At a time when working patterns are changing rapidly, employees’ expectations of team-building activities are also undergoing a significant transformation. Remote working has become the norm for many companies, accentuating the need to forge links between colleagues who no longer necessarily see each other on a daily basis.
Team-building activities are no longer simply moments of fun, but strategic tools for maintaining team spirit and cohesion. What’s more, these initiatives have been shown to have a positive impact not only on productivity, but also on the general well-being of employees.
While every company has its own traditions and preferences when it comes to organising activities, people who have been with the company for some time can quickly run out of ideas and new ideas. That’s why it’s essential to diversify the types of team building activities to keep employees engaged and motivated.
To help you organise your future team building events, here is a non-exhaustive list of the best ideas for activities.
Summary
1. The importance of team building activities
Naturally, you may be wondering what the purpose of organising team building activities within your company and with your employees is. Democratised since the 2000s, team building has become a key action for strengthening team cohesion and creating a real bond between employees. The aim is simple: to encourage better understanding, improve relations within the group and create a pleasant working atmosphere around a common project.
Team building activities offer a multitude of possibilities, whether face-to-face or virtual. Depending on your resources and budget, you can opt for a turnkey set-up or organise a team building something more personalised. Popular activity ideas include murder parties, game shows, group puzzles, shared reading workshops and sporting activities such as cycling.
For a successful company evening, you can mix different activities: activities linked to your core business (practical workshops, training, case studies) and moments of relaxation outside the professional framework (cultural outings, trips, escapades). The important thing is to find the right balance so that each employee can become fully involved in the activities on offer. A well-organised company evening can also strengthen team cohesion and provide a memorable experience.
Creating a team building event around a common project also enables managers to identify group dynamics, strengthen group cohesion and highlight individual talents. Whether it’s a simple get-together or a full day of activities, the key is to create something that makes sense to everyone and builds lasting team spirit.
2. Volunteer activities
Often overlooked but much appreciated, volunteering activities are an excellent idea for team building. Organise a volunteering day where you and your teams can give your time to a local cause. This could be an animal or environmental cause, helping children in difficulty, the elderly, etc. In your search for ideas for team-building activities, consider exploring various options to find the ones that best match your collaboration and team-building objectives.
By getting involved with charities or community initiatives, your employees can discover new aspects of their colleagues and develop a stronger sense of belonging to a company that shares their values.
3. Seminars and training
If you want to keep things professional and organise a team-building event around work, at least in part, then seminars and training courses are ideal! For example, you can choose specific subjects (learning how to sell, how to communicate, the best social networking strategies, project management, conflict resolution or time management at work, to name but a few).
Ask your employees in advance which subjects they would like to develop as a priority. This will enable them to reinforce existing skills and discover new ones.
4. Coaching sessions
In the same spirit, you can also organise individual or group coaching sessions to help your employees with more personal skills such as identifying their strengths and weaknesses, stress management, personal organisation, etc. Coaching sessions, often organised with experts in the field, can significantly help to boost the self-confidence and self-esteem of each of your employees.
5. Cooking workshops
The cooking workshop is one of the most popular and convivial team building activities!
Take your team on a gustatory journey and organise a cooking class with a local or well-known chef on a particular dish or theme (desserts, chocolate, mushrooms, etc.).
As well as being an activity that appeals to everyone’s taste buds, it encourages communication, creativity and collaboration between people. What’s more, it can be adapted to all levels of cooking ability, from beginners to the kings of the kitchen. Last but not least, sharing a meal you’ve prepared together strengthens the sense of community.
But don’t get too many people in the same time slot, to maintain the sense of community and the close relationship with the chef.
6. Escape games
It needs no introduction: the escape game is undoubtedly the favourite team-building activity of the moment.
As in any escape game, your employees will be divided into teams and will have to work together to solve enigmas and challenges in order to escape from a room (usually themed) in a limited amount of time.
This activity is more than ideal for strengthening your teams’ communication, problem-solving and collaboration skills. It can be organised by a company dedicated to this purpose, or by yourself if you wish to devote some time to it.
7. Sport and fun games
Pour les amateurs de sport, pourquoi ne pas organiser des compétitions sportives entre collègues ?
If you’re a sports fan, why not organise a sports competition for your colleagues?
Whether outdoors or indoors, in summer or winter, it’s an ideal, friendly activity that brings people together! When it comes to sports, the choice is endless! Football, handball, pétanque, volleyball, basketball, darts, swimming, rugby, etc. What’s more, after your sporting moments, you can organise a barbecue between you, an outing to the restaurant or any other convivial moment as a reward.
And for even more originality, you can organise your own Olympics! For example, you could choose a number of fun events such as a sack race, table football match, chamboule tout, balance contest or sumo wrestling match, to name but a few.
Be creative and come up with ideas for sports that no one is used to, and that will promote conviviality and camaraderie within your teams.
8. Treasure hunts
The treasure hunt is a highly original, interactive and fun team-building activity that can also be organised at any time by several teams.
