer Them

Since the dawn of man, teamwork and cooperation has been the preferred method of getting things done. From the pyramids of Giza to the Golden Gate Bridge, we rely heavily on teams of engineers and architects to create such majestic masterpieces. However, where there is teamwork, there is work required to be a team. Too many voices and conflicting opinions can lead to a giant headache and bring productivity to a grinding halt. Throw in egos, politics, and laziness and you've got a recipe for disaster. Here are 7 barriers that harm the harmony of your team: 1. Anchoring Have you ever been part of a group brainstorming session where, once two or three ideas have been shared, new ideas stop flowing and the group sort of shuts down? That’s anchoring. Teams get mentally stuck on the first few ideas and stop thinking of new solutions. Avoid the anchoring trap with these 7 brainstorming tricks, including brain writing. Be sure to keep all types of workers in mind with team building exercises for remote workers, so everyone feels included in the creative conversation. 2. Groupthink This teamwork barrier occurs when a majority of the group conforms to one idea despite their own concerns and insights, perhaps due to laziness, fear of judgement, time limitations, or being subjected to peer pressure from other members of the group. Because this is another common brainstorming risk, techniques like Stepladder and Round Robin brainstorming encourage everyone in the group to share their thoughts before settling on a course of action. 3. Social Loafing "If I don't get around to it, then someone on my team will just do it for me." If you've said this to yourself, then you're guilty of social loafing. Don't pat your lazy self on the back quite yet, you might have just cost your team some valuable productivity! Social loafing is the act of putting in less effort for a team project than you would for a solo task. This forces other team members to pick up the slack and possibility grow to resent you. One way to avoid this is by breaking a project into individual tasks and holding each team member accountable for certain steps. See how Wrike can help you assign tasks and delegate big projects. 4. Unresolvable Conflict Even the most successful teams sometimes experience conflict due to differences in opinion, perspectives, and experiences. However, if there is no way to resolve the conflict, then conflict harms your project's outcome. Unresolvable conflict can be caused by unclear goals and expectations for the project at hand, so avoid it by clearly communicating goals with the team and helping everyone understand their role. 5. Confirmation Bias Confirmation bias is the tendency to only accept information or evidence that confirms your own preconceptions. This bias can quickly become a roadblock when trying to iron out team conflict or justify a decision, and it can potentially lead to the Halo/Horn Effect (see below) and compromise good decision-making. To ward off this bias, challenge your beliefs and play devil's advocate. The Six Thinking Hats technique can also help you see a different perspective on the issue. 6. Halo/Horn Effect The way you perceive an individual strongly affects how you interact with them. If they made a poor first impression, or an offhand comment rubbed you the wrong way, you may have a subconscious bias against them. When that individual voices an opinion, you might automatically be more critical than you normally would. This can work to the opposite effect too. When someone you like shares their opinion, you might have a tendency to agree. When making big team decisions, try to be aware of this bias and focus on the best outcome for the team. 7. Overconfidence Effect Your perceptions and experiences inevitably shape who you are — but they can also lead to subtle mental biases that result in flawed decision making. The Overconfidence Effect happens when you accept or reject an idea based purely off a hunch with no evidence to back you up. (In fact, studies show that entrepreneurs are more likely to fall for this mental fallacy, rejecting others' ideas because of the false belief that they know what's best.) Don't fall for this mental trap! Always research new information and seek objective evidence to combat confirmation bias (and hopefully learn something new as well). What other teamwork barriers have you experienced? We'd love to hear how you resolved your teamwork troubles in the comments!

13 Awesome Team-Building Games (Infographic)

Whether you want to do new hire orientation icebreakers or just bond your team closer together, check out our list of awesome team building games that you and your team will want to play over and over again.

6 Different Team Effectiveness Models to Understand Your Team Better

Understanding these 6 team effectiveness models can help you figure out which model to adopt for your own team. Or it may simply help shed light into what's working in your own group, and how to help improve what's lacking.

Get weekly updates in your inbox!

You are now subscribed to wrike news and updates.

Let us know what marketing emails you are interested in by updating your email preferences here .

Sorry, this content is unavailable due to your privacy settings. To view this content, click the “Cookie Preferences” button and accept Advertising Cookies there.

1-800-565-8735
[email protected]

22 Unbeatable Team Building Problem Solving Activities

Problem-solving is a critical skill for professionals and with team building problem-solving activities, you can sharpen your skills while having fun at the same time.

Updated: March 1, 2024

In the professional world, one thing is for sure: problem-solving is a vital skill if you want to survive and thrive. It’s a universal job skill that organizations seek in new potential employees and that managers look for when considering candidates for promotions.

But there’s a problem.

According to Payscale, 60% of managers feel that new grads entering the workforce lack problem-solving abilities – making it the most commonly lacking soft skill.

Problem-solving skill needs to be practiced and perfected on an ongoing basis in order to be applied effectively when the time comes. And while there are tons of traditional approaches to becoming a better problem-solver, there’s another (much more interesting) option: team building problem-solving activities.

The good news? This means learning and having fun don’t have to be mutually exclusive. And you can create a stronger team at the same time.

16 In-Person Team Building Problem Solving Activities for Your Work Group

1. cardboard boat building challenge, 2. egg drop , 3. clue murder mystery, 4. marshmallow spaghetti tower , 5. corporate escape room, 6. wild goose chase, 7. lost at sea , 8. domino effect challenge, 9. reverse pyramid , 10. ci: the crime investigators, 11. team pursuit, 12. bridge builders, 13. domino effect challenge, 14. hollywood murder mystery, 15. code break, 16. cardboard boat building challenge, 6 virtual team building problem solving activities for your work group , 1. virtual escape room: mummy’s curse, 2. virtual clue murder mystery, 3. virtual escape room: jewel heist, 4. virtual code break , 5. virtual trivia time machine.

6. Virtual Jeoparty Social

There are a ton of incredible team building problem solving activities available. We’ve hand-picked 16 of our favorites that we think your corporate group will love too.

a cardboard boat building challenge for problem solving team building

Split into teams and create a cardboard boat made out of just the materials provided: cardboard and tape. Team members will have to work together to engineer a functional boat that will float and sail across water without sinking. Once teams have finished making their boats, they will create a presentation to explain why their boat is the best, before putting their boats to the test. The final challenge will have teams racing their boats to test their durability! Nothing says problem-solving like having to make sure you don’t sink into the water!

egg drop is a great team building problem solving activity

Every day at work, you’re forced to make countless decisions – whether they’re massively important or so small you barely think about them.

But your ability to effectively make decisions is critical in solving problems quickly and effectively.

With a classic team building problem solving activity like the Egg Drop, that’s exactly what your team will learn to do.

For this activity, you’ll need some eggs, construction materials, and a place you wouldn’t mind smashing getting dirty with eggshells and yolks.

The goal of this activity is to create a contraption that will encase an egg and protect it from a fall – whether it’s from standing height or the top of a building. But the challenge is that you and your team will only have a short amount of time to build it before it’s time to test it out, so you’ll have to think quickly!

To make it even more challenging, you’ll have to build the casing using only simple materials like:

Newspapers
Plastic wrap
Rubber bands
Popsicle sticks
Cotton balls

Feel free to have some fun in picking the materials. Use whatever you think would be helpful without making things too easy!

Give your group 15 minutes to construct their egg casing before each team drops their eggs. If multiple eggs survive, increase the height gradually to see whose created the sturdiest contraption.

If you’re not comfortable with the idea of using eggs for this activity, consider using another breakable alternative, such as lightbulbs for a vegan Egg Drop experience.

solving a crime is a great way to practice problem solving skills

With Clue Murder Mystery, your team will need to solve the murder of a man named Neil Davidson by figuring out who had the means, motive, and opportunity to commit the crime.

But it won’t be easy! You’ll need to exercise your best problem-solving skills and channel your inner detectives if you want to keep this case from going cold and to get justice for the victim.

do a spaghetti tower for team building problem solving activity

Collaboration is critical to problem solving.

Why? Because, as the old saying goes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This expression reflects the fact that people are capable of achieving greater things when they work together to do so.

If you’re looking for a team building problem solving activity that helps boost collaboration, you’ll love Marshmallow Spaghetti Tower.

This game involves working in teams to build the tallest possible freestanding tower using only marshmallows, uncooked spaghetti, tape, and string.

The kicker? This all has to be done within an allotted timeframe. We recommend about thirty minutes.

For an added dimension of challenge, try adding a marshmallow to the top of the tower to make it a little more top heavy.

Whichever team has the highest tower when time runs out is the winner!

corporate escape rooms are unique team building problem solving activities

If you’ve never participated in an escape room, your team is missing out! It’s one of the most effective team building problem solving activities out there because it puts you and your colleagues in a scenario where the only way out is collaboratively solving puzzles and deciphering clues.

The principle is simple: lock your group in a room, hide the key somewhere in that room, and have them work through challenges within a set time frame. Each challenge will lead them one step closer to finding the key and, ultimately, their escape.

At Outback, we offer “done-for-you” escape rooms where we’ll transform your office or meeting room so you don’t have to worry about:

Seeking transportation for your team
Capacity of the escape rooms
High costs
Excessive planning

That way, you and your team can simply step inside and get to work collaborating, using creative problem solving, and thinking outside the box.

wild goose chase is a great scavenger hunt problem solving team building activity for work

In this smartphone-based scavenger hunt team building activity , your group will split into teams and complete fun challenges by taking photos and videos around the city. Some examples of challenges you can do in this activity are:

Parkour: Take a picture of three team members jumping over an object that’s at least waist-high.
Beautiful Mind: Snap a photo of a team member proving a well-known mathematical theorem on a chalkboard.
Puppy Love: Take a photo of all of your team members petting a stranger’s dog at the same time.

It takes a ton of critical thinking and problem-solving to be crowned the Wild Goose Chase Champions!

your teammates will love lost at sea team building activity

Can you imagine a higher-pressure situation than being stranded at sea in a lifeboat with your colleagues?

With this team building problem solving activity, that’s exactly the situation you and your group will put yourselves. But by the time the activity is over, you’ll have gained more experience with the idea of having to solve problems under pressure – a common but difficult thing to do.

Here’s how it works.

Each team member will get a six-columned chart where:

The first column lists the survival items each team has on hand (see the list below)
The second column is empty so that each team member can rank the items in order of importance for survival
The third column is for group rankings
The fourth column is for the “correct” rankings, which are revealed at the end of the activity
The fifth and sixth columns are for the team to enter thee difference between their individual and correct scores and the team and correct rankings

Within this activity, each team will be equipped with the following “survival items,” listed below in order of importance, as well as a pack of matches:

A shaving mirror (this can be used to signal passing ships using the sun)
A can of gas (could be used for signaling as it could be put in the water and lit with the pack of matches)
A water container (for collecting water to re-hydrate )
Emergency food rations (critical survival food)
One plastic sheet (can be helpful for shelter or to collect rainwater)
Chocolate bars (another food supply)
Fishing rods (helpful, but no guarantee of catching food)
Rope (can be handy, but not necessarily essential for survival)
A floating seat cushion (usable as a life preserver)
Shark repellant (could be important when in the water)
A bottle of rum (could be useful for cleaning wounds)
A radio (could be very helpful but there’s a good chance you’re out of range)
A sea chart (this is worthless without navigation equipment)
A mosquito net (unless you’ve been shipwrecked somewhere with a ton of mosquitos, this isn’t very useful)

To get the activity underway, divide your group into teams of five and ask each team member to take ten minutes on their own to rank the items in order of importance in the respective column. Then, give the full team ten minutes as a group to discuss their individual rankings together and take group rankings, listed in that respective column. Ask each group to compare their individual rankings with those of the group as a whole.

Finally, read out the correct order according to the US Coast Guard, listed above.

The goal of this activity is for everyone to be heard and to come to a decision together about what they need most to survive.

If your team works remotely, you can also do this activity online. Using a video conferencing tool like Zoom , you can bring your group together and separate teams into “break-out rooms” where they’ll take their time individually and then regroup together. At the end, you can bring them back to the full video conference to go through the answers together.

colleagues thinking outside the box with a domino effect challenge team building problem solving activity

Many problems are intricately complex and involve a ton of moving parts. And in order to solve this type of problem, you need to be able to examine it systematically, one piece at a time.

Especially in the business world, many problems or challenges involve multiple different teams or departments working through their respective portions of a problem before coming together in the end to create a holistic solution.

As you can imagine, this is often easier said than done. And that’s why it’s so important to practice this ability.

With a collaborative team building problem solving activity like Domino Effect Challenge, that’s exactly what you’ll need to do as you and your group work to create a massive, fully functional chain reaction machine.

Here’s how it goes.

Your group will break up into teams, with each team working to complete their own section of a massive “Rube Goldberg” machine. Then, all teams will regroup and assemble the entire machine together. You’ll need to exercise communication, collaboration, and on-the-fly problem solving in order to make your chain reaction machine go off without a hitch from start to finish.

reverse pyramid is a team building activity that makes colleagues think about problems in new ways

Being a great problem-solver means being adaptable and creative. And if you’re looking for a quick and easy team building problem solving activity, you’ll love the reverse pyramid.

The idea here is simple: break your group out into small teams and then stand in the form of a pyramid.

Your challenge is to flip the base and the peak of the pyramid – but you can only move three people in order to do so.

Alternatively, rather than doing this activity with people as the pyramid, you can do another version – the Pyramid Build – using plastic cups instead.

This version is a little bit different. Rather than flipping the base of a pyramid to the top, you’ll need to build the pyramid instead–but in reverse, starting from the top cup and working down.

With this version, you’ll need 36 cups and one table per group. We recommend groups of five to seven people. Give your group 20 to 30 minutes to complete the activity.

To get started, place one cup face down. Then, lift that cup and place the subsequent two cups underneath it.

The real challenge here? You can only lift your pyramid by the bottom row in order to put a new row underneath – and only one person at a time can do the lifting. The remaining group members will need to act quickly and work together in order to add the next row so that it will balance the rest of the pyramid.

