Team Emblem

January 29, 2021 in Games

Team Emblem

This creative team building exercise is great for smaller teams. Players are divided into small teams where they must work together to create an emblem, flag or shield for their teams. Besides collaboration and creative thinking, this activity is also great for building a stronger sense of team identity and cohesiveness. Plus, it’s flexible enough for any situation or group size.

Number of participants: Any

Duration: 30-90 minutes

Objective: Focus on creative thinking, collaboration and fostering a team identity

How to play

1. Grab cardboard, chart paper, markers, crayons, tape or anything else you’ll need to draw and paint a team emblem or team shield.

2. Divide players into small teams of 3-4 people each. You can make the team composition the same as your real-life office teams to focus more on the team identity aspects of this activity.

3. Give each team enough time to plan, draw and paint an emblem for their teams. The emblem must represent something the identifies the team and its values. They get 10 minutes for inspiration (they can look up ideas online if they want to), 20-80 minutes to make the emblem.

4. Once the time is up, ask each team to display their emblem. Invite all other teams to give their own interpretation of the emblem. Then the creating team gives their actual interpretation. Repeat the process for all other teams.

Strategy

One of the hardest aspects of team building is fostering a sense of identity. A simple team emblem – representing something the team collectively cares about – can help you do that. Teams will have to first build consensus on their collective values, then divide tasks to succeed at this activity.

January 29, 2021 in Games

Tied Together

A great, easy game for building relationships and getting people to work together. Teammates are tied together by the wrist and must complete a series of simple tasks. To be successful, everyone has to collaborate closely and communicate well.

Number of participants: 4-16 people

Duration: 30 minutes

Objective: Focus on teamwork, build relationships and communicate clearly

How to play

1. Grab shoe laces, zip ties, cloth strips or anything that can be used to tie two people at the wrists/ankles comfortably.

2. Ask all players to form a circle, facing inwards. Ask them to place their arms at their sides. Place all necessary items for completing the tasks in the center of the circle.

3. Use shoe laces or cloth strips to tie each person’s wrists to his/her neighbor’s until the entire group is tied together.

4. Now ask the team to complete a series of tasks from the objects placed in the circle. Example tasks include making a Lego structure, wrapping a present, building a bridge, pour a glass of water, etc.

5. Since teammates are all tied together, they will have to communicate clearly and collaborate well to complete these seemingly simple tasks. You can add a time limit to increase the difficulty.

Alternative: Tie everyone at the ankles instead of the wrists. Ask them to complete some physical tasks such as picking up objects, crossing a maze (made with cones), transfer tennis balls from one bucket to another. For added difficulty, tie people at BOTH the ankles and the wrists.

Strategy

Simple tasks become harder and some harder tasks become easier when you’re forced to work so closely with your teammates. Focus on the collaborative aspects of this game. Successful teams usually approach each task with a fixed plan and delegate authority well, choosing leaders and coordinating well.

January 29, 2021 in Games

Sneak-a-Peak

In this building-focused game, teams have to create a copy of a pre-built structure based on a “sneak peak”. Teams will have to value teamwork, communication and problem solving to succeed.

Plus, it involves Legos. And who doesn’t love Legos?

Number of participants: 4-20 people divided into two teams.

Duration: 30 minutes

Objective: Focus on teamwork and communication

How to play

1. Use Lego pieces to create a structure – something that is complex yet possible to replicate. Make sure that you have enough remaining Lego pieces to make two similar copies of the structure. Also make sure that no one can see the structure (ideally, place it in a separate room).

2. Divide the players into two teams.

3. One player from each team can look at the structure for 10 seconds. After this, the player has to return to his/her team and instruct them on how to build the structure for 25 seconds.

4. Each team takes 1 minute to build the structure as per the instructions. After a minute, another player can take a “sneak peak” at the structure for 10 seconds and relay the instructions for 25 seconds.

5. This process continues until everyone in the team has had a chance to look at the structure.

6. The team that builds the structure first, wins.

Strategy

To be successful at this team building activity, teams have to communicate really well. Each player who looks at the structure has to relay instructions clearly to his teammates. Teams also have to have some standards for consistency in instructions for a successful build. Without a clear Strategy and sound communication, teams will struggle at this game.

January 29, 2021 in Games

Team Jigsaw

A deceptively simple game. Teams have to complete a jigsaw puzzle within the specified time limit. Except there’s one catch: some of the puzzle pieces are with the opposing team. To successfully complete their puzzle, the teams are forced to work together.

