Meetings provide a valuable space for discussing important topics, collaborating on projects, and sharing ideas. However, they can quickly become dull and unproductive. Statistics show that only 30% of meetings are considered effective, leading to an annual loss of $37 billion. If that sounds familiar, it might be time to try new team-building activities for meetings.
Team-building doesn’t have to mean a long scavenger hunt or a whole day of laser tag. It can be a simple, ongoing process that helps team members get to know each other better each time. To help, we’ve gathered some of our favorite team-building activities for meetings that will inspire you.
In this section, we share a few quick team-building activities you can use to warm up your group or encourage team bonding at the start of an interactive meeting. These 5-15-minute exercises are a great way to improve communication, teamwork, and morale. They offer a quick break during the workday, helping to reduce stress. The best part? They require no preparation and can be done by anyone, whether you’re meeting online, in person, or in a hybrid setting.
This is an easy and fun activity where each person comes up with two true statements about themselves and one lie. Then, the other group members try to guess which one is the lie. This game encourages people to share fun facts and builds critical thinking and observation skills. It’s a great way to break the ice for new team members and create a relaxed, open atmosphere for everyone.
In "Count to 20," team members try to count up to 20 together with their eyes closed and without talking to each other. Each player can only say one number at a time, and if two people speak at once, the game starts over. Though it sounds easy, this activity shows how powerful teamwork can be and makes a great starter activity for a meeting.
In this game, everyone stands in a circle and takes turns sharing a compliment or saying what they appreciate about the person to their right. Once everyone has shared, go back around the circle the other way to compliment the person on their left. This activity helps strengthen relationships, makes people feel appreciated, and encourages open communication.
"Would you rather" questions are a great choice if you’re looking to kick off your meeting with a lively discussion. You can ask things like: “Would you rather work longer hours over fewer days or shorter hours across more days each week?” ”Would you rather give up TV shows or social media?” “ Would you rather make a movie or write a book about your life?”
You can set up “would you rather” poll questions using Slides with Friends by adding two options for people to choose from. During the meeting, let everyone vote, display the results, and ask each side to explain why they chose their answer.
In this game, everyone gets a simple prompt and one minute to draw it. After time’s up, everyone shares their drawings, and the team can enjoy a few laughs at the creative (or silly) results. This game encourages creativity, helps people relax, and brings some light-hearted fun to the meeting.
If your teammates enjoy creative activities, here’s a fun one: show them a funny or interesting picture, photo, or cartoon and ask them to write a funny caption for it. After showing the image, give everyone a few minutes to come up with their ideas, then have a sharing session. You can even vote on the best caption using a poll!
To play this game, have your group members sit in a circle (or, if your team works remotely, line up in the order they appear on a video call). The first person starts with a word, preferably related to your meeting topic. The next person adds another word, and this continues until you create a complete story. You can set a timer to keep the game within 15 minutes. This activity is a great way to focus everyone’s attention and spark ideas. It also helps improve communication and teamwork, encouraging members to listen to each other and think quickly.
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Problem-solving activities can improve your work environment and increase productivity. There are many tasks that can help you develop creative problem-solving skills. To make things easier for you, we’ve put together a list of the top six options.
For this activity, split the group into two teams and give each group some marshmallows and spaghetti. Their task is to build the tallest freestanding structure using only these materials. Set a time limit to make things more exciting. This exercise encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and creative thinking.
Escape rooms are games where team members are "trapped" in a room and must find clues, complete tasks, and solve puzzles to escape. There are many types of escape room games available, both in-person and virtual. For example, if your team works in the office, you could organize an escape room activity by using a dedicated room or visiting a local escape room. If your team is working remotely, you could try a virtual escape room.
Playing Lost at Sea involves creating a scenario where players are stranded at sea and must work together to decide which items are most important for survival. This activity encourages strategic thinking and decision-making skills, which results in improved communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
Divide the group into teams of three to five people, giving each team an uncooked egg and a variety of office supplies. Teams have 20 to 30 minutes to build a device that will protect the egg from breaking when dropped from a height. This classic team-building activity is very engaging and requires planning, problem-solving, and teamwork to protect the egg successfully.
In Blind Drawing, one person describes an object without showing it, and others try to draw it based on the description. This encourages communication and teamwork. The goal is for the describer to talk about the object without naming it while the team draws what they think it is, helping to build their communication and teamwork skills.
To play the game, everyone stands in a circle and holds hands with two people who are not directly next to them. At this point, the circle will look like a tangled mess of arms. Next, instruct the group to untangle themselves without letting go of anyone's hand. This will encourage problem-solving, as a team effort is needed in order to find a way to free themselves.