If any part of your pyramid falls, you’ll need to start over. Whichever team has the most complete pyramid when time runs out will be the winner!

solving a crime is a great way for team members to use problem solving skills

The value of being able to approach problems analytically can’t be overstated. Because when problems arise, the best way to solve them is by examining the facts and making a decision based on what you know.

With CI: The Crime Investigators, this is exactly what your team will be called upon to do as you put your detective’s hats on and work to solve a deadly crime.

You’ll be presented with evidence and need to uncover and decipher clues. And using only the information at your disposal, you’ll need to examine the facts in order to crack the case.

Like many of our team building problem solving activities, CI: The Crime Investigators is available in a hosted format, which can take place at your office or an outside venue, as well as a virtually-hosted format that uses video conferencing tools, or a self-hosted version that you can run entirely on your own.

team pursuit team building is great for problem solving skills

Each member of your team has their own unique strengths and skills. And by learning to combine those skills, you can overcome any challenge and solve any problem. With Team Pursuit, you and your team together to tackle challenges as you learn new things about one another, discover your hidden talents, and learn to rely on each other.

This team building problem solving activity is perfect for high-energy groups that love to put their heads together and work strategically to solve problems as a group.

Collaborate with your colleague to design and build different segments of a bridge. At the end, see if the sections come together to create a free-standing structure!

domino effect challenging is a brain busting winter team building activity

Together as a group, see if you and your colleagues can build a gigantic “chain-reaction” machine that really works!

In smaller groups, participants work together to solve the challenge of creating sections of the machine using miscellaneous parts, and at the end, you’ll have to collaborate to connect it all together and put it in motion.

The case is fresh, but here’s what we know so far: we’ve got an up-and-coming actress who’s been found dead in her hotel room following last night’s awards show.

We have several suspects, but we haven’t been able to put the crime on any of them for sure yet. Now, it’s up to you and your team of detectives to crack the case. Together, you’ll review case files and evidence including police reports, coroners’ reports, photo evidence, tabloids, interrogations, and phone calls as you determine the motive, method, and murderer and bring justice for the victim.

You’ll need to put your problem-solving skills to the test as you share theories, collaborate, and think outside the box with your fellow investigators.

code break is a cerebral indoor team building activity

Using Outback’s app, split up into small groups and put your heads together to solve a variety of puzzles, riddles, and trivia. The team who has completed the most challenges when time is up, wins!

Can you stay afloat in a body of water in a boat made entirely of cardboard? Now that is a problem that urgently needs solving.

With this team building problem solving activity, you and your colleagues will split into groups and create a cardboard boat made out of just the materials provided – cardboard and tape.

Team members will have to work together to engineer a functional boat that will float and sail across water without sinking. Once teams have finished making their boats, they will create a presentation to explain why their boat is the best, before putting their boats to the test. The final challenge will have teams racing their boats across the water!

colleagues doing a virtual team building problem solving activity

If you and your team are working remotely, don’t worry. You still have a ton of great virtual team building problem solving options at your disposal.

In this virtual escape room experience, your team will be transported into a pyramid cursed by a restless mummy. You’ll have to work together to uncover clues and solve complex challenges to lift the ancient curse.

team members doing a fun virtual clue murder mystery

You’ve probably never heard of a man named Neil Davidson. But your group will need to come together to solve the mystery of his murder by analyzing clues, resolving challenges, and figuring out who had the means, motive, and opportunity to commit a deadly crime.

This activity will challenge you and your group to approach problems analytically, read between the lines, and use critical thinking in order to identify a suspect and deliver justice.

escape rooms are fun and unique team building problem solving activities

If you and your team like brainteasers, then Virtual Escape Room: Jewel Heist will be a big hit.

Here’s the backstory.

There’s been a robbery. Someone has masterminded a heist to steal a priceless collection of precious jewels, and it’s up to you and your team to recover them before time runs out.

Together, you’ll need to uncover hidden clues and solve a series of brain-boggling challenges that require collaboration, creative problem-solving, and outside-the-box thinking. But be quick! The clock is ticking before the stolen score is gone forever.

try virtual code break as a way to use problem solving skills with teammates

With Virtual Code Break, you and your team can learn to be adaptive and dynamic in your thinking in order to tackle any new challenges that come your way. In this activity, your group will connect on a video conferencing platform where your event host will split you out into teams. Together, you’ll have to adapt your problem-solving skills as you race against the clock to tackle a variety of mixed brainteaser challenges ranging from Sudoku to puzzles, a game of Cranium, riddles, and even trivia.

Curious to see how a virtual team building activity works? Check out this video on a Virtual Clue Murder Mystery in action.

trivia is a great problem solving activity for colleagues

Step into the Outback Time Machine and take a trip through time, from pre-pandemic 21st century through the decades all the way to the 60’s.

This exciting, fast-paced virtual trivia game, packed with nostalgia and good vibes, is guaranteed to produce big laughs, friendly competition, and maybe even some chair-dancing.

Your virtual game show host will warm up guests with a couple of “table hopper rounds” (breakout room mixers) and split you out into teams. Within minutes, your home office will be transformed into a game show stage with your very own game show buzzers!

And if your team loves trivia, check out our list of the most incredible virtual trivia games for work teams for even more ideas.

6. Virtual Jeoparty Social

Virtual Jeoparty Social is a fun high energy virtual team building activity

If your remote team is eager to socialize, have some fun as a group, and channel their competitive spirit, we’ve got just the thing for you! With Virtual Jeoparty Social, you and your colleagues will step into your very own virtual Jeopardy-style game show—equipped with a buzzer button, a professional actor as your host, and an immersive game show platform! Best of all, this game has been infused with an ultra-social twist: players will take part in a unique social mixer challenge between each round.

With the right team building problem solving activities, you can help your team sharpen their core skills to ensure they’re prepared when they inevitably face a challenge at work. And best of all, you can have fun in the process.

Do you have any favorite team building activities for building problem-solving skills? If so, tell us about them in the comments section below!

Learn More About Team Building Problem Solving Activities

For more information about how your group can take part in a virtual team building, training, or coaching solution, reach out to our Employee Engagement Consultants.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

And stay updated, related articles.

Top 10 Team Building Activities in Toronto 1

The Role of Corporate Training in Employee Experience

18 Incredible Virtual Trivia Games for Work Teams

29 Spring Team Building Activities to Help Shake Off the Winter Blues [Updated for 2024]

I love how this blog provides a variety of problem-solving activities for team building. It’s a great resource for anyone looking to foster teamwork and collaboration!

What Are Problem-Solving Activities?

These activities require problem-solving skills, which help find solutions for difficult situations.

Like any other skill, these tactics are best learnt through practice.

To make problem-solving activities worth the ride, participants have to be open-minded, listen to others, and accept alternative ideas and solutions.

An agile mindset can also be beneficial when participating in such activities because they’re based on understanding, collaborating , learning and staying flexible.

As problem-solving games are group activities, participants must be willing to collaborate and embrace agility and flexibility.

Another critical aspect is creating the mindset that there are no winners or losers.

The goal of these activities is to share strategies and learn from each other, rather than compete against one another.

The Four P’s to Problem-Solving

By following the four P’s in the problem-solving guide, one can resolve almost any problem that comes along.

Problem-solving activities begin with a discovery phase, where the problem is identified.

This is the step where you understand, dissect, and learn about the problem you’re trying to solve.

Until the problem has been well defined, you can’t move forward and prepare to form the right solution.

After you’ve analysed the problem, you have to develop several courses of action to solve the issue.

This is the phase where you generate several possibilities to ultimately decide on the best course of action for your problem.

After the problem has been defined and resolutions have been listed, it’s time to take action.

This is the step where you find the best approach and implement a plan that needs to be followed with precision.

You need to first visualise your plan and then execute it.

When the problem has been solved, you need to evaluate the plan and assess whether it could be improved for future situations.

While you should do your best to solve the issue, the truth is that there is always room for growth.

Reviewing and checking for room for further improvement is essential because it can help you achieve even greater results in the future.

Benefits of Developing Problem-Solving Skills in the Workplace

Employees are often asked to think outside the box for projects or find alternative solutions for work problems.

Problem-solving tactics are a great way to practice valuable skills relevant in the workplace.

There are a lot of situations where processes and workflow in organisations need improvement. Or, when deadlines are tight, team members have to find ways to deliver on time.

These are the exact scenarios that can be overcome if the team is able to turn problems into actionable solutions.

After all, performance is closely related to employee efficiency as achieving companies’ goals on time is crucial to success.

Having team members with good problem-solving skills means they can use critical thinking to make better decisions and ultimately increase business productivity and growth.

There are a wealth of advantages that problem-solving activities can bring to teams.

Here are a few benefits you can expect from employees well equipped with problem-solving skills:

Better risk management

Simply put, risk management skills help people know what could go wrong, assess risks, and finally take action to solve an issue.

Some people are very good at handling risk, while others are afraid of risky situations.

Whichever way your team members are naturally inclined, problem-solving techniques are here to help.

Participating in problem-solving tasks trains the mind to handle stressful situations better.

It’s impossible to avoid risk, and this is why it’s essential to be confident that your team knows how to handle risk and turn it into opportunity.

Better thinking

Team problem-solving techniques stimulate better thinking by pushing people to find progressive alternatives.

Better thinking also develops analytical skills, which help people find logical explanations for problems and identify practical solutions.

Better communication skills

As mentioned earlier, problem-solving activities are group tasks that can only be performed if participants work together.

Humans are competitive by nature which can be problematic when trying to create a cohesive team. Problem-solving skills nurture understanding and collaboration within a company.

By solving problems together, employees learn how to better communicate and listen to others.

Having transparent and effective communication improves engagement and productivity and leads to better relationships .

Increased team cohesion

If your team already has good communication skills , this will likely lead to increased team cohesion .

Regardless of your business’s profile or size, success comes from having a united team.

Team cohesion reduces anxiety, brings motivation, and increases employee satisfaction.

Being on a cohesive team means that employees work together for the same goal, and everyone contributes to the group’s overall success.

People are social creatures, so it’s imperative that everybody feels heard, understood, and included.

Efficiency / increased productivity

Exercising problem-solving activities can boost performance and workplace productivity, leading to overall growth and profits.

Having solid problem-solving skills equips employees with the ability to find efficient solutions promptly.

By reducing the time spent solving specific problems, companies benefit from improved workplace productivity , leading to better profit margins.

Problem-solving activities foster creativity and encourage team members to express their ideas.

Creative thinkers know how to find the balance between analytical skills and innovative solutions, thus providing new perspectives.

No matter how well-established company processes are, there are always situations that require alternative ways of thinking.

Creative thinking skills boost people’s confidence in putting forth unique ideas.

List of the Top 22 Virtual Problem-Solving Activities

Virtual problem-solving activities for teams are meant to challenge participants to think outside the box and find solutions to problems while also having fun. Remember that these exercises should be playful and enjoyable.

Here is a list of virtual problem-solving activities that teams of any size can play:

Dumbest Idea First
Brainstorm Ideas
End in Mind
Stop, Start, Continue
Idea Mock-Ups
Be a Character
Crossword Puzzles
Online Escape Rooms
Murder Mysteries
Virtual Hackathons
Treasure Hunts
Moral Challenge
Improv Games
Poem/Story Challenge
What Would You Do?
Lost at Sea
Coworker Feud
Virtual Code Break
War of the Wizards
Ultimate Game Show

Online problem-solving activities can be played through video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Webex, etc.

Let’s take a closer look:

1. Dumbest Idea First

Dumbest Idea First, as the name suggests, is a problem-solving exercise in which participants are asked to think of the dumbest possible solutions to the problem presented.

After all ideas have been presented, look through the list.

You might be surprised to find that some ideas are not as dumb as first thought!

Helps with : creative problem-solving .

2. Brainstorm Ideas

One of the most common problem-solving activities is brainstorming ideas with your team.

Brainstorming ideas’ objective is to generate as many ideas as possible.

After the list is complete, team members review them and decide which is most suitable for the given scenario.

There are a lot of methods to aid the brainstorming process.

You can play word games, create a mood board, play improv games, or even doodle.

Helps with : lateral thinking.

3. End in Mind

The End in Mind technique is an excellent activity for solving group problems that require participants to start with the end.

In this exercise, you have to backtrack, finding solutions for the issue.

It challenges team members to think of the “what,” “why,” and “how” of a problem, thus coming up with alternative approaches.

Helps with : analytical thinking.

4. Stop, Start, Continue

“Stop, Start, Continue” is a technique used for delivering or requesting feedback.

This problem-solving activity consists of a list of three categories that each member has to think about:

Stop: three things that the team should stop doing
Start: three things that the team should start doing
Continue: three things that the team should continue doing

This exercise aims to solve problems in new ways while also having fun.

Helps with : team cohesion, critical thinking.

5. Idea Mock-Ups

Idea mock-ups are processes in which solutions to problems are found via mock-ups.

It’s a virtual solving problem activity as you can use images from the internet that can be easily shared with the team members.

This exercise aims to have players try out a bunch of different scenarios until the perfect match for the problem is found.

6. Be a Character

Have you ever dreamed of being a character from a movie or a book? Then this is the perfect exercise for you.

By playing this group game, participants impersonate a character and approach problems through that person’s mindset.

Helps with : creativity , thinking outside the box.

7. Idea Trial

The Idea Trial is another fun virtual problem-solving activity that encourages participants to find solutions for a particular problem.

Players need to present their ideas to the “court.”

They can go through the entire process, such as opening and closing statements, and call witnesses to support their ideas.

Helps with : risk management, communication skills.

8. Crossword Puzzles

Everybody has heard of crossword puzzles, but not everyone has thought of transforming them into a virtual problem-solving activity.

All you have to do is use an online crossword puzzle to create a custom puzzle for your team.

To make it more exciting and engaging for your team, you should consider your company’s niche and your teammates’ interests.

Helps with : critical thinking.

9. Online Escape Rooms

Like in-person escape rooms, their online counterpart requires participants to escape rooms and work together to solve puzzles virtually.

Digital escape rooms provide two alternatives for players: either a Zoom room led by a host or from a specialised website.

These are significant virtual problem-solving activities that are both fun and challenging.