In this activity, the members of each team have to solve riddles and challenges to find the hidden treasure. This could be gift vouchers, gourmet hampers, chocolate, tickets to an amusement park or cinema, etc.
The treasure hunt brings out the competitive, childlike side in everyone, while encouraging communication, problem-solving and collaboration between your teams. This activity is perfectly suited to all ages and profiles within your company.
9. Artistic activities
Artistic activities are also an excellent choice for team building.
They are easy to organise, for small budgets and, above all, without the need to hire a particular space. They can involve learning about certain art-related fields (painting, sculpture, drawing, film, etc.) or creating joint projects such as frescoes or a poster for an event.
This activity strongly encourages creativity, communication and team spirit. It can also serve to strengthen your company’s image if the works created are exhibited in local museums, or used for charitable purposes, for example.
10. Culinary activities
If you’re not happy with cooking classes, why not organise other less active culinary activities such as wine tasting, a visit to a brewery, or discovering the local gastronomy. You and your teams won’t have to get involved in the cooking, but it’s still a great way to spend time together!
If you work near Paris or Reims, why not organise visits to champagne estates, for example? You’ll be able to understand all the stages involved in creating France’s favourite special occasion drink.
You can also call on oenologists or sommeliers to help you with your team-building activity and give you the benefit of their specific expertise.
11. Nature getaways
If you work in a city centre and dream of the great outdoors, this is the ideal activity for you and your teams!
Take time out for a day or several days to explore neighbouring towns in the countryside and organise hikes in the mountains, walks by the sea, etc. If you’re organising a seminar, this is also the perfect opportunity to take a break and get some fresh air in a relaxing, non-business setting.
You can also plan and book a gîte for you and your teams, depending on your budget, so that you can either work remotely in a new setting, or take a break from work before the summer holidays, for example, to celebrate your results.
12. Construction games
Bring out everyone’s inner child by organising construction sessions. Whether using LEGO bricks, gnome planks or wooden sticks, these activities encourage collaboration, strategy and creativity. What’s more, they naturally help to identify leaders, planners and implementers.
13. Writing workshops
Writing can be an excellent way of expressing feelings, ideas and thoughts. Organise workshops where everyone can write on a given topic, then share the results. This is an opportunity for team members to show their vulnerability, exchange constructive feedback and understand each other better.
14. Board games and role-playing
Board games are not just for evenings out with friends.
They can also be used for team building. Games such as ‘Dixit’, ‘Catan’ or role-playing games can help develop strategy, negotiation and cooperation skills. They can also reveal interesting personality traits.
15. Meditation and relaxation sessions
Mental well-being is just as important as team cohesion.
Organising guided meditation or relaxation sessions can help to reduce stress, improve concentration and promote serenity within the team.
16. Photography workshops
Whether you use a professional camera or a simple smartphone, photography is an art accessible to everyone.
Organise a photo outing where everyone can capture moments, landscapes or portraits. Then hold an exhibition of everyone’s work within the company. This encourages appreciation of each individual’s unique perspective.
17. Theme days
The expression of each person’s creativity and personality can sometimes find its way through playful celebrations and specially themed days.
Whether it’s a ‘retro’, ‘futuristic’ or ‘cultural’ day, theme days are an opportunity for employees to dress, act and participate according to a specific theme. This can encourage discussion, laughter and a sense of camaraderie.
18. Music and dance workshops
Expressing yourself through music and dance is not only an art form, it’s also a powerful way of strengthening bonds, revealing hidden talents and introducing a dose of positive energy into the team.
Even if not everyone is a natural musician or dancer, organising workshops where everyone can try out an instrument or learn a few dance steps is a great way to relax, laugh and create lasting memories.
19. Creative brainstorming sessions
By combining creativity and collaboration, innovative solutions can emerge.
Creative brainstorming sessions are an ideal platform for this, allowing teams to move away from conventional approaches and explore new perspectives.
In a more relaxed setting, away from traditional meeting rooms, imagine a space with sofas, snacks and whiteboards.
Encourage everyone to freely express their ideas, no matter how bold, to enrich the company’s vision. This is how creativity is truly stimulated and how revolutionary concepts are born.
20. Company trips and treats
Although it may represent a larger investment, organising a company trip or retreat can have lasting benefits. Whether it’s a weekend in the mountains, a week on the beach or a yoga retreat, these getaways are an opportunity to strengthen bonds, reflect on the company’s vision and return to work revitalised.
Team building isn’t just a break from the business routine, it’s a necessity for strengthening corporate culture, improving employee productivity and well-being, and maintaining team harmony. By investing in these activities, a company shows that it values its employees, their growth and their satisfaction.
As a team building organizer, Weezevent’s solutions are adapted to facilitate the management of your event. Thanks to a practical online ticketing system and a fluid and secure access control system, you’ll be able to offer a flawless experience to your participants.
What’s more, the integrated CRM tools will allow you to efficiently manage registrations, collect valuable data on your participants, and evaluate the impact of your team building activities.
