Conflicts at work are inevitable when diverse personalities and opinions work together. In this article, we're about to take you on a journey through a collection of team-building interventions that break away from the usual corporate routines. 

These interventions are both reactive and proactive. They help to mend broken bridges, as well as help staff with future conflicts that happen at work. 

We’ve separated our collection of activities and games into 4 categories: 

• Skill-based
• Physical activities
• Personality-based
• Problem-solving activities

But it's not all just games and giggles. These activities are strategic tools that go a long way in boosting any team’s skillset. So, buckle up as we explore these delightful and effective methods that will transform your team into a powerhouse of synergy and success.

Skill-based activities

These activities focus on the skills involved with working in a team, such as negotiation and active listening. Members can follow these 3 activities to improve hard or soft skills. Try them all to create a memorable experience for your teams.

Cross-functional training

Cross-functional training is a workplace team-building activity that broadens skill sets. It encourages members to step into the shoes of their colleagues from different departments. It's a hands-on approach that creates a deep understanding of each other’s roles.

Comment configurer le jeu :

1. Pick roles for cross-training, e.g., marketing and customer service.
2. Assign pairs for role shadowing and learning.
3. Allocate time for each pair, like half-day to a week.
4. Conduct post-training sessions for sharing insights.

How it benefits the conflict resolution:

• Enhanced empathy: Cross-functional training helps members learn the challenges and responsibilities faced by their colleagues. This helps them to appreciate all of the effort they put in.

• Conflict resolution: By getting to know the real details of each other's roles, your team members can spot potential sources of trouble before they get out of hand. It helps to glue your team together tighter than ever.

Blind drawing

Introduce a fun game that combines communication and artistic flair! Blind drawing allows for fun artistic interpretations as members draw what they hear on a whiteboard.

Comment configurer le jeu :

1. Create two teams and select one artist from each.
2. Each team nominates an artist to draw on the whiteboard.
3. Artists draw in isolation while others are out of the room.
4. Team members guide artists to replicate the drawing within 2 minutes.
5. Compare results and declare a winner based on resemblance to the original.

How it benefits the conflict resolution:

• The power of positivity: Don’t underestimate the positivity that drawing and artwork can bring to the office. Members will find themselves laughing as they help their artists create their drawings.
• Concise communication: Everyone practices helping each other by communicating the details to their artist. You can even use playful kids’ drawings you find online as inspiration!

Role playing for conflict resolution

This is an interactive team-building game that's all about honing those conflict-solving skills. It's a practice arena for dealing with workplace clashes in a safe and fun way.

Comment configurer le jeu :

1. Select scenarios like project disputes or customer interactions.
2. Pair up team members - one instigates conflict, the other resolves. Swap roles.
3. Drama unfolds as they act, focusing on communication and resolution, using a timer.
4. After role-plays, have a group chat to discuss what worked, what didn't, and improvement ideas.

How it benefits the conflict resolution:

• Smarter conversations: Your team will become pros at expressing themselves and tuning in to others – skills that come in handy when diffusing real conflicts at work.

• Conflict training: Your team members will learn conflict resolution tricks of the trade. They'll be better equipped to handle workplace disagreements, making your office a much more serene place.

Physical activity-based team building

Activity-based interventions have members performing physical tasks and overcoming obstacles. Carrying these out in an offsite location makes the activity even more memorable.

Obstacle course

An obstacle course is an engaging team-building activity that boosts camaraderie. The obstacle course can be set up indoors or outdoors and can range from a straightforward set of challenges to a full-blown adventure course.

Comment configurer le jeu :

1. First, decide on the obstacles or challenges your course will include. 
2. Divide your team into smaller groups. Make sure each group is a blend of different skill sets and personalities for added fun. 
3. Prioritize safety by ensuring all obstacles are safe and well-maintained. Consider having safety briefings and medical personnel on standby, especially for more complex courses. 
4. Once everyone’s briefed and ready, let the games begin!

How it benefits the conflict resolution:

• Teamwork: Obstacle courses are a great trust-building exercise. Team members must collaborate to overcome challenges.

• Boost morale: Playful physical exercise like this is an instant mood lifter. If you're looking to lift your team's spirits and create lasting memories, an obstacle course is the way to go!

Human knot

The "Human Knot" is an icebreaker exercise that focuses on problem-solving skills. Group members hold hands in a team and get tangled up like spaghetti. Then they have to untangle themselves without letting go of each other's hands. 

Comment configurer le jeu :

1. Split your group in two. Have each team stand in a tight circle. 
2. Everyone reaches out with their right hand and grabs the hand of someone across from them. The trick is not to hold the hand of the person standing right next to them. 
3. Now, get them to stretch out their left hands and grab someone else's hand across the circle. You've just created the human knot! 
4. Teams need to figure out how to unravel themselves, all while keeping their grip on each other's hands. They've got to communicate then twist and turn until they're free.