Helps with : cooperation, communication.

10. Murder Mysteries

Murder mysteries are story-based problem-solving activities that require participants to take on the roles of suspects and detectives.

The aim of the game is to identify the killer by searching for clues and occasionally solving small puzzles.

These group exercises are complex because they require players to be observant and search for hidden clues using logic.

Luckily for you, there are many options for playing murder mystery games online .

Helps with : observation, logical thinking.

11. Virtual Hackathons

Hackathons are events where a group of people pitch a product or service in a given period.

Even though it originated in the programming world, hackathons can be easily applied to any industry.

Virtual hackathons refer to the online version of these events, where participants work together via online meeting software to design solutions.

These are great virtual team problem-solving activities because they don’t require much organisational work.

You just have to announce the event’s theme, explain the problem when the hackathon begins, and set a timeline.

Helps with : efficiency, cooperation.

12. Treasure Hunts

Like escape rooms or murder mysteries, treasure hunts are group games that require players to find hidden objects by following a trail of clues.

Treasure hunts are fun problem-solving activities that teach participants how to collaborate and communicate with each other.

They can have specific themes or be a more general hunt.

Helps with : communication, cooperation.

13. Moral Challenge

While most group problem-solving activities focus more on finding alternative problem resolutions, moral challenges lean more towards ethics.

These group techniques are just as important as the others as not all problems are factual; some are ethical.

Moral challenge exercises are better played in a group because each participant can represent a different opinion or moral belief.

The moral issue becomes harder to resolve and implicitly forces team members to find common ground.

Moral challenges are equally important in decision-making processes as rational thinking.

Some of the most well-known moral challenges online are the Moral Machine or the Dilemma .

Helps with : communication skills.

14. Improv Games

Improv games have their roots in acting and comedy and are group activities designed around participants’ acting without a script, or improvising.

These problem-solving activities force players to keep the story going in an entertaining and logical way.

This kind of group exercise helps build collaborative skills while boosting team members’ confidence.

Helps with : collaboration, imagination.

15. Poem/Story Challenge

If most of the problem-solving activities mentioned are based on logical thinking, the poem/story challenge revolves around writing skills.

While not all businesses rely on this, it’s still an excellent exercise for groups, as it stimulates the imagination and improves public speaking.

All you have to do is ask participants to create a story or a poem using a limited word bank.

After they have crafted their stories, they read them aloud in front of the group.

Helps with : creativity, public speaking.

16. What Would You Do?

“What Would You Do?” is a hypothetical problem-solving activity that challenges your team to brainstorm ideas and react to different scenarios.

To play this game with your team members, prepare some problem-solving stories in advance, then read them one by one.

Participants have to say what they would do in these circumstances.

Helps with : lateral thinking, imagination.

17. Lost at Sea

Lost at Sea, also known as Stranded at Sea, is a team-building activity that encourages interaction and teamwork.

Give participants a scenario where they’re stranded on an island with just a handful of objects.

To increase their chances of survival, they need to rate the objects based on their utility.

Players should work individually first and then together to decide which objects are most important.

If multiple groups play this game, the moderator can ask each group to compare their individual and collective rankings.

They should also consider why any scores differ.

At the end of the game, players reflect and feedback on their choices.

Helps with : decision making, collaboration, critical thinking.

18. The Hunt

Its purpose is to challenge players to collaborate under pressure as they compete for glory.

This is a virtual problem-solving activity suitable for a business of any size.

It works best played in small teams of four or five, so players have the opportunity to interact with one another.

Helps with : team decision making, lateral thinking, creativity.

19. Coworker Feud

This game is a new take on the classic game show Family Feud, and it consists of multiple rapid rounds.

The players are asked to provide fast answers to a fun assortment of questions the host presents.

The aim is to guess the five most popular answers to win points for the round.

The team with the most points is declared the winner of the game.

Helps with : fast-thinking, communication.

20. Virtual Code Break

Virtual Code Break is a virtual team-building activity specially designed for remote players.

Its purpose is to challenge players to think outside the box, improve problem-solving skills, and leverage their own and each other’s skills.

This game uses an intelligent video conferencing solution so that teams of all sizes can play from anywhere globally.

Players compete against each other by answering trivia questions and solving riddles and puzzles.

Helps with : better thinking, collaboration.

21. War of the Wizards

War of the Wizards is a 90-minutes virtual team-building activity that promises to be both fun and creative.

To play this game, participants roleplay as powerful wizards to conquer evil forces through the power of storytelling.

They have to play mini-games and competitions, develop their characters, and make decisions together to win.

Helps with : teamwork, imagination.

22. Ultimate Game Show

In this 90-minute virtual event, players bond together as a team while playing different quizzes to win the final prize.

This competition works for hybrid teams, as well as for fully remote teams.

Helps with : collaboration, fast-thinking.

Plenty of organisations face daily challenges that affect team productivity and get in the way of attaining business goals.

While it’s impossible to avoid those situations, there are many ways to train team members to work collaboratively to resolve problems effectively.

Problem-solving activities act as educational tools that bring all participants closer as a team and help them develop problem-solving skills. By nurturing solution-generating capabilities, your team learns to communicate better, act fast in risky situations, and find creative solutions.

The virtual problem-solving activities listed in this article are excellent practices for real-life conflict resolution that can benefit everyone within an organisation.

Stefan is a Co-Founder and a President of Brosix. His many years experience as a programmer, give him an unique perspective to lead the team and build Brosix in a way to best serve the customers.

9 Simple Ways to Increase Team Productivity in the Workplace

60+ Productivity Quotes to Keep You Motivated to Conquer a New Workday

How to Improve Focus at Work: 3 Important Tactics to Increase Your Productivity

24 engaging training games and activities

Photograph of participants playing a training game.

Creating the ideal conditions for learning isn’t easy . Trainers need to balance information sharing and theory with experiential activities in order to create effective learning experiences.

Training games are a great way to engage trainees with interactive activities that help facilitate the learning process . In this guide, we'll share our favourite training activities alongside tips for engaging trainees. You'll leave with practical ideas for improving your next employee training and add new methods to your toolkit. Let’s dive in!

Design your next session with SessionLab

Join the 150,000+ facilitators  using SessionLab.

Why use training games and activities?

According to Seymour Epstein’s cognitive experiential self-theory (CEST) , our brains process and retain information in two ways: analytical-rational and intuitive-experiential. The intuitive-experiential parts of our brain are more active when focusing on specific tasks , especially those that are physical in nature or which invoke feelings and experiences. Knowledge gained through this kind of experiential learning tends to be retained more quickly and is forgotten more slowly than other methods.

The analytical-rational parts of our brain are more active when focusing on processes , synthesizing information and making decisions .

In Seymour Epstein’s theory, our brains work best when both of these parts are working in tandem . Great training often employs various methods in order to activate both of these systems and help learners get the most out of the experience.

To simplify, adult learners can learn by passively receiving information but any learning is more effective when paired with experiential activities such as participating in tasks and games.

A screenshot of a training session agenda created in SessionLab.

Training games are an effective way to bring that intuitive-experiential part of our brains online . They also help create space in an agenda and enhance the learning experience.

For best results, try pairing training activities with a discussion or debrief in order to also activate the analytical-rational part of the brain and help trainees retain and use the training material you provide.

However you use these games and activities, you’ll want to consider when and where to place them in your training agenda so you can create an effective learning flow and deliver a successful training program.

In SessionLab, it’s easy to create everything from a training program outline to an agenda for an individual training session . Start by dragging and dropping your training content into place.

Colour code your activities according to interaction type so you can build a balanced training session that caters to different learning styles.

When you’re ready to lead your session, it’s easy to export your agenda in the format of your choice . Create a PDF handout for your trainers and trainees or invite stakeholders to collaborate on your session directly.

Training icebreakers

Every training session has to start somewhere. After you’ve gotten the group’s attention and outlined the objectives of the training session, this is a perfect time to break the ice and start warming up the group.

These training icebreaker activities are designed to help loosen up the group and create connections while also creating space to begin exploring the topic of your training programs.

While it might be tempting to jump right into presenting your training materials, using a training icebreaker game can ensure that you truly have the attention of your learners and that they’re best positioned to engage in learning.

Just the facts

Getting a group of trainees energized at the beginning of a training session while also getting them to talk about the topic at hand is a great use of an icebreaker. In this training icebreaker, start by defining a topic the group is going to list facts about.

For example, for training on feedback skills, the topic might be “Facts about good feedback.” Next, invite the group to sit in a circle and have each person in turn contribute a fact about the topic.

While this is easy to start with, it can be difficult to keep going around the circle without repeating a fact or introducing an opinion or unproven theory. When someone breaks the rules of the game, another member should challenge by saying “ Just the facts!” and then the group will vote on whether it is a fact or not.

This is a great training icebreaker to get people warmed up while thinking critically about the topic at hand.

Just the facts #teampedia #icebreaker #energiser This is intended as an icebreaker before a training, but can also work as a general icebreaker with 3 or more people.

Having the group share their expectations of a training session can help create alignment and spur engagement while also giving the trainer insight into how they might best serve the group.

In this ice breaker for training, start by dividing a flipchart or virtual whiteboard into four quadrants. Then ask participants to respond with what they expect from: 1. The Training, 2. The Trainer, 3. From Yourself and 4. Other Participants.

You can have participants write their responses on sticky notes and add them to the chart, or simply ask for responses and write them in the necessary place. Check back at the end to show the group what they’ve achieved in line with their expectations.

I EXPECT #warm up #issue analysis #opening #online #remote-friendly #energizer An opening exercise to clarify expectations in any workshop or training situation

Training icebreaker games are often at their best when they encourage participants to begin engaging with the topic at hand while also sharing their perspective with the group.

Magic Box is an effective exercise that asks trainees to start by choosing an object from a pre-created box. Next, they’ll tell the group who they are, why they selected the object and what they think it has to do with the training ahead.

Participants are asked to think creatively about the relationship between the object and the workshop they’re about to undertake, creating engagement and allowing space for personal expression. It’s one of my favourite training icebreakers!

Magic Box #team #icebreaker #get-to-know #teambuilding #remote-friendly Ice breaking at the beginning of the workshop/meeting

Best and Worst

Sharing personal experiences and encouraging curiosity at the beginning of a training session can help set the stage for learning. In this training icebreaker, start by asking each person in the group to write down one best and one worst question that they want to learn about the group. For example: what’s the worst present you’ve ever been given, what’s the best advice you ever received.

Put all the questions in a hat and have everyone pick 2 at random. Go around the circle and have everyone share their answers and related stories.

In a training environment, I tend to ask participants to add a third question relating to the topic at hand or put some extras in the hat myself: for example, what’s the worst feedback you ever received or what makes you cringe during a presentation?

Best and Worst #teampedia #get-to-know #opening #icebreaker #team This activity could easily break the ice at the beginning of a workshop, enabling participants to get to know each other in a fast process.

One Word Method

Training icebreakers are great for helping your group to fully arrive in the space and relax into the training session to come. One Word Method is one of my favourite ice breakers as it’s easy to run, encourages creativity, and it can also be adapted to serve any topic or training session.

Start by introducing a topic of theme and let participants know that they’ll collaboratively create a sentence by each contributing one word of that sentence in order. The aim of the game is to create a sentence that makes sense and which also covers the subject or topic you’ve chosen.

This training game is especially effective at encouraging everyone in the group to speak early in the session and can help introduce a difficult subject in an approachable manner.

One Word Method #product development #idea generation #creativity #icebreaker #online #warm up Creating a sentence relating to a specific topic or problem with each person contributing one word at a time.

Who are you? The pirate ship exercise

Every member of the group brings a unique perspective to any workshop, meeting or training session. In this fun training icebreaker, participants are encouraged to consider their role and perspective and what they’ll bring to the training ahead.

Start by sharing the picture of the pirate ship and ask people to reflect on which character on the ship best represents them. You might also ask, “Which character in the image best represents how you feel about this training? Why? Put your answer in the chat”. The ensuing discussion can help break the ice while also getting the group to think about how they’ll engage with the training to come.

Who are you? The pirate ship exercise (dinámica del barco pirata) #team alignment #team #remote-friendly #teamwork #warm up #icebreaker This an easy but powerful exercise to open a meeting or session and get participants to reflect on their attitudes or feelings about a topic, in the organization, team, or in the project.

Training games to enable effective learning

Helping learners to learn is the goal of every educator and trainer. These training activities are designed to help create an ideal learning environment and can be used to support your main training content and get your trainees engaged early in the process.

Often, employees learn as much from each other as from a presentation, and these activities are designed to enhance employee engagement by encouraging participation and the sharing of experiences among the team.

In Robert Gagné’s 9 principles of instructional design, he notes the importance of asking participants to recall previous learnings. This training activity from Thiagi Group is a simple game where participants are asked to recall something relevant to the topic at hand and share it with the group.

Start by getting participants to stand in a circle and choose a category relevant to your topic or training materials. Next, throw the ball to a participant who must respond by recalling something they know or have learned about the topic before throwing it to another participant. You can use this at the start of a session to gauge existing knowledge or use it after lunch to help the group recall what they did in the morning.

Catch All #review #energiser #thiagi #action #closing #debriefing Here’s an energizer that gives your participants an opportunity to think on their feet and see how others act under pressure.

Walking Questions

In many training scenarios, one of the best sources of information and insights is from trainees themselves. In this training activity, you’ll invite groups to answer one anothers questions in order to close knowledge gaps and encourage proactivity in the group.

Start by giving each participant a sheet of paper at the end of a training block. Each trainee writes one open question on top of a sheet of paper. They then hand the paper to the person to their right. On the new sheet they receive, each trainee will read the question and write down any ideas or insights they might have before handing it onto the next person. The activity ends when everybody has their original sheet back, complete with ideas from everyone else in the group.

