It doesn’t matter how close your relationships with your coworkers are, teamwork is essential.

Events last for minutes to days. They include competitions, team-building games, and fun day activities. No matter how large your team or your budget is, this guide to team-building activities will inspire.

1. Trivia

Scope: Team-bonding, icebreaker.

Description: Trivia lets you earn points or lose them by answering questions. Each event centers around a specific theme such as music, sports, inside jokes, or a combination of both.

To make the game more competitive and fun, you can create a ranking system that ranks answers and gives an end goal. This is a favorite of mine at work.

2. Charades

Our purpose: Team bonding, icebreakers, competition, communication

Description: This could be a throwback from your childhood sleepovers. Charades – One player moves without speaking to form a word or phrase and the other players try to guess it.

The moderator should make a list of words and phrases that everyone knows to start the game. Watch the other players and try to guess their answers. The number of words/phrases correctly guessed will determine the winner.

3. Community service day

Its purpose is to foster team bonding and collaboration, as well as community support

Description: Giving back is one of the best ways to stay inspired at work. Volunteer at shelters for the homeless, and send care packages to soldiers and hospitals overseas.

Maybe your company supports and donates regularly to a charity foundation. 

4. Scavenger hunt

Scope: Communication, problem-solving, and collaboration

Description: This is a great team-building activity. You decide your time and the parameters.

Participants are split into teams to work together and mark off the items as they appear on their list. Participants should be at least four people.

5. Office “Shark Tank”

Scope: Research and productivity. Collaboration. Public speaking.

Description: Shark Tank is the ultimate example of teamwork and intense competition.

Allow teams to break out and start researching their pitches. Keep only the current pitchers in the room when it is time for them to present. This will ensure that every team can present its findings.

6. 2 truths and 1 lie

Purpose: Icebreaker, team-bonding

Description: This game is great to introduce new employees. It’s not difficult and doesn’t take up too much time. 

To play, you will need at most three people. You don’t need props. Instead, ask the person to give three facts about himself. You should have two points true, and one completely false.

7. Escape room

Scope: Problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and leadership

Description: You and your group are trapped in a room searching for an escape route. Follow the clue to find more clues, until you find the final one.

Many rooms come with detailed instructions. All you have to do is show up with energy, curiosity, and a willingness to take on the challenge. 

8. Offsite ‘fun day’

Purpose: Morale improvement, team-bonding

Description: This is one of the best decisions you can make. It will help you retain your employees and recruit new ones. Also, it is a refresher that can increase morale and productivity.

Enjoy a day at the beach with a catered meal, a painting or cooking lesson, and laser tag. You can be creative and create something everyone will enjoy.

9. Potluck

Purpose: Morale improvement, team-bonding

Description: This is an easy and low-cost way to get your team together. Coworkers can bring one dish or drink. If they want, they can show off family recipes or other cultural dishes.      

You can invite everyone to bring a dish, or assign food and drinks to everyone. 

10. Field Day

Scope: Problem-solving, decision-making and competition, communication

Description: Field days can be an exciting adventure. To host multiple events, you’ll need enough space or a large field.

At least two teams should consist of three players. Announce the winner of each competition and award a prize. 

11. Human knot

Purpose: Problem-solving, communication, decision-making

Description: Everyone forms a giant knot using their arms. They now have to find a way to release it from its binding.

Now, all players must work together to unravel the knots, create one circle, and hold hands with the ones on the right. 

12. Ropes course

The purpose is personal development, team building, and communication. Problem-solving and leadership

Description: Ropes courses can be an exciting and challenging activity for off-site events. It is also a great way to build strategy and improve teamwork.

The ropes course has safety gear and straddles, and an instructor will lead you through each activity.

13. Top chef cooking competition

Scope: Leadership, decision-making, and time management.

Description: This TV series focuses on team building. This TV show focuses on team building.

A large kitchen is essential for this activity. It should include all necessary kitchenware and cooking ingredients. 

14. Oversized Jenga

Scope: Motivation, team bonding, and decision-making.

Description: Take a break from your work and relax with this Jenga game. Each person picks a block to stack on top of the other. 

It would help if you did not cause the tower to collapse.

15. The game is paper plane toss.

Purpose: Competition, strategy-building

Description: The origins of these paper planes can be traced back to detentions or study halls, where “bad kids” would throw them at teachers when they weren’t looking. This simple game will give your team a break after a long day.

Participants should each create their paper airplanes using an A4 piece.