Effective in-person, hybrid and virtual team-building activities
Team-building activities should be opportunities to develop skills and knowledge while also having some fun. Good teamwork comes from practice and familiarity, so consider using team-building activities to foster a more collaborative work environment. These exercises will help your staff members get to know each other better as people and grow their trust in each other.
There are many ways to answer ‘why is teamwork important’ and further your goal of building teams, even if your staff is working remotely right now. Here are some creative ideas to consider:
Host a game show – Turn training or team building into a fun competition using a format like Jeopardy. Focus on work-related content or company culture and group participants into random teams. For a personal twist, include employee-submitted fun facts (with permission), such as career milestones or charity events. Share these during the game and have teammates guess who they belong to.
Use coffee chats to brainstorm – Set up a monthly virtual coffee chat with your team where you encourage informal idea-sharing. Prior to the meeting, send out an agenda that includes one or two things you’d like your team to think about. For example, you might ask, “How can we reduce time spent on X process?” Or “What are some new services we could provide to our customers?” If your budget allows, consider sending your employees snacks to enjoy during the meeting.
Try workplace communication style quizzes – Use assessments like DiSC or MBTI-inspired tools to help team members better understand their communication preferences, and each other’s. Discuss results together to build empathy and improve collaboration.
Play a simulation game – Choose a scenario relevant to your team’s work, such as handling a client crisis or launching a new service. Although it may be more fun and helpful to select unique scenarios like surviving on a desert island or even an in-person or virtual escape room. These kinds of activities can stoke the fire of friendly competition and get everyone thinking creatively.
Solve lateral-thinking puzzles – Challenge your team with brain teasers or logic puzzles that require creative thinking and collaboration. These short, engaging exercises are great for warming up before meetings or sparking conversation. Here’s an example of a lateral-thinking puzzle: A man pushed his car. He stopped when he reached a hotel at which point he knew he was bankrupt. Why? Answer: He was playing Monopoly.
Attend conferences together – Whether virtual or in-person, attending a professional event as a group can prompt new ideas and strengthen bonds. Plan a follow-up session to share key takeaways and discuss how to apply what you’ve learned.
Organize volunteer activities – While this one may not be easy to achieve as a virtual team-building activity, volunteering as a team supports your company’s values while building stronger connections. Consider in-person events like park cleanups or get creative with hybrid options like assembling care packages from home.
When you can answer ‘why is teamwork important’ in your organization, your teams collaborate effectively, they solve problems faster, support one another through challenges and spark ideas that can drive real progress. Of course, great teamwork doesn’t just happen. It takes intention, practice and sometimes a few creative activities to build trust and connection.
Whether your team works side by side or logs in from across time zones, investing in teamwork is always time well spent. Because when people feel supported and empowered to contribute, everyone wins.