Walking questions #what if learning style #idea generation #learning This is a great facilitation technique to answer open questions of trainees with a “What if” learning style. It prevents the facilitator from answering all questions herself. With this method trainees can: close knowledge gaps find solutions for personal problems imagine themselves using their new knowledge in future and prepare themselves for obstacles

Angry Customers

The fourth stage of Kolb’s learning cycle is Active experimentation, where participants get to practice using the skills they’ve learned during the training. Role-play or simulation games are an especially effective training activity to encourage this in trainees. While the specific role-play you use will need to reflect your training topic, Angry Customers is a great example of how it’s done.

In this training game, split your team into two groups. One group will brainstorm examples of angry customer statements while the other group will brainstorm statements that might help defuse such a situation. Next, pair people from separate groups together and roleplay an angry conversation. Debrief at the end to help the group identify what worked best and how they might use these insights in real-life situations.

Angry Customers #customer service #role playing #skills #thiagi #communication Training Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) to handle angry and abusive customers is a tough challenge. Effective communication with an angry customer requires a combination of knowledge, skills, and attitudes. As a part of our training session, we use this rapid roleplay activity.

Pecha Kucha

It’s common for trainers to ask trainees to present learnings or summarize discussions in small groups during live training. Such a presentation can help enable knowledge retention and to ensure participants have a good understanding of the material.

Pecha Kucha is an effective training activity that asks participants to create a presentation with 20 images that they present for 20 seconds each. It provides a great framework for sharing information in a fast but comprehensive and visually interesting manner that can help enable knowledge retention and recall.

As an added bonus, it’s also a great way of building presentation skills and teaching employees simple ways of sharing information with other teams.

Pecha Kucha #reporting #presentation #sharing #idea generation #issue analysis A learning and presentation technique for sharing ideas

Fun with Snowballs

Creating an opportunity for participants to recall and share information while also having fun can enhance learning and create a memorable training experience for all. In this training game, start by distributing paper to each participant. Next, ask a question relevant to your training topic or material presented and ask each participant to write their response on the piece of paper.

Next, get everyone to move into an open space and have a snowball fight using the responses they’ve made. After a few minutes, blow a whistle and have each participant grab the snowball closest to them and read the answer or information out loud.

Variations for this game include asking participants to write a key takeaway or learning, or to use this at the start of training to ask participants what they know about the subject before you begin.

You might also award points for a correct answer to a question or keep a record of correct and incorrect answers so you can adjust your training materials accordingly.

Fun with Snowballs #review #energiser #team #thiagi This activity energizes the group. So use it when participants need a spurt of energy. The main element of this activity is the anonymous way in which participants provide their inputs. The facilitator can use the information gained through this activity to evaluate what the participants have learned or want to learn.

Adult learners and trainees are typically more goal oriented than child learners. Getting your trainees to think about their personal goals, as well as those of the training at large can help pave the way for engaged learners.

Triz is an effective training activity that asks participants to list all the things they must do in order to fail at their goals. For example, you might ask, “What should you do to make sure that you achieve the worst result imaginable during this training?”

By flipping perspectives, its often easier to surface key barriers to learning and create space for a considered reflection on how to engage and make progress on their goals.

Making Space with TRIZ #issue analysis #liberating structures #issue resolution You can clear space for innovation by helping a group let go of what it knows (but rarely admits) limits its success and by inviting creative destruction. TRIZ makes it possible to challenge sacred cows safely and encourages heretical thinking. The question “What must we stop doing to make progress on our deepest purpose?” induces seriously fun yet very courageous conversations. Since laughter often erupts, issues that are otherwise taboo get a chance to be aired and confronted. With creative destruction come opportunities for renewal as local action and innovation rush in to fill the vacuum. Whoosh!

Mixed Up Sentences

Passive presentations with no interactivity or space for trainee engagement can be a drag for participants to sit through. While it’s often necessary to present information in this way, there are ways to enliven the process and also reinforce learings too.

With this training method, start by creating a sequence of sentences that summarize the main points of your presentation. Next, put those sentences out of order and remove one from the list. During your lecture or presentation, invite participants to take notes and at the end of the session, split them into teams who will use their own notes and the sentences to recreate the missing sentence and also put the sentences back in order.

Mixed-Up Sentences #review #issue analysis #thiagi The use of lectures for training adults has several advantages and several disadvantages. So does the use of training games. What if we combine these two approaches in a complementary fashion? That is the idea behind interactive lectures. Interactive lectures involve participants in the learning process while providing complete control to the instructor. These activities enable a quick and easy conversion of a passive presentation into an interactive experience. Different types of interactive lectures incorporate built-in quizzes, interspersed tasks, teamwork interludes, and participant control of the presentation. One effective approach to adding interactivity to lectures involves requiring participants to review what they heard and summarize the key points. This approach reinforces learning and improves recall. Missing Sentence provides an intriguing twist to an interactive lecture that is based on the review-and-summary strategy.

People learn in all sorts of different ways. While some people enjoy lively group discussions and interactive presentations, others need some quiet time alone with the material. 1-2-4 All is an effective way of catering to multiple learning styles while also creating space for personal reflection and small group discussion.

Start by inviting participants to silently reflect on a question or topic of the training. Next, ask participants to form pairs and build on the reflection or ideas they each had. Finally, ask participants to form groups of four and discuss further before presenting their main learnings or ideas to the group. 1-2-4 All is a simple training activity but it’s also one of the most effective ways of creating space for everyone to be heard and contribute to a group discussion.

1-2-4-All #idea generation #liberating structures #issue analysis With this facilitation technique you can immediately include everyone regardless of how large the group is. You can generate better ideas and more of them faster than ever before. You can tap the know-how and imagination that is distributed widely in places not known in advance. Open, generative conversation unfolds. Ideas and solutions are sifted in rapid fashion. Most importantly, participants own the ideas, so follow-up and implementation is simplified. No buy-in strategies needed! Simple and elegant!

A wheel with four quadrants for the four steps of Kolb's cycle

Collaborative and fun training games

One of the fundamental principles of adult learning is experiential learning, which gives participants the chance to use skills and knowledge in a practical way.

Asking trainees to utilize their creative or critical thinking skills in the form of a game can help create an experiential learning experience and enliven the group. They’re a great way to enhance group dynamics and improve communication between trainees too.

Marshmallow challenge with debriefing

Marhsmallow Challenge is a classic team building game that works well in a training environment by asking participants to work together as a team and engage their problem solving skills.

Start by briefing the team on the task: they must build the tallest free-standing structure out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow, which needs to be on top. After each team has presented their marshmallow tower and a winner has been crowned, conduct a debriefing where participants will reflect on what went well, what could have been improved and what learnings they will take from the exercise.

Marshmallow challenge with debriefing #teamwork #team #leadership #collaboration In eighteen minutes, teams must build the tallest free-standing structure out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. The marshmallow needs to be on top. The Marshmallow Challenge was developed by Tom Wujec, who has done the activity with hundreds of groups around the world. Visit the Marshmallow Challenge website for more information. This version has an extra debriefing question added with sample questions focusing on roles within the team.

Human Machine

Effective collaboration is an important aspect of how groups operate. Collaboration and camaraderie is important in a training environment too, and this training game is an effective way of engaging a group collaboratively. Start by getting the group into a circle. Let them know that together, they will be creating a human machine where each person will be a part of that machine.

Start by asking one person to enter the middle of the circle while making the sound and physical movement of one part of the machine. After 5 seconds, another person enters the circle and connects to the first person, also making a sound and a movement.

Continue until everyone has been connected to the machine. In small groups, you can also deconstruct the machine one piece at a time. Use this training game when you’re looking to encourage creative thinking and collaboration in your trainees.

Human Machine #hyperisland #energiser This fast and physical group gets participants moving and working together in a way that generates energy and promotes collaboration. One at a time, members of the group become parts of the “machine”, each one making a distinct physical motion and a sound, until the whole group is working together in motion, as one human machine.

Blind Square – Rope game

Fun training games where participants need to engage their problem solving brain while working as a team can be a great counterpoint to heavier training material and presentations. In this training game, start by tying a long piece of rope into a circle.

Instruct trainees that they’ll need to turn the circle into a square but must do so while blindfolded. They’ll have 15 minutes to plan their actions but must not touch the rope. They’ll then have 10 minutes to create the square as a team while wearing their blindfolds.

This is a simple but effective training game that builds communication skills and can also be used to start a conversation about collaboration, planning and problem solving.

Blind Square – Rope game #teamwork #communication #teambuilding #team #energiser #thiagi #outdoor This is an activity that I use in almost every teambuilding session I run–because it delivers results every time. I can take no credit for its invention since it has existed from long before my time, in various forms and with a variety of names (such as Blind Polygon). The activity can be frontloaded to focus on particular issues by changing a few parameters or altering the instructions.

Helium Stick

Training activities don’t need to be complicated in order to create engagement in your group and help pave the way for collaborative learning. Helium Stick is a fun and engaging training game that is a simple and effective way to encourage presence and collaboration in the group.

Start by asking everyone in the group to form two rows, facing each other. Next, ask them to put their index fingers out and rest a long, thin rod on everyone’s fingers, ensuring its level. Finally, ask the group to try moving the rod down while ensuring everyone’s fingers remain in contact with the rod. The result is a fun, engaging game that helps trainees land in the session and create some levity in your agenda.

Helium Stick #teampedia #team #teamwork #icebreaker #energiser A great and simple activity for fostering teamwork and problem solving with no setup beforehand.

This physical training game is a fun energizing game that also doubles as an exploration of the differences between self-organization and command-control management. For any training that contains elements of group dynamics and human systems, this is a great choice of training icebreaker or energizer.

Start by getting trainees into groups of 7-16 people. Next, ask everyone to get into a circle and close their eyes. Next, they should link hands with two different people in the group and then open their eyes. The group must then untangle themselves without breaking any links. This training game often results in a lot of laughter and fun, while debriefing it can help give groups an understanding of how certain dynamics can manifest within a group.

Human Knot A physical-participation disentanglement puzzle that helps a group learn how to work together (self-organize) and can be used to illustrate the difference between self-organization and command-control management or simply as a get-to-know-you icebreaker. Standing in a circle, group members reach across to connect hands with different people. The group then tries to unravel the “human knot” by unthreading their bodies without letting go of each other people’s hands. As a management-awareness game to illustrate required change in behavior and leadership on a management level (e.g., illustrate the change from ‘task-oriented’ management towards ‘goal/value-oriented’ management).

Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts on a specific topic can be a great way to get participants engaged in their own learning and encourage proactive exploration of a training topic. Start by creating a list of items that participants need to find that relate in some way to the topic of your training.

For example, if you were running training on conflict resolution, your list might include finding a series of quotes or articles to cover each step of the resolution process, finding or taking photographs to represent four emotions experienced as a result of conflict, collecting the social media profiles of 3 thought leaders in the space, or even creating a spotify playlist of songs relating to core feedback principles.

Creativity is vital here, but the end result can be an engaging exercise that not only reinforces learning but also creates lots of space for fun.

Virtual scavenger hunt #energiser #teambuilding #remote-friendly A fun team-building energiser that encourages groups to recreate the scavenger hunt experience in a fully remote environment!

Games and activities for closing a training session

The closing stages of your training session can be among the most important when it comes to reinforcing learnings and helping your participants retain the key points of your training.

These training activities are designed to give trainees space to reflect on the session, reinforce their learnings and debrief with the group. They can be especially useful if you want to encourage trainees to take action following the training session or create a sense of closure too.

If you’re following the ADDIE model of training design , these closing activities can also help you evaluate the effectiveness of your material and provide crucial feedback for future training sessions.

Letter to Myself

The best training sessions often result in positive change, whether that’s solving a problem or enabling trainees to do something they couldn’t do before. That said, it’s not uncommon for some participants to struggle to retain or implement learnings after the training. This training activity is a great way to avoid that issue.

Start by handing out pens and postcards/paper to the group and explain that everyone is going to write a letter to their future selves. In that letter, they’ll explain what they wish to achieve by the time their future selves open the letter.

You can add additional prompts such as, “I want to remember…” “I want to make a positive change because…” or “The biggest takeaway from today is…” to help guide the group and ensure participants are well positioned to retain and use their new knowledge in the future.

Letter to Myself #hyperisland #action #remote-friendly Often done at the end of a workshop or program, the purpose of this exercise is to support participants in applying their insights and learnings, by writing a letter and sending it to their future selves. They can define key actions that they would like their future self to take, and express their reasons why change needs to happen.

I used to think…But now I think…

Effective training is all about creating positive change. In this closing training activity, participants are asked to reflect on what they’ve learned and how their knowledge or perspective has changed as a result of what they’ve learned. Giving immediate feedback in this way can help surface valuable insights and cement learning too.

First, trainees will consider what they thought or knew about your training topic before the session, then they’ll reflect on what they think or know now. Give a few minutes for solo reflection before group sharing so that everyone is able to gather their thoughts before also enjoying the collective wisdom of other team members.

I used to think…But now I think… #teampedia #review #debriefing #team A simple but effective closing activity that could lead to identify the learning point or outcomes for participants and measure the change in their behavior, mindset or opinion regarding the subject.

Artful Closer

Closing a training seminar by asking participants to create a visual representation of something they’ve learned can be an effective way to aid knowledge retention, share insights and create a memorable experience. Start this training activity by asking participants to close their eyes and think about the highlights of the session and choose one of the key lessons they learned.

Next, participants will create an abstract image to represent that learning and which captures the essence of what they’ve learned. After they’re done, trainees then share the images in small groups and try to interpret what each image represents. For a closing activity with a visual edge, Artful Closer is a great choice that can prompt interesting discussions and aid knowledge retention too!

Artful Closer #thiagi #action #debriefing #closing This activity begins with reflection, proceeds through nonverbal communication, and ends in a discussion. You can use ARTFUL CLOSER to debrief participants after an experiential activity. You may also use it as the final activity at the end of a workshop. You may even use it as an opening ice-breaker by asking participants to think about common personal experiences. For example, I began a recent session on presentation skills by asking participants to process their experiences with the most inspiring speech they had ever heard.

Magical Gifts

Having the members of your group share their takeaways from a training session is a great way to reinforce learnings and create a sense of closure.

In this paired training activity, one person starts by sharing their favourite takeaway from the training session or what action they’re going to take next. The second person listens carefully and then hands them an imaginary gift in response and describes what it is.