Number of participants: 8-20 people divided into two teams.

Duration: 30 minutes

Objective: Build collaboration, problem solving and communication skills

How to play

1. Grab two puzzles. Mix in some pieces from Puzzle A with pieces from Puzzle B. Place them into two separate boxes.

2. Divide the group into two teams. If there are more people, you can create additional teams (don’t forget to split the puzzle to match the number of teams).

3. Hand each team a box with their respective puzzles. The teams will start out thinking that they only have to create their own puzzle.

4. Once they start working, however, the teams will realize that there are some missing (and some extra) pieces. Ask the teams to communicate clearly with each other about this situation. Eventually, it will dawn on them that they have to work together to solve the puzzle.

5. Teams can exchange puzzle pieces but only one at a time. Ask them to work together until the puzzle is solved within the specified time limit (20-30 minutes, depending on the complexity of the puzzle).

Optional: For added difficulty, divide the teams into separate rooms such that they can’t see each other.

Strategy

The teams start out thinking it’s a conventional time-based puzzle challenge. The realization that they have to work together to complete their puzzles always takes everyone by surprise. In the process, the teams learn how to work together, communicate well and solve problems.

January 29, 2021 in Games

Build Bridges, Not Walls

Two teams build separate halves of a bridge using the materials provided. Once finished, they have to work together to make the halves fit. A great game for building collaboration and creativity skills.

Number of participants: 8-20 people – at least enough to create two teams

Duration: 60 minutes

Objective: Build creative thinking, communication, collaboration and problem solving skills

How to play

1. Grab items that can be used to build a bridge, such as cardboard, Lego, building blocks, straws, paper, tape, rulers, etc.

2. Divide the participants into two equally sized teams. Separate them into two different sections of the playing area such that they can’t see what the other team is doing (use a sheet to make the separation if you have to).

3. Ask each team to build one-half of a bridge. A team cannot see what the other is doing. They can, however, communicate verbally and exchange ideas about the bridge design.

4. Give the teams free access to whatever materials they need to build the bridge.

5. Each team gets 10 minutes to come up with an idea and a sketch for the bridge. They get an additional 30 minutes to build the actual bridge. The teams can communicate verbally across the room throughout this period.

6. After 30 minutes, ask the two teams to meet together and see whether their bridges were actually similar or not.

Optional: If you have a larger group, you can make this competitive by dividing the group into 2 (or more) pairs of teams. The team-pair that gets closest to building a complete bridge wins.

Strategy

Building bridges is fun, but when you have to build only one half and ensure that the opposing team does the same, it brings in interesting dynamics. Teams have to communicate clearly through verbal instructions to be successful.

They also have to be good at solving problems, teamwork and collaborating on a design – again, without actually seeing each other (something that happens a lot in modern remote offices as well).

January 29, 2021 in Games

Photo Finish

A quick and easy game that can be played with small teams with zero equipment. Participants have to walk across a finish line at exactly the same time in a “photo finish”. Great for testing coordination. And for getting a frame-worthy picture for your office.

Number of participants: 4-20 people

Duration: 20 minutes

Objective: Focus on communication and coordination

How to play

1. Create a straight ‘finish line’ using chalk, masking tape or rope.

2. Ask all participants to cross the finish line at exactly the same time, i.e. a “photo finish”. Participants will have to coordinate with each other to pull this off.

3. Take a photograph every time they cross the finish line to see if it qualifies as a photo finish.

4. For added difficulty, ask the participants to walk or run across the finish line in a photo finish.

Strategy

This game sounds deceptively easy, but it actually requires a lot of coordination. For a true photo finish, players will have to work very closely together. They will also need to informally elect a ‘leader’ who can lead the coordination efforts.

January 29, 2021 in Games

Buckets & Balls

This game is picked right from your favorite old-school game shows. Teams compete against each other to move balls from one bucket to another…without using their hands or arms.

This limitation and the timed nature of the game creates a lot of opportunities for fun mishaps. Plus, to win, players will have to work together as a team and delegate responsibilities.

Number of participants: 8-24 people

Duration: 20 minutes

Objective: Learn teamwork, task management and leadership

How to play

1. Set up your field of play. Use masking tape, chalk or cones to create separate “Start” and “Finish” lines about 10-12 feet apart. Place buckets for each team at either end of these start/finish lines. Fill the buckets behind the finish line with tennis balls.