Just like any muscle, your brain needs a warm-up before you start working. We’ve put together a list of games and group activities to help get your creative juices flowing. These activities let everyone have some fun, relax, and get into an innovative mindset before tackling real problem-solving tasks. Looking for something quick and easy? Check this team shenanigans deck that you can use as is or edit to better suit your team.
For this game, you can use a pre-made set of trivia questions that can be easily edited and adjusted for your group. Divide your team into small groups that will compete to answer the most questions correctly. This game is not only fun, but it also helps improve knowledge retention and critical thinking skills. It encourages teamwork as they work together to find the right answers.
Inspired by the show "Shark Tank," teams invent a product or service and pitch it to a panel of judges called sharks. Each team creates its idea, focusing on its unique features and target market, and then prepares a pitch presentation. This activity encourages out-of-the-box thinking and helps participants practice their presentation skills in a lighthearted setting.
To make this well-known game more creative, you can include unique challenges, like sharing a fun fact or completing a small work-related task. For a more advanced version, set a time limit for each round to keep the energy up and add more tasks to fill the cards. This way, everyone has a chance to participate and connect with their teammates.
"Minute to Win It" games only need simple office supplies. For example, in Office Tennis, two team members work together to toss a crumpled piece of paper into a trash can using clipboards as rackets while moving. In Scoop It, team members transfer ping pong balls from one bowl to another using a plastic spoon. These activities help team members feel more comfortable and improve their quick-thinking and problem-solving skills.
This creative game is especially good for introverts or remote teams. Start by giving everyone a sheet of paper to draw a 2×2 grid and ask four questions. Each team member draws their answers in the grid squares. After the time is up, invite the group to share. This fun game encourages creative thinking and helps everyone connect visually.
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You can improve teamwork and collaboration among employees using different strategies, including well-planned outdoor team-building activities. So, if you are ready to get outside the office and enjoy the fresh air, here are three out-of-the-office activities that combine fun with team bonding.
A scavenger hunt helps boost communication as teammates work together to solve clues and find the prize. It encourages problem-solving and strengthens team bonds, which improves company culture. You can organize a scavenger hunt around your neighborhood or town or use an app to guide the hunt in your area.
Team sports and games like basketball, volleyball, or frisbee in a nearby park are a great way to build teamwork. They promote physical activity and encourage team spirit as players work together towards a common goal. Playing sports allows team members to communicate, strategize, and support each other, which strengthens their relationships. Plus, the fun and friendly competition can help boost morale and create lasting memories among colleagues.
Team volunteering allows employees to feel they are making a real difference while also building stronger relationships with their coworkers, which is important for keeping them engaged. Why not join a local community service project as a team? Start by discussing what causes matter most to you and your team, then set a time to brainstorm activities you can do together.
Just because you work remotely doesn't mean all your team interactions have to focus only on work or involve the people you usually work with. Building friendships among team members is essential for remote work, but it can be challenging.
Your remote team members may not have met in person before, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation, hurting productivity and morale. The good news is that with some creativity, you can create team connections and keep employees engaged, no matter the distance. Even if you don’t have time, you can use ready-to-play team-building activities for groups of all sizes, like this quick team-building game.
Set up random 15-minute breaks during which team members can join a video call to chat and enjoy their drinks. This mimics the office coffee break experience and helps keep social connections strong. These “watercooler chats” are important for building relationships but are often missing in hybrid and remote teams.
If you want your entire team to have a chance to socialize without focusing on work, consider hosting virtual lunch meetings occasionally. Give each team member a budget (about $20) that they can spend and get reimbursed by the company. Let everyone order whatever they like for lunch and then join a Zoom call to chat and enjoy each other's company.
In a virtual show-and-tell, ask employees to share something they cherish or a professional achievement they’re proud of. It could be a work project, a hobby, or a personal item. This activity is a chance for team members to exchange knowledge, best practices, and advice, fostering a sense of connection and learning among the entire group.
You can use personality tests like Myers-Briggs or Enneagram to help team members understand each other better and improve teamwork. These tests can show the strengths and weaknesses of the group. Knowing each other’s communication styles helps build stronger connections. Instead of just talking about favorite hobbies, personality tests encourage deeper conversations, making team members feel connected, recognized, and supported.
Investing in professional team-building workshops focused on communication, conflict resolution, or leadership skills is a great way to strengthen your team. By participating in hands-on activities and discussions, employees can practice these skills in a safe environment. This not only boosts individual confidence but also fosters a stronger team spirit, making meetings more productive and collaborative.
Set aside some time during a meeting to show appreciation for each team member's hard work. This will help everyone feel valued and create a sense of belonging in the team. You can celebrate your team's achievements in different ways, such as personalized thank-you messages, surprise days off, custom gifts, or fun events like live comedy shows. These gestures help make employees feel truly appreciated on their special day.