For example, if I say that my next step after receiving training on emotional intelligence is to reflect on my experience and prepare for a tough conversation with my boss, the other person might hand me a magical pillow to help me rest and prepare for that conversation or a megaphone to help my voice be heard. After receiving the gift, the first person shows appreciation and explains how they will use the gift before switching.

For particularly heavy training topics, this closing activity can be effective at introducing some levity and kindness while still ensuring people meaningfully reflect on what they’ve learned.

Magical Gifts #zoom #virtual #connection #listening and awareness #listening #listening and responding #remote-friendly #takeaways #closing #closing activity #ericamarxcoaching In pairs, each person gives a “magical” gift to their partner that relates to what their partner has shared with them.

Whether you’re designing live training sessions or blended learning courses , training games and activities can be an effective way to enhance the training experience and create space for experiential learning. Use them alongside tools like Gagne’s instructional design principles in order to design the most effective learning experiences possible.

These games aren’t just about using up time or giving people a break (although that’s also a worthy cause!) – activities like these can help engage participants and create a memorable experience that ensures learning is retained long after the session is over.

Want to go further? Check out our guide on how to design a training session plan and create an agenda that will set the foundation for an effective session. Looking for an example training agenda? Explore this training plan template based on Kolb’s learning cycle and adjust it to your needs.

Design your next workshop with SessionLab

Join the 150,000 facilitators using SessionLab

Vantage Rewards

A people first rewards and recognition platform to elevate company culture.

Vantage Pulse

An eNPS-based pulse survey tool that empowers HRs to manage the workforce better.

Vantage Perks

A corporate discounts platform with a plethora of exclusive deals and offers from global brands.

Vantage Fit

A gamified corporate wellness platform that keeps the workforce ‘Fit’ and rewards them for it.

Vantage Gifting

An all-in-one corporate gifting solution to delight your employees on every occasion & make them feel valued.

AIR e Consultation

AIR e program consultation to design and implement an authentic and impactful rewards and recognition program.

Vantage Onboarding

Customizable and budget-friendly joining kits to create a sense of belonging and make new hires feel at home

Integration

Seamless integration with your existing HCM/HRIS platform and chat tools.

Product Updates

Check out all the new stuff we are adding to our products to constantly improve them for better experience.

Blog

Influencers Podcast

Guides & eBooks

Webinars

Industry Reports

AIR e Framework

Vantage Rewards

Vantage Perks

Vantage Pulse

Vantage Fit

Vantage Gifting

An all-in-one corporate gifting solution to delight your employees on every occasion & make them feel valued.

AIR e Consultation

Vantage Onboarding

Blogue

Communication Games for Teams: Enhancing Engagement and Collaboration

Effective communication is the cornerstone of a successful workplace. Without a robust communication system, an organization’s effectiveness falters, hindering its long-term objectives. It plays a vital role in developing a workplace culture that is transparent and unified at all levels, shaping a cohesive and collaborative team .

Key Takeaways

Communication Games for teams are an effective way to improve and increase collaboration and decision-making within teams.
Organizations can invest in their effort in increasing the frequency of communication games .

But what more can you do besides your usual efforts to improve communication? This is where communication games for teams come into play.

In this article, we will explore a comprehensive list of communication games that you can use to enhance your teams' interactions. This list is carefully curated to promote a positive and engaging work environment while incorporating the element of fun.

What do you mean by Communication Games for Teams?

Communication games for teams are interactive activities or exercises intended to develop communication skills in a group or team setting. These games are designed to improve-

The overall interaction between team members.

Foster active listening .

Increase verbal and non-verbal communication.

Enhance teamwork and problem-solving.

Create a sense of empathy among team members.

Such games aim to develop a supportive and engaging workplace where team members can help each other. These games allow people to engage, share their thoughts and ideas, and learn from one another in a fun and dynamic setting.

Recommended Resource: 38 Quick and Easy Team Building Activities Your Employees Will Love (+How to Play)

Communication Games for Teams That Are Super Entertaining!

There are several games that you can try out to enhance your organization’s communication effectiveness. But you must search a lot to pick the best out of the lot. However, your search ends here. Below is a list of the most popular games we think will make things work for you. So, let’s delve in.

I. Icebreaker Games

Icebreaker games are ideal for breaking the ice and getting team members acquainted. They foster a casual and welcoming environment that encourages open dialogue. But where do you start with them? Here are some great examples of icebreaker games that will help you build team communication :

A. Two Truths and a Lie

Each team member shares three statements about themselves, two of which are true and one false. The rest of the team must determine which statements are false. The motive behind this game is to create a connection between the team members and spark conversation.

B. Human Bingo

A bingo sheet containing various characteristics or experiences is provided to each team member. They interact and connect with their coworkers to find someone who matches each of their characteristics, fostering conversation and discovery.

C. Desert Island Scenario

Let the team imagine being stranded on a deserted island. Create a group of 3 or 4 members. Each group must collectively decide on the five most important items to survive. This particular activity allows good brainstorming, developing teamwork, and strategic decision-making skills.

D. The Perfect Square

The idea of this game is that teams have to create a perfect square without speaking with the help of a rope or string. This game emphasizes teamwork, non-verbal communication , and enhanced problem-solving skills.

E. Picture Pieces

Each team member is given a puzzle piece without seeing the complete picture. The team members must communicate effectively to assemble the puzzle and complete the picture. This enhances the team's understanding and enables them to think outside of the box.

II. Verbal Communication Games:

Verbal communication games are designed to improve verbal communication skills, develop active listening, and increase clarity. Consider incorporating the following team communication games into your activities:

A. Telephone:

A traditional game in which a message is whispered from one person to the next sitting in a circle. The final individual delivers the message, emphasizing the need for effective communication and active listening.

B. Storytelling Relay

In this game, the teams stand in a circle, and one person begins a story with a single sentence. Each team member adds a sentence to the story, expanding on what has come before. This game promotes attentive listening, excellent storytelling, innovative thinking, and teamwork.

C. Broken Phone:

The game is similar to Telephone but with a twist. Teams form a line, and the first person whispers a message to the next person, who whispers it to the person after that. The final individual discloses the message, emphasizing the significance of clarity and the impact of miscommunication.

D. Guess the Emotion:

Teams take turns acting out different emotions while others try to guess which emotion is being depicted. Not only is this game fun to play, but it also enhances nonverbal communication abilities. The team members must convey the message through signals and signs. In addition, it improves emotional intelligence and understanding of team members' feelings.

E. Debate Club:

In this game, teams get to engage with each other in friendly debates on various topics. This encourages effective augmentation, good verbal skills, and active listening. Moreover, it fosters critical thinking while respecting each other through good communication.

Be mindful of the topics you include in the debate club. Keep them inclusive and neutral so that it does not create conflicts.

III. Non-Verbal Communication Games:

Nonverbal communication games improve nonverbal indicators, body language, and gestures. They encourage team members to perceive and interpret nonverbal cues. Consider the following games:

A. Mime Game:

The mime game is a classic one to include in the list. The teams take turns acting out different scenarios without using any words. Team members have to guess the actions and give the correct answer. The focus of this game is to sharpen non-verbal communication skills, teamwork, and creative expression.

B. Pictionary

We think this is a game everyone in the workplace knows well. This is one of our favorites, and we often try this in our free time. It’s easy to play, and the best part is that it is also virtually available. The teams compete against each other, with one person drawing a word or phrase while the others try to guess it.

The idea of this game is to foster collaboration, instill creativity, and sharpen the team members' understanding.

C. Charades

The Evergreen Charades had to make a list; otherwise, it would not have been fun. It is similar to Pictionary but without drawing. One person silently acts out a word or phrase while the others guess. The team with the most correct answers wins the game. Charades strengthen team bonding and quick thinking.

D. Facial Expressions

This game might be a new one for a lot of people. In this game, teams practice expressing different emotions solely through facial expressions. This exercise aims to enhance the team member's ability to understand their team members without any conversation. It focuses on empathy and the ability to read and interpret emotions accurately.

E. Body Language Detective:

This one is interesting. Depending on the number of people, you can divide the team into groups of two or three. Once the teams are set, each member will observe and analyze various body language cues displayed by team members or provided in scenarios. They discuss and interpret the meaning behind body language, highlighting the importance of non-verbal communication and enhanced teamwork.

IV. Collaborative Problem-Solving Games:

VC_Collaborative-Problem-Solving-Games-1

Collaborative problem-solving games are designed to increase teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. These games foster an environment in which communication is essential for success. Consider the games listed below:

A. Tower Building Challenge:

This game aims to improve effective communication, prompt cooperation, and strategic thinking of team members. Teams are given limited resources to construct the tallest tower possible within a set time frame. The team with the tallest tower wins the game showcasing their creativity.

B. Escape Room:

This game aims to lock a team in a room filled with a series of puzzles and riddles. Team members must unify and solve the puzzles to escape the room within a time limit. This promotes teamwork, critical thinking, and collaboration under pressure.

C. Bridge Building:

The teams are tasked with constructing a bridge but with limited materials. However, the catch is that the bridge has to support a specific weight. The team members must communicate and collaborate to ensure the bridge is stable and withstand the weight. In the long run, this builds out-of-the-box thinking, innovation, and team unity.

D. Minefield:

You need to create a minefield(imaginary), and teams must navigate through it. Only one of the team members knows the exact point of the mine. The rest of the team has to rely on that person’s information. This game emphasizes clear and concise communication, trust, and active listening.

E. Treasure Hunt:

This is an interactive and fun game that will help break the monotony of work. The teams involved must work together to solve clues and find hidden treasures. The hidden treasures can include small gifts and gift cards. This game improves team communication, coordination, and problem-solving skills.

You can keep grand rewards for the team with the most hidden treasures captured.

V. Technology-Assisted Communication Games:

VC_Technology-Assisted-Communication-Games-1

Leveraging technology to improve team communication in today’s digital world is vital. And to make the most out of it, consider including these technology-assisted communication games listed below.

Before checking out the games, remember that these will be most helpful for remote teams .

A. Online Quiz:

A variety of tools are available for you to conduct an online and interactive quiz for your team. The best thing about using them is that they allow you the flexibility to incorporate any topic you want.

In addition, you can generate the correct report for each team that has scored the most. An online quiz tests your team’s knowledge-sharing capability and the way they interact with each other. Moreover, it also promotes teamwork and friendly competition within the team.

B. Virtual Scavenger Hunt:

The virtual scavenger hunt is an interesting and mind-testing activity. Teams have to compete in a hunt for specific items or information online. You can list items the teams must collect, and the team that discovers them first wins the game.

This game encourages good teamwork and enhances resourcefulness while improving communication within the team.

C. Video Conferencing Role-Play:

You start the game with the help of any video conferencing tools. The team is given a scenario, and each member is assigned a role. The game ends when each member fulfills their duty and completes the desired conquest. This game enhances virtual communication skills, active listening, and on-spot adaptability.

D. Collaborative Document Editing:

Share any random document with your team using online platforms like Google Docs. The aim of this game is to test the teamwork skills of your teammates. Ask them to edit the document and check whether they were able to meet the requirements. This enhances collaboration, seamless communication, teamwork, and critical thinking in real-time on a project.

Reflection and Discussion:

Following the completion of communication games, it is critical to encourage meaningful dialogues and reflections. Encourage individuals to discuss their own experiences, difficulties, and lessons learned. Create an open communication platform where team members may communicate their thoughts and opinions about how the games enhanced their communication skills and broad participation.

Conclusion:

Team communication games provide a dynamic and interesting way to improve employee communication skills while fostering a healthy work atmosphere. Teams can increase cooperation, successful collaboration, and employee engagement by including icebreaker games, verbal and nonverbal communication games, collaborative problem-solving games, and technology-assisted communication games. Accept the transforming power of communication games in your team's relationship-building and overall success.

1. Why are communication games important for team building?

A. Communication games are important for team building because they create opportunities for team members to practice effective communication, develop trust, and improve their understanding of one another. These games promote a positive and supportive team environment.

2. How do communication games improve interpersonal skills?

A. Communication games improve interpersonal skills by encouraging team members to actively listen, express their thoughts and ideas clearly, and practice empathy. These games also provide opportunities for resolving conflicts and building stronger relationships within the team.

3. How can communication games improve problem-solving abilities in teams?

A. Communication games improve problem-solving abilities in teams by fostering effective communication, encouraging brainstorming, and promoting teamwork. These games challenge teams to work together, think creatively, and find innovative solutions to problems while enhancing their communication skills.

4. How do communication games promote active listening in teams?

A. Communication games promote active listening in teams by requiring participants to listen carefully to instructions, verbal cues, or other team members' contributions. Through these games, team members learn the importance of attentive listening, which leads to better understanding and improved communication within the team.

5. How can communication games improve non-verbal communication skills?

A Communication games can improve non-verbal communication skills by focusing on body language, gestures, and facial expressions. Games such as "Mirror Game," "Emotional Charades," and "Non-Verbal Pictionary" require team members to communicate without using words, encouraging them to be more observant, expressive, and aware of non-verbal cues.

Mrinmoy Rabha is a content writer and digital marketer at Vantage Circle . He is an avid follower of football and passionate about singing. For any related queries, contact [email protected]

We safeguard your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy

7 practical tips for creating team building activities in 2023, 10 strategies to build team morale in the workplace, 10 ways to build an effective team: a complete guide.

50k+ Downloads by HR professionals across the globe!

The Ultimate Guide to Employee Rewards and Recognition

5k+ Downloads by HR professionals across the Globe!

Hero background image of many pineapples

38 Team Building Games That You Will Actually Enjoy

Why do team building activities.

Team building games and activities are a great way to bond and bring your employees together. Whether they're done in-person or virtually, team building activities aid with coworker connections, communication and relationship formation in addition to brightening your team's day.

Not all team building games are suitable for all teams, which is why we've put together a list of some of our favorite team-building activities that are both exciting and insightful.

Quick Team Building Games and Activities

Team building games and activities for time strapped teams. All activities should take less than 30 minutes of participants' time.