2. Divide players into equally-sized teams. Each team must choose a “handler”. Handlers are the only people who can touch the balls with their hands.

3. Ask the teams to take their place behind the start line. Handlers must stay behind the start line at all times. Team members must retrieve balls from the finish line bucket and get them to their team’s handler without using their hands or arms.

4. The handler can then drop the balls into the team’s empty bucket. If anyone apart from the handler touches the ball, he/she is immediately disqualified and must leave the field.

5. Start the game with a 5-minute time limit. All teams play at the same time (which creates additional chaos and makes communication even more important). Team members have to work with each other to somehow pick up balls from one bucket and get them to their handlers.

6. The team that has the most balls at the end of 5 minutes wins.

Strategy

The “no hands, no arms” rule makes this simple game much more difficult and emphasizes the need for teamwork. The introduction of handlers also forces teams to delegate authority.

January 29, 2021 in Games

Hole in Many

Another simple, fun game that gets the entire team involved in something physical. Essentially, the team has to balance a tennis ball on a tarpaulin with holes cut into it randomly.

Being good at this game requires the entire team to coordinate and work together.

Number of participants: 8-24 people

Duration: 30 minutes

Objective: Learn teamwork

How to play

1. Grab a piece of tarpaulin and a few tennis balls. Cut a hole randomly into the tarp.

2. Divide the group into equally sized teams of 4-8 people.

3. Ask each team to hold the tarp stretched out between them.

4. Drop a ball onto the tarp. The team has to hold the tarp as long as possible without the tennis falling through the hole.

5. The team that holds the tarp for the longest time wins.

6. If a single hole is too easy, cut more holes into the tarp. You can also grab additional tarps and get all teams to do this activity at the same time, timing their performance along the way.

Strategy

While there is something to learn from this team building activity – physical and verbal cooperation – it’s best suited for getting people involved at the start of an event. It’s fun for everyone and simple enough that anyone can play it, regardless of age or fitness level.

January 29, 2021 in Games

Body of Words

This is a simple, fun game that gets everyone involved physically. The goal is for your team to create letters and words with their bodies alone. It’s a great way to get people to loosen up and have fun at a team retreat.

Number of participants: 8-24 people

Duration: 30 minutes

Objective: Learn planning, creative thinking and cooperation

How to play

1. Find a wide open area without any obstacles.

2. Divide participants into teams of 4-8 people. Each team chooses one team leader.

3. Write down a bunch of words with the one letter less than as the number of people in each team (i.e. if there are 5 people per team, pick words like “book”, “cats”, etc.) on index cards.

4. Pick a word at random. Each team then has to make the word with their bodies alone. Each team member can contort his/her shape to form a letter, which can then form words. The team leaders can direct their teams.

5. Set a time limit of 5-7 minute for each word.

6. The team that makes the word the fastest wins.

7. In each round, ask the team to choose a different leader.

Strategy

One of the challenges of organizing team retreats is getting people to loosen up. A physical activity that engages the entire team is a good way to get people to relax. Picking a leader and collaborating to create different letters also helps build leadership, planning and cooperation.

January 29, 2021 in Games

Blind draw

This activity is similar to back-to-back drawing, except that it focuses on teams instead of individuals. The goal is the same: draw an object using only verbal instructions. Teamwork and communication are vital to be good at this game.

Number of participants: 6-20 people

Duration: 30-45 minutes

Objective: Focus on teamwork and communication skills in a group setting

How to play

1. Get a flipchart, markers and a bunch of everyday objects (such as a lampshade, bicycle, etc.). Alternatively, print pictures of objects. This game works best with more unobvious objects (say, a trampoline vs a coin).

2. Divide all participants into teams of 4-6 people.

3. Ask each team to pick one person to be the “artist”. Ask the artist to take his place next to the flipchart.

4. Face the team away from the flipchart and give them an object from your pile.

5. The team will then instruct its artist on how to draw the object based on verbal instructions alone. They can describe the object but not state its name. The artist can’t see the object at any time, nor can the team see what the artist is drawing. Each team gets 3 minutes for a drawing.

6. The team whose drawing comes closest to the actual object wins.

Strategy

To be good at this game, teams have to a) delegate effectively (i.e. pick the right artist), and b) communicate well (within the team as well as between the team and artist). In your evaluation, focus on how teams chose their artists and whether they were able to pick a team leader for relaying instructions (if yes, then how).