#1 Magic Cane (Helium Stick)

Number of Participants: 6-14 People

Items Needed: Tent Pole (or similar --- the stick must be long, thin, and light)

Goal: The group must lower the stick until it is touching the ground.

Split your group into two lines facing each other. Ideally, you should have an even number of people on both sides, however it is still possible to play with an uneven number.

Ask your group to raise their arms and point their index fingers out. Lay the magic cane or helium stick across their fingers. The stick should be at the chest level height of the tallest participant to start. Once the stick is laying across participants fingers, tell them that their challenge is to lower this stick to the ground.

Everyone's finger must remain in contact with the stick at all times during the challenge. If it slips, they have to start from the beginning. Pinching or grabbing the stick with other fingers is considered cheating. Everyone must be standing on their feet when you start.

It sounds like a simple task, but it is deceptively challenging. At first, people will likely lift the stick or set it off balance. This can lead to confusion or perhaps even frustration among the team.

The tendency of the stick to float can lead group members to begin blaming others for the group failure. However, the group won't be able to succeed unless they shift from blaming to asking questions. The more open-minded and collectively responsible the group is, the more quickly they'll succeed.

This simple activity encourages communication and problem solving, since every member of the group is needed to complete the task. It also reinforces the idea that everyone is equally important, valuable and necessary for the team to succeed.

Follow Up Questions:

What was the groups initial reaction?

What we're their biggest challenges?

Did team work come easily or was it a struggle to get through?

What skill were used to succeed in the challenge?

Were any creative solutions purposed? How were they received?

#2 The Barter Puzzle

Time: 20 Minutes

Number of Participants: 9-25 People

Items Needed: At least 3 puzzles with 50 pieces or fewer.

Goal: The group must complete a puzzle.

Split team members into equal groups of 4 or 5 people (though not ideal, it is possible to play with groups of 3). Give each group a different jigsaw puzzle. It is their tasks to solve the puzzle, however, there is a catch.

Each puzzle has had pieces of the other puzzles mixed in at random. Explain to all the groups that other teams may have the pieces they need. Members have to strategize, assign roles and barter with other teams to get pieces they need to complete their puzzle first.

This activity offers a dual challenge: firstly they need to solve the puzzle in a short period of time, secondly they need to convince the other team to trade them the necessary pieces. This is a particularly good activity if you want to strengthen your sales team or get team members to practice negotiating and strategizing skills.

Did you assign people on your team specific roles? Was there a leader? A negotiator?

What was your thought process?

Did you plan at the beginning? Did the plan change as time passed?

What was contributed to your success/ failure?

#3 Electric Fence

Number of Participants: 5-15 People

Items Needed: Rope, shoe string, or pole

Goal: The entire team must cross over the top of the "electric fence."

In this activity, you will create an "electric fence" that teams must cross over without touching. To create the fence, tie a rope or shoe string to two chairs or other objects. The rope should be elevated to about waist-height. Position the team on one side of the rope.

To get from one side to the other, members must go over, not under, one at a time. They also must be touching another member of the group with at least one hand at all times. Participants should not make any contact with the electric fence at anytime. If they violate a rule, they must start the exercise all over again.

Because of the physical nature of this game (often team members will need to lift each other over the rope) it is not well suited for people with back, knee, or ankle injuries.

This activity motivates people to brainstorm ideas, problem solve and put their proposed plans into action. It also requires a high degree of trust and communication due to its physical demands.

What was your biggest challenge crossing the fence?

What did the group have to do or believe to be successful?

What was one positive thing you learned about your teammates in the course of this exercise?

What would you do differently next time?

#4 Blind Drawing

Time: 25 minutes

Number of Participants: 4-30 People

Items Needed: Paper, writing utensils, A selection of everyday items (bottle cap, coin, key etc.) or pictures.

Goal: The artist must draw an item based only on the team's description of it.

Similar to Charades, but with a twist. Blind Drawing is a team-building activity that can be done in groups of 4-6. Each team must appoint one artist. Give the artist drawing materials and sit them with their back facing the rest of the team so they're not able to see the group.

The group then picks an item or picture from those supplied. They must successfully get the artist to draw this item or picture in 3 minutes. However they aren't allowed to tell the artist what the item is; they can only give indirect descriptions.

Say the team chose a photo of a bee. They can't say 'draw a bee' however they can give hints like 'buzz', 'yellow and black,' 'honey maker,' etc. The artist can not ask any questions and must draw only based on the descriptions.

When times up, groups should compare their drawings. It can be comical to see how badly they can turn out. The game can get people laughing and highlights how difficult giving instructions can be and how important it is to communicate clearly.

Was the artist confused? What was their thinking process?

Was there any descriptions that confused the artist?

What methods of communication worked the best for your team?

What leadership was demonstrated during the challenge?

What did you learn from the challenge?

#5 Reverse Charades

Time: 30 Minutes

Number of Participants: 4-20

Items Needed: Smart phone, Reverse charades application or board game Goal: Teams use 60 second rounds to act out as many words as possible while only one person guesses.

In a normal game of charades, one person from a group stands up and acts out a word or phrase while the rest of the team tries to guess. However, in reverse charades, the scenario is flipped. The rest of the team must work together to act out a word or phrase while one person has to guess. You can play the box game version or download the mobile app.

In Reverse Charades, it is necessary for team members to communicate with each other. Because there is one person is guessing and everyone else is acting, everyone is involved throughout the entire game, making it a good pick for shyer or attention avoidant team members. No one can sit back while a few take on the challenge.

Did you work as a team to act out the phrase?
Was it hard to get everyone on the same page?

#6 Sneak a Peek

Number of Participants: 2-20

Items Needed: Building materials (clay, toothpick, plasticine, legos) Goal: Recreate an object out of building materials only going off a verbal description.

In this game, divide the group into multiple teams. One person from each team is selected to view a hidden object or sculpture. They only have 10 seconds at a time to peek at the sculpture and must relay the information that they see to the rest of their group. The group must try to recreate the sculpture based on the peek person's description.

Players must trust the team member to describe it accurately and listen to their instructions. It can help break down management barriers if you select a lower-level person as the person to view the sculpture. In a different position than they are accustomed to, it pushes them to adjust, direct a team and communicate clearly.

Did you successfully recreate the object?
Was there any bit of the description that confused you?
When did you benefit most from working as a team?

#7 Conducted Story

Time: 15-20 Minutes

Number of Participants: 4-25

Items Needed: None

Goal: Create an interesting story one sentence at a time.

To do a Conducted Story, groups stand in a circle. One person may act as the conductor, who is responsible for moving the story along. The first person starts the story with a sentence like, "Mike went to the supermarket because..." The next person continues the story, "He needed eggs to bake a cake for.." The story continues on like this until it reaches the last person in the circle or goes around the circle a few times, depending on your group size.

The conducted story is a listening exercise that requires every team member to pay attention to what the others have said. It also stresses the importance of telling a seamless story and that unity and strong communication are needed to do that.

Did you find it difficult to come up with sentences?
When the story didn't go the way you thought it would, how did you pivot?
Was it hard to keep the story continuous?

#8 Swedish Story

Time: 15-30 Minutes

Number of Participants: 3-25

Items Needed: None

Goal: To tell an entertaining story while incorporating team suggestions.

This is another activity that combines storytelling and teamwork but with a twist. People work in pairs or small teams of no more than four. One person is the storyteller while the others are the word givers. The word givers start off by giving a title that the storyteller must start talking about.

Then, as they are speaking, givers yell random words that storytellers must incorporate. The key is that the words should be unrelated to the topic to make it more challenging and interesting. For instance, in a story about, "Visiting the City," word givers should avoid relevant words like, "taxi", "skyscrapers", and "subway". Instead, they shout out unrelated words like, "coconuts", "T-Rex", "Big Foot", or "lumberjacks". You can see a combination of Swedish Story and Conducted Story here:

Storytellers will be put on the spot and have to think fast. It drives them to actively listen to the words the other members say and insert them into the storyline.

Did coming up with a story come naturally or did you find it to be a struggle?

Did your teammates suggestions help or hinder?

Do you prefer being the story teller or the word giver?

Number of Participants: 3-15

Items Needed: Rope/String/Bandanas

Goal: Complete a goal while team's hands are tied together.

In this activity, divide groups up into teams of 2 to 4. Form members into circles facing each other and use rope or shoe strings to tie their wrists to their neighbours wrist. Then, give them a task that they must complete together with their hands tied.

A few examples of tasks that you can use are:

Make a sandwich.

Tie a ribbon.

Navigate through an obstacle course.

Complete a jigsaw puzzle.

Wrap a gift.

Because everyone's hands are tied, it will require the effort of each person to complete the task. The constraints can increase their creativity and push them to think outside-of-the-box. This will also require good and constant communication.

Was it difficult to complete the task?
How did everyone contribute to achieving the task?
What didn't work in terms of communication? What did work?

#10 Bounden

Time: 5-20 Minutes

Number of Participants: 2

Items Needed: 1 smart phone for 2 people

Goal: Complete a dance with another person.

Bounden is a mobile dance game designed to be played with partners with choreography by the Dutch National Ballet. A pairs holds a smartphone or tablet while instructions appear on the screen.

Holding opposite ends of the device, you tilt the phone around a virtual sphere following a path of rings, resulting in players swinging their arms and twisting their bodies. Sensors in the phone detect if the right moves are made.

This can be used as a great icebreaker for small groups. It also requires people to pay close attention and follow the instructions. As they continue, the moves can get more fast-paced or difficult, so they'll have to stay in sync and keep communicating to win.

Did you struggle as it got faster?

What types of communication did you use?

Was there anything you picked up on from your partner's non-verbal communication?

#11 Game of Possibilities

Time: 10-15 Minutes

Items Needed: Various random objects, one per each participant

Goal: Come up with alternative uses for everyday objects and have team members guess said uses.

Each participant is given an object and must demonstrate an alternative use for it. You can use anything from a basketball or plastic bag to a hula hoop or stapler.

Give the participant one-minute to silently act out their alternative use for the object; for example, a stapler could be used as a fork or a trumpet. While they're acting, others in the group try to guess what they're mimeing. Every person who correctly guesses the alternative use gets a point. Once the minute is over, the next person will do the same and so on.

The Game of Possibilities is a great way to bring out your team's creativity and quick thinking as well as a fun way to boost team creativity and innovation.

What was the most creative use someone came up with?

Did you struggle to come up with alternative uses?

Did it get easier over time?

#12 Dance Party

Time: 30 minutes

Number of Participants: 2-16

Items Needed: iPhone, Dance Party ™ Application

Goal: Closely mimic movements of dancers to get points.

Although one of the most effective and quickest ways to bring someone out of their comfort zone is to get them to dance, dancing can be uncomfortable for people who shy away from attention. Dance Party solves this issue by having up to 4 participants dance at once.

You can download the Dance Party app from the App Store and set it up in your office. Players mimic the dance moves that the avatar performs on the screen. Encourage members to form teams and compete.

Dancing as a group takes the pressure and embarrassment out of dancing. Dance Party fosters healthy competition and energizes teams. Plus, the physical activity can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Follow Up Questions:

Was there anyone who felt uncomfortable dancing?

Did it help to dance with others?

What's something you learned playing this game?

#13 Heads Up!

Time: 20-50 Minutes

Number of Participants: 2-10

Items Needed: Smartphone

Goal: Guess the word displayed on participants phone

You may have seen "Heads Up!" being played on the Ellen Show. It is a mobile app available for download on Android and iOS devices, in which one player puts the phone on their forehead, the rest of the players can see the word, celebrity, or other category on the card, but it is hidden from the person holding it. He or she has to guess the item on the card based on clues from their team.

Although it is a fun app usually associated with parties, it can be perfect for office team-building. The best part about the game is that you can use the preloaded decks or you can create your own decks. Make a deck that relates to your company or industry and test their knowledge while having some fun.

Outdoor or Large Indoor Space Team Building Games and Activities

#14 minefield.

Time: 20-30 Minutes

Items Needed: Blindfold, masking tape, random assortment of items (for the mine field)

Goal: Team members must guide a blindfolded person through a minefield with only their words.

Minefield can be set up inside or outside, but make sure to clear the area to avoid any accidents. Place "mines" or objects in an obstacle area and mark a finish line with masking tape. Mines can be anything from styrofoam cups to cones, as long as they are soft with no rough edges.

The member that is going through the field, or obstacle area must be blindfolded. The other members of the team direct them through the minefield by giving them verbal instructions. If they hit an object, they must start over. The first team with all members across the minefield wins.

It can be difficult for some to trust their team members or to rely on someone else to help them reach a goal. Some may think they have to do it on their own. Minefield is an activity designed to foster trust in teams. It can help members that are resistant to collaboration become more open.

What was the most difficult part about giving instructions? What about receiving instructions?

How important was trust and communication?

What style of communication was the most effective? What didn't work?

#15 Hole Tarp

Time: 14-45 Minutes

Number of Participants: 8-20

Items Needed: Tarp, 1-3 Balls

Goal: Guide a ball around tarp without letting it fall into a hole

Thought it may remind you of an activity you did in gym class, Hole Tarp can be a lot of fun, even for adults. It can be done with a tarp or plastic sheet and a few tennis balls.

First you must cut one or a few holes into the tarp. Once this is done, place your team evenly around the tarp. Have each member hold the edge with both their hands. Instruct your team to shake the tarp so it begins moves around like a wave. Once it is moving, throw in a ball.

Participants must navigate the ball around the tarp for the longest possible period without having the ball fall through one of the holes. If the ball falls through a hole or off the side of the tarp, your team must restart the game.

Alternatively, you can have the team guide the ball, circling each hole. The team wins the game when they successfully navigated the ball around the circumference of each tarp without having it fall into any of the holes.

Everyone on your team has to keep moving to keep the ball rolling. If someone stops, the ball will drop. This game relies on constant communication to achieve its final goal

How successful do you think you were?

Was there any forms of communication that worked better than others?

Did you assign a leader (formally or informally)? Did that help or hinder your progress?

#16 Lava Flow

Time: 25 Minutes

Number of Participants: 6-14

Items Needed: Items that can be used as platforms (milk crates, fabric square, tires, baseball base), 2 ropes or 4 cones

Goal: Cross the floor or ground by maneuvering across different objects.

If the phrase "the floor is lava!" brings back happy memories of your childhood, you'll like this team-building game. Lava Flow, also called River Crossing, is a game in which a group must cross the river of lava by jumping and maneuvering across different objects.

It's the team's task to figure out how to get the entire group from one side of the lava field to the other without touching the ground. The group should be given a limited number of objects, 2 or 3, that way they have to be moved and shared each time someone crosses.

If someone touches the floor at any point, then they will get burnt and must start over. The first team to cross the river with all members intact are the winners.

What was the hardest part of completing the task?

Did you have to start over at any point?

What could you have done to cross the Lava faster?

#17 Scavenger Hunts

Time: 1-3 Hours

Number of Participants: 6-50 People

Items Needed: Scavenger hunt list, smartphones (optional)

Goal: Gather as many items on the list within a set period of time.

Scavenger hunts are one of the oldest ways to get people to interact and collaborate. But, there are still one of the most effective and fun. Smartphones and apps have made it possible to do scavenger hunts anywhere. You can even add in photo or video challenges and share an album within the organization.

You can do a simple scavenger hunt and keep it in the office or take it outdoors, which can be much more exciting. Create a list of items that groups must collect or tasks that they have to complete. They can be goofy, as long as it's possible to complete.

Some examples are: "Take a selfie with someone wearing a cat shirt" or "Grab a take-out menu and a fortune cookie from a Chinese restaurant." Set a checkpoint for people to meet when they finish.

Did anyone get all the items?

What was the most difficult item to get?

What was the most fun item to get?

#18 Spider Web

Time: 40 Minutes

Number of Participants: 5-16 People

Items Needed: Twine/Rope , 2 vertical poles (2 trees, soccer posts, etc.)

Goal: Get everyone through a web of rope without touching the rope

Do you remember all those spy movies with the intricate laser security systems people had to maneuver through? Spider Web is kind of like that.

Create a maze of lines and shapes by stringing twine between vertical 2 poles. The end result should resemble a spider's web with some larger, easier holes and some smaller more difficult gaps. Teams must cross the spider web to reach the other side without touching the string or going in the same shapes as anyone before them.

The challenge gets harder as more people cross to the other side and requires everyone to remember and communicate with each other.

Did you start off with a strategy?

What did you learn as you got more people through the web?

Did your strategy change as you went along?

#19 Balloon In Water

Number of Participants: 4-40 People

Items Needed: Buckets, Balloons, Bricks, Disposable straws, Binder clips, Plastic Bags, String, Tape, Scissors

Goal: Submerge a ballon in a bucket of water using only the supplies given

Balloon in water is a great way to see how your team solves problems together, particularly when faced with limited resources. Each group must immerse an inflated balloon in a bucket of water for a minimum of 5 seconds. They can only use the provided materials to complete the activity.

Each group gets:

Bucket of water
5 disposable straws
5 paper clips
3 binder clips
1 plastic bag
String (20 cm)
Tape (20 cm)

The brick goes in the bottom of the bucket of water. Teams have a minute to strategize and flesh out their plan and only 5 minutes to do the activity.

Only the provided materials can be used during the challenge. The 3 binder clips and inflated balloon given to the team cannot be altered in any way. Before starting the activity, the team has one minute to plan and they have to plan without touching the materials.

After planning, the team is given 5 minutes to execute their plan. The balloon must be fully immersed in the water before the 5 minutes is over. The balloon must remain immersed for at least 5 seconds, and the team must notify the trainer(s) when they are ready to be timed.

Did your first plan work?

How did you change your plan as time went along?

Did you have a leader? How were decisions made?

Did you have any disagreements? How did you resolve them?

#20 Leaky Pipe

Items Needed: Water, Buckets, Several cups, 2 Pipes with holes drilled in them, and 2 Ping pong balls

Goal: Teams must retrieve a ping pong ball from the pipe by filling it up with water and floating the ball to the top.

This game can get a little messy, so it's recommended for outside. Leaky Pipe is a highly interactive activity that requires groups to work fast and efficiently together. You'll need water, buckets, several cups, 2 pipes with holes drilled in them, and 2 ping pong balls.

To win, teams must retrieve a ping pong ball from the pipe by filling it up with water and floating the ball to the top. Participants will need to work together using the cups to carry the water from the bucket to the pipe, relay race style with cups of water to fill it.

The pipe has holes drilled in it, so they will have to plug the holes as the water gets higher. To complete the challenge, each team will receive a bucket of water (which is placed 10 metres away from the pipe) and several cups. Remember to set a countdown, so they are racing against the clock.

Did you make a plan before you went to the bucket?

How did you decide who was doing what task?

What was the hardest part of this activity?

Photo of a group of bodyguards at the beach

Ice Breaker Team Building Games and Activities

#21 group juggle.

Time: 10-15 Minutes

Number of Participants: 15-20

Items Needed: Ball Goal: Have every participant say their name

For new groups, check out an icebreaker and memory game called Group Juggle. Participants form a large circle facing each other. If you have a large group, break into groups so there are no more than 20 people in each.

Throw a ball to one person. They will throw it to someone else, but must say that person's name first. The ball goes around the group like that until a pattern starts. Once the group seems comfortable, throw in more balls to increase the difficulty.

Does anyone remember everyones name?

Is there anyone who's name you still don't remember?

#22 Grab Bag Skits

Time: 50 Minutes

Items Needed: Bags, Random objects

Goal: Create a 10 minute skit based on random items in a bag

Acting and improv exercises can be a humorous and energizing way to bring your team together. Grab Bag Skits is a short activity in which teams will get out of their comfort zones by creating fun skits.

Split the group into teams of 3 to 8 and have each team choose a bag. They don't know what is inside, but it is stuffed with unrelated and random objects.

Each team is given 10 minutes to put together a 2 to 3 minutes skit that uses each of the items. Every person in the group must take on a speaking role. Encourage groups to be as creative as possible. For example, they can use an apple as a meteor or a paintbrush as a witch's broom. Each team will preform their skit for the group.

Although some individuals may be more introverted, Grab Bag Skits can encourage them to get out of their comfort zone and connect with colleagues.

What did you enjoy about this activity?

Did you learn anything about others in your group?

Was someone acting as a director? How about a story writer?

#23 Group Order

Time: 15 Minutes

Number of Participants: 5-35

Goal: Have the team correctly line up in order of a specific criteria.

Ask the group to line themselves in order based on certain criteria. Make it more challenging by setting a rule that members can't speak to each other. You can do this as a get-to-know-you-better activity. Some examples are by:

As members move around the room to organize themselves in order, you'll notice how they communicate to complete the task and who takes on the role of organizers or leaders.

Follow Up Questions

Did you make any assumptions when you were lining yourself up?

Did you learn anything new about your team members?

Did anyone take on the role of leader?

Virtual Team Building Games and Activities

#24 evil apples.

Time: 25 minutes to an hour

Items Needed: Smart phone (one per each participant)

Goal: To make others laugh while collecting 7 cards to win the game.

Evil Apples is a mobile app inspired by the party game, Cards Against Humanity. If you are unfamiliar with Evil Apples/ Cards Against Humanity, the idea is that one person has a game card that has a sentence which missing a word. Other players submit cards anonymously to fill in the blank. The person with the game card chooses the best, and often the funniest response.

Players will bond over laughs and may appreciate the creativity of other group members. You will need to be cautious how you use it --- some cards can be considered inappropriate or offensive (which for many is the fun of the game). However, you can download different decks that are more work-appropriate or use other card apps to create your own decks.

#25 Drawful

Number of Participants: 3-8 Players

Items Needed: Smart phone or tablet, Jackbox games , video calling software

Goal: Every player will make a drawing based on a prompt. Players then submit a title for these drawings and try to pick out the real title from the fake ones.

Drawful is the perfect solution for remote teams. It can easily be played over Zoom or other video calling software, as well as in person.

In Drawful, each player receives an unusual prompt they need to try and draw on their phone in a limited amount time. After someone finishes and submits their drawing, everyone else submits a title anonymously that could fit the other player's drawing. These titles can be humorous or serious, it's up to each player. The goal is to find the correct drawing prompt while fooling others into selecting decoy answer. Bonus points are awarded to the decoys that are particularly clever or funny.

To play, buy and install Jackbox Party Games or Drawful in Steam. Create a video meeting with team members and share your screen. Start the game! Every player uses their phone or tablet as a controller, so it's important that everyone has access to a device. The game will run everyone through the instructions before playing so everyone viewing the screen share will get the gist.

#26 Pandemic

Time: 1 Hour

Number of Participants: 2-5

Items Needed: Each participant needs a mobile device.

Goal: Work together to save the world from a growing pandemic.

Based on the cooperative board game, the Pandemic mobile app centres around teams working together to fight and cure deadly diseases. Each player has a specific role that they must fill in order to succeed. Roles can be anything from an engineer building satellites so the CDC can communicate to a scientist collecting data and samples to test for a cure.

The premise for the game is the perfect setup to teach risk management and foster teamwork. It shows that every role is needed to reach the long-term and tough goals.

Did you assign a leader?

Was there any disagreements? How did you resolve them?

Could you have done anything better?

#27 Carcassonne

Number of Participants: 2-6 People

Items Needed: PC/Mac or Mobile Device or Nintendo Switch

Goal: Score the highest number of points while laying tiles.

Another board game turned mobile app, Carcassonne focuses on laying tile to strategically gain control of map's cities, fields and other terrain with the end goal of earning the most points. The game is best played in groups of four players and as a pass-and-play for teams. Everyone can also play together or remotely on their own device.

With each new tile that is laid, individuals must adjust their strategy. It can get people thinking about how to formulate strategies and use logic to reach long-term goals.

Did you follow a short or long term strategy?

Did other player's moves change your strategy?

What do you think you need to do to be able to win the next game?

#28 Among Us

Time: 5-50 Minutes

Number of Participants: 4-10 People

Items Needed: Smart phone, tablet or PC/MAC (one per each participant)

Goal: To complete all tasks before being killed by the imposter.

Among Us is a multiplayer game that combines strategy with sci-fi. Individuals are assigned roles: either as one of the crew members on a spaceship whose goal is to complete their assigned tasks or an imposter who poses as a crew member and whose goal is to kill the majority of the crew members while sabotage the mission.

Similar to games like Mafia and Werewolf, the crew will gather after a dead body is fond to discuss who everyone believes may be the imposter. At the end of these gatherings, someone will be voted off the spaceship.

Players will find there's a strategy to sticking together with other crew members and collaboration is necessary to complete all tasks and find the imposter. Communication is also key to winning the game.

What strategy worked? Which one didn't?

What role did trust play in your game?

How important do you think communication is to winning the game?

#29 Order & Chaos 2: Redemption

Time: 1-100 Hours

Number of Participants: 2-Unlimited

Items Needed: Smart phone or table, Order & Chaos 2: Redemption

Goal: Team up and go on quests.

A fantasy MMORPG game like Order & Chaos 2: Redemption can bond your team together as they go on quests and develop strategies to overcome challenges. It can be download on Android or iOS devices. People can communicate, barter, form alliances and show what they are capable of when they work as a team.

Playing a fantasy multiplayer RPG game may seem like an unconventional way to build your business team, but it can foster real-world teamwork. It also taps into the imagination of your members and their ability to communicate.

Team Building Games and Activities

Team building games and activities for teams with more time available. All activities should take between 30-60 minutes of participants time.

#30 Bridge Build

Number of Participants: 8-16 People

Items Needed: Anything they could use to build a bridge. Some suggestions: tape, paper, marshmallows, straws, Legos, popsicle sticks or Jenga blocks.

Goal: Have two groups independently build bridge halves that must fit together.

To tap into your team's creativity and communication skills, try bridge build.

Divide into two different teams. Each must build half of a bridge with the materials provided. The goal is for the two bridges to have similar or identical design and be able to fit together when finished. The challenge is that the teams must be separated so that they can't see the other team or what they are building. But, they are allowed to communicate verbally or through chat (e.g. through Slack).

You can give them anything as building materials including: dry noodles & marshmallows, straws, Legos, popsicle sticks or Jenga blocks. Depending on what you use, you may want to also supply them with tape, paper and pens.

This exercise is good for developing communication, creative thinking, and leaderships skills.

What was the hardest part of this challenge? How did you overcome that?

Who was responsible for communicating designs between the teams?

When it came to communication, what worked the best?

Did you miscommunicate at any point? How did you fix miscommunications and get back on track?

#31 What's my name?

Time: 40 minutes

Items Needed: cue cards, post-its or scraps of paper, pens

Goal: Participants must guess the name on their forehead using only yes or no questions.

If you have ever played the game "Heads Up", you'll be familiar with What's My Name.

Create a set of names, which can be celebrities and icons like Beyonce or Mickey Mouse or types of professions like actor, football player or doctor. You can use Post-It notes or tape and small slips of paper.

Have each person place a name on their forehead. Make sure that they can't see who it is. Set a timer and instruct everyone to move around the room asking different people yes or no questions until they guess correctly or time runs out.

This gets people to move around the room and interact with people they may not spoken with before. It also makes them more aware of stereotypes and categorizing others based on certain characteristics.

Was there anyone who didn't guess their name?

Did you talk to someone you hadn't spoken with before?

#32 Company Concentration

Time: 45-60 Minutes

Number of Participants: Unlimited

Items Needed: Cue or index cards

Goal: Find pairs

Similar to "Concentration", in which you flip over cards two at a time to try to find matching pairs, this activity focuses on learning and memory.

You can create cards with photos and names of team members or with company information like products, logos, and values. Face these cards down on a table and then break into teams.

Each team must find the pairs in the cards while only facing 2 cards up at a time. Time each group and whichever finds all the matches the fastest is declared the winner. Company concentration teaches employees more about your business while playing a fun game.

#33 All the News

Number of Participants: 5-20

Items Needed: Flip cart or white board, Markers

Goal: Come up with newspaper headlines that describe company or department achievements in the future.

With this team-building exercise, you can boost creativity and get an inside look at how your employees see the future of your business. To do All the News, you just need a few newspapers, whiteboards, markers, pens and paper. Each team is given a newspaper and asked to come up with different headlines that cover what the company or department will be doing in the near future. They can create as many as they want and as far in the future as they want.

Groups share their headline ideas with the rest of the team and get feedback. All the News is useful for entrepreneurs and business owners that want to get an idea of the company's future direction and start setting some new goals.

Did you all agree on the headline?

Did anyone have a conflicting view of the future?

What steps do you think the company/department would need to take to make this headline a reality?

Track team time with Toggl Track

Toggl Track is the time tracker that can slot into any team's workflow. Get crystal-clear insights into what your team members do with their time and see which team members are overworked, and which ones can take on more.

3D illustration of stopwatch with a Toggl Track icon

#34 Murder Mystery Dinner

Time: 1-4 Hours

Number of Participants: 5-50

Items Needed: Character descriptions, Clues, Dinner

Goal: Work together to find who the murderer was

A Murder Mystery Dinner is an interactive activity that will require everyone to get involved. There are several companies that will design murder mystery dinners specifically for business groups. Actors will provide an entertaining story and set clues in place for your team to decipher.

But, you can also host your own murder mystery dinner party which may be more cost-effective and intimate. Learn more about Murder Mystery Dinners here . Either way, your group will rally around the main goal─solving the mystery and finding the culprit. It's ideal for problem-solving and critical thinking.

Did you suspect the murder?

Was there anything you thought gave them away?

When did teamwork help you the most?

#35 PowerPoint Karaoke

Number of Participants: 6-30 People

Items Needed: Powerpoint karaoke slides, projector or screen

Goal: Create a presentation on the spot from slides participants have never seen.

If you want to test your team's presentation skills and see how they react in fast-paced or high-pressure situations, play PowerPoint Karaoke (also called Powerpoint Roulette or Battledecks). Groups are given a set of slides that they haven't seen before and must give a presentation based on those slides.

This is a more intense version, but you can adjust it so that groups are given a few minutes to view the slides and prepare before giving the presentation. It requires groups to think quickly and work together to pull off a difficult task with a short time to plan.

What was the hardest part about presenting?

Was this more difficult than a regular presentation? Why or why not?

Who do you think did the best presentation?

#36 Slideshow

Time: 30-50 Minutes

Goal: Act out a impromptu slideshow

Similar to Power Point Karaoke, slide show is a improv game which involves a group presentation. One person in a team will tell a story of an adventure or process. This could be anything from traveling through the jungle or navigating around a city to building a house or planning a large dinner party.

The other team members must act as the slideshow or visuals for the presentation. With each section that the presenter says they must demonstrate the scene. Add in random props to make it more exciting.

Slideshow sparks creativity and pushes members to think on their feet. It also shows how they support each other throughout the process.

Did you enjoy the activity?

What was the best moment?

How did you use team work in your presentation?

#37 Culture or Common Book/ Pizza Toppings

Time: Long Term

Items Needed: Notebook, Pens

Goal: Get to know employees over a long term period of time

Some businesses may do team-building activities once for new employee orientation or once or twice a year for a company retreat. Although team-building activities help to bring your group together, you don't have to limit them to only one time a year. Doing team-building games more often prevents your team from drifting apart over time.

Companies like Zappos have incorporated a culture book. It is a long-running team-building activity that can be done every day. In a common area like a break room, leave a book with markers or pens. On each page, you can leave a prompt or ask a question for each day. Encourage employees to leave quotes from movies they are watching or books they have recently read.

This can also be done virtually in work chat apps like Slack by using Geekbot's Pizza Toppings preset, which brings up a fun question for your team to answer once a week

#38 All Adrift

Items Needed: Team Brief, scoring sheet

Goal: Rank items given based on a hypothetical scenario.

Want to see how your team makes decisions? Set up a hypothetical scenario, in which an accident strands the group in a body of water. The traditional team brief in All Adrift is that your boat catches on fire and you have to abandon it. You only have a few minutes to grab items. Some examples are: First Aid Kit, rope, canned food, water, a bucket, a knife, a compass and a blanket.

First, individuals should write down the items that they would grab from 1-10 in the order of most important. Then as a team, they have to decide and agree on which 10 are the top priorities.

Groups should have about 30 minutes to complete the entire activity and come to a consensus. There is also a scoring sheet that they should use to rate their decisions. All Adrift helps you see that you can often make smarter decisions as a team with combined knowledge than on your own.

These activities may give you the inspiration and motivation to build stronger and more successful company teams. But, remember there are other opportunities to bond your team, so don't stress too much about planning out everything in exact detail.

It could be as simple as holding monthly team Happy Hours. Focus on creating shared memories and finding common ground.

Sign up for free

Toggl Track's Free plan is free forever. Our Premium plan comes with a free, 30-day trial. No credit card required to get started.

Prefer a product demo instead?

Teams of 15+ are eligible for a personalized demo to see how Toggl Track can meet your time tracking goals

COMMENTS

14 Best Collaboration Games & Activities for Teams
Helium Stick is a great collaboration game that promotes teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills. 14. The Human Knot. The Human Knot is one of the best collaboration games for students. Here is how to play the game: Gather a group of students, and have them stand in a circle facing each other.
Best 20 Problem-Solving Activities to Challenge Your Team
Quick and easy problem-solving activities 12. Unpuzzled (in-person, virtual, hybrid) Activity Focus Areas: Communication, reasoning, collaboration under time pressure. Objective: Unpuzzled is an engaging team-building game that combines problem-solving and trivia elements. The goal is for each team to work collaboratively to solve a series of puzzles and then unscramble them to uncover a meta ...
14 Brain-Boosting Problem Solving Group Activities For Teams
Jeopardy. Problem-solving activities such as Virtual Team Challenges offer a great way for teams to come together, collaborate, and develop creative solutions to complex problems. 2. Problem-Solving Templates. Problem-Solving Templates are popular problem-solving activities that involve a group of people working together to solve an issue.
30 Team Building Games for Work to Strengthen Collaboration
This game encourages innovation, collaboration, and adaptability. 7. Escape room. Take your team to an escape room, where they must work together to solve puzzles and find clues to escape within a specified time. This immersive game promotes problem-solving, teamwork, and effective communication under pressure. 8.
25 Agile Games to improve team performance and collaboration
The Ballpoint game, invented by Boris Gloger, is a well-known Agile game that can help a scrum team improve collaboration and deliver effective solutions. Teams pass as many balls as possible through the group in 2 minutes following specific rules. The game is played in five iterations, recording estimates and actual scores.
45 Team Building Games to Psych Up Your Team [2024] • Asana
This game imitates this scenario while challenging your team to collaborate on solving a creative problem. 21. Create your own. Team size: 5-12 people. Time: 30-60 minutes. How to play: Each team member will create an original problem-solving activity on their own and present it to the group. Whether this entails a physical, mental, or ...
Team Building Exercises
In this exercise, teams must create their own, brand new, problem-solving activity. Uses. This game encourages participants to think about the problem-solving process. It builds skills such as creativity, negotiation and decision making, as well as communication and time management. After the activity, teams should be better equipped to work ...
13 Problem-Solving Activities & Exercises for Your Team
Here are nine easy-to-implement activities that can bring substantial change to your team culture and overall workplace dynamics. #1. Crossword Puzzles. Objective: To enhance problem-solving skills, vocabulary, and cognitive abilities through engaging crossword puzzles. Estimated Time: 15-20 Minutes.
25 Agile Games to Boost Team Performance and Collaboration
6. Four-Step Sketch. The Four-Step Sketch is an agile game focused on rapid ideation and collaborative problem-solving. It encourages a Scrum team to quickly visualize solutions to given problems or challenges, promoting innovative thinking and creative design skills in the agile production process.
Top 50 problem solving activities, games & puzzles for remote teams
Benefits: Communication and collaborative problem solving. Duration: 10-15 minutes. Material: Blindfold, empty room or hallway, and collection of random items. 3. ... Army problem solving games. Capture the flag - the game helps in team building and army problem solving. Two teams compete against one another to retrieve a flag or object from ...
61 Ice Breaker Games [That Your Team Won't Find Cheesy]
A team-building activity in which groups must work together to build a structure out of LEGO, but each individual has a secret "assignment" which makes the collaborative process more challenging. It emphasizes group communication, leadership dynamics, conflict, cooperation, patience and problem solving strategy.
11 Innovative team-building games for improved collaboration and
By infusing an element of fun, team-building games help you cultivate a collaborative and dynamic work culture and a pathway to essential skills like trust, communication, and problem-solving. ... Problem-solving: The game presents a real-world engineering problem—designing a device to protect an egg from impact. Teams analyze the challenge ...
33 activities for virtual team building and engaging online
Fun virtual team building games. Most of the exercises and activities you'll facilitate during an online session will have definitive goals and outcomes in mind when you run them, such as building particular skills or solving problems. When designing workshops, remember that improving team connection is a viable and worthwhile outcome.
Top 15 Problem-Solving Activities for Your Team to Master
3. Egg Drop. Helps with: Collaboration, decision-making. Why decision-making is important for problem-solving: Making decisions isn't easy, but indecision leads to team paralysis, stagnant thinking, and unsolved problems. Decision-making activities help your team practice making quick, effective choices.
10 Team-Building Games That Promote Critical Thinking
10 Team-Building Games That Promote Collaborative Critical Thinking. ... Skills: Communication; problem-solving. 2. Save the Egg. ... Skills: Communication, problem-solving. 6. A Shrinking Vessel. This game requires a good deal of strategy in addition to teamwork. Its rules are deceptively simple: The entire group must find a way to occupy a ...
Top Team Building Activities for Problem-Solving Skills
4. Building Projects. 5. Simulation Games. 6. Analysis Workshops. 7. Here's what else to consider. When it comes to enhancing problem-solving skills within a team, the right activities can make ...
22 Unbeatable Team Building Problem Solving Activities
This means learning and having fun don't have to be mutually exclusive. And you can create a stronger team at the same time. Table Of Contents. show. 16 In-Person Team Building Problem Solving Activities for Your Work Group. 1. Cardboard Boat Building Challenge. 2. Egg Drop.
Top 22 Virtual Problem-Solving Activities For Teams
22. Ultimate Game Show. If you're looking for high-energy virtual problem-solving activities for competitive teams, then the Ultimate Game Show is the perfect fit. In this 90-minute virtual event, players bond together as a team while playing different quizzes to win the final prize.
24 engaging training games and activities
Collaborative and fun training games. ... game that works well in a training environment by asking participants to work together as a team and engage their problem solving skills. Start by briefing the team on the task: they must build the tallest free-standing structure out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and ...
Communication Games for Teams: Enhancing Engagement and Collaboration
Collaborative problem-solving games are designed to increase teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. These games foster an environment in which communication is essential for success. Consider the games listed below: A. Tower Building Challenge: This game aims to improve effective communication, prompt cooperation, and strategic ...
38 Team Building Games That You Will Actually Enjoy
#4 Blind Drawing. Time: 25 minutes Number of Participants: 4-30 People Items Needed: Paper, writing utensils, A selection of everyday items (bottle cap, coin, key etc.) or pictures. Goal: The artist must draw an item based only on the team's description of it. Similar to Charades, but with a twist. Blind Drawing is a team-building activity that can be done in groups of 4-6.
32 Online Team Building Games for Remote Employees
Here are more problem solving games. 20. Something in Common (Icebreaker) Something in common is an icebreaker game that works on video conference calls and similar. To play, first organize your attendees into manageable-sized groups of four or five people and gently push them into breakout rooms.

14 Best Team Building Problem Solving Group Activities For 2024

What are the benefits of group problem-solving activities?

Popular Problem Solving Activities

2. Problem-Solving Templates

Problem Solving Group Activities & Games For Team Building

4. Crack The Case

5. Catch Meme If You Can

6. Puzzle Games

7. Virtual Code Break

8. Stranded

9. Letting Go Game

10. Wild Goose Chase

11. Human Knot

12. What Would You Do?

13. Crossing The River

14. End-Hunger Games

People Also Ask These Questions About Team Building Problem Solving Group Activities

Q: What kind of skills do group problem solving activities & games improve?

Q: What are problem solving based team building activities & games?

Q: What are some fun free problem solving games for groups?

Q: How do I choose the most effective problem solving exercise for my team?

Q: How do I know if my group problem solving activity was successful?

About SnackNation

Popular Posts

You May Also Like

🧩 19 Best Online Team Building Games for Remote Employees in 2024

🧘🏻‍♀️15 Employee Wellbeing Programs for the Ideal Workplace Environment in 2024

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

30 Engaging Team Building Games to Strengthen Collaboration and Communication

Table of Contents

30 Engaging team building games to strengthen collaboration

1. Two truths and a lie

2. Human knot

3. The minefield

4. Paper tower challenge

5. Team trivia

6. Marshmallow challenge

7. Escape room

8. Scavenger hunt

9. Barter puzzle

10. The egg drop challenge

11. Blind drawing

12. Tower of power

13. The great debate

14. Trust walk

15. Poker tower

16. Zoom-in

17. Group juggling

18. Team cookbook

19. Office olympics

20. Team reflection circle

21. The perfect square

22. Storytelling circle

23. Pipeline

24. Paper bag skits

25. The web

26. Balloon tower

27. Flip it

28. Corporate charades

29. Word association

30. Group art project

FAQs abot corporate team building games.

1. What are team building games?

2. What are the benefits of team building games?

3. What types of team building games are available?

4. How can team building games improve teamwork?

5. Can team building games be tailored to specific team needs?

6. Are team building games suitable for all types of teams?

7. How can team building games be integrated into the workplace?

Prioritizing Mental Health in the Workplace: A Path to Well-being and Success

Let's begin this new year with an engaged workforce!

Quick Links

CAPABILITIES

Featured Reads

45 team building games to improve communication and camaraderie

How to make team building inclusive

Team icebreaker games

1. Two truths, one lie

2. Penny for your thoughts

3. Mood pictures