How it benefits the conflict resolution:

• Team bonding: The "Human Knot" makes your team trust each other. The informality creates deeper bonds between members as they untangle themselves
• Improved communication: This game drives home the importance of talking and listening. It's a great way to remind everyone to communicate clearly and openly.

Four quadrants

Here’s an expressive activity where each person has a flip chart paper and markers to get artsy! Members are encouraged to open up and share their feelings through drawings.

Comment configurer le jeu :

1. Give everyone a sheet of flip chart paper and some markers. Tell them to divide their paper into four sections, creating a grid. 
2. Instead of writing responses, they're going to draw their answers to the questions. You can make these questions as personable as you need. 4 example questions could be: What do I bring to the group? What do I need from the group? What's your hobby? What's your vision for this group? 
3. Allow around 5-10 minutes to work on their pictures individually. 
4. Then, bring everyone back together and let each person share their artwork and responses with the group.

How it benefits the conflict resolution:

• Team building: This activity gets your team to dig deep and understand each other better on a new level. Naturally, this forms stronger connections.

• Communication boost: As they share their drawings and thoughts, it improves communication and makes your team more receptive to each other's needs and ideas.

Personality-based team building

Team building interventions can flourish when we understand the temperament and personality of its members. Here are some activities and psychological tests to understand each member’s personality traits and behavioral type.

Johari Window

The Johari Window is a fantastic activity for building team relationships. It lets them understand themselves and deepen bonds. This activity is all about increasing self-awareness and opening up. 

Comment configurer le jeu :

1. Explain Johari Window: Introduce the concept with four panes revealing different aspects.
2. Have team members jot down things they think are in the "Hidden" or "Unknown" areas.
3. Team members read aloud and others place notes on a shared Johari Window, revealing hidden facets and fostering understanding.

How it benefits the conflict resolution:

• Self-awareness: The "Johari Window" encourages self-reflection and self-awareness, helping individuals get to know their strengths and areas for improvement.
• Peacekeeping: Greater self-awareness and improved communication help your team solve conflicts more smoothly. They'll be able to see things from each other's perspectives.

Myers-Briggs type indicator (MBTI)

Have you ever wondered why your co-workers behave the way they do? The Myers-Briggs type indicator (MBTI) decodes some of those mysteries. It's a personality assessment tool that helps teams understand and embrace their differences, which is key to building stronger relationships.

Comment configurer le jeu :

1. Introduce MBTI: Present MBTI as a tool for understanding unique personalities.
2. Distribute Questionnaire: Hand out the MBTI questionnaire for team members to answer.
3. Analyze: Assign personality types based on questionnaire responses.
4. Share and Discuss: Team members share results, discussing implications for work style and interactions.

How it benefits the conflict resolution:

• Understanding differences: MBTI promotes understanding, making it easier for team members to appreciate each other's unique qualities.

• Understanding conflict: Greater understanding leads to smoother conflict resolution. Team members can address disagreements with more empathy and respect.

DiSC Assessment

The DiSC Assessment is a tool to decode personalities and improve team dynamics. DiSC stands for Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. It reveals which of these traits dominate in a person.

Comment configurer le jeu :

1. Present the DiSC Assessment as a tool for better understanding each other.
2. Hand out the assessment for team members to determine their primary DiSC personality style.
3. Provide each member with their DiSC profile, showcasing primary and secondary traits.
4. Encourage team members to share results, discussing the influence of their DiSC style on behavior and work preferences.

How it benefits the conflict resolution:

• Enhanced Teamwork: DiSC brings out the best in your team by revealing their unique strengths. Dominance-driven team members can appreciate the Steadiness of their colleagues, while those with an Influence style can adapt their communication to work effectively with Conscientious individuals. 
• Understanding of Differences: DiSC fosters a deeper understanding of each member's personality traits, making it easier to appreciate differences.

Problem-solving activities

Problem-solving games give each team a chance to solve a concrete challenge, something requiring a definite solution. For increased effectiveness, consider carrying these out offsite. 

Egg Drop challenge

The "Egg Drop Challenge" is a great test of teamwork. It's an engineering feat wrapped in fun. Participants are tasked with protecting a fragile egg from a fall using only a limited set of materials. The goal? To design a contraption that keeps the egg safe when dropped from a certain height.

Comment configurer le jeu :

1. Make even teams and provide them with materials like newspapers, tape, rubber bands, and, of course, a raw egg. 
2. They must construct a device to protect the egg from breaking when dropped from a predetermined height. Set a time limit for designing and building the contraption (usually 30-60 minutes). 
3. Once the designs are complete, it's time to test them. Drop each team's egg-protecting device from the agreed-upon height. The winning team keeps their egg unbroken!

How it benefits the conflict resolution:

• Creative problem solving: It encourages out-of-the-box thinking and creative problem-solving, skills that can be applied to workplace challenges.
• Teamwork: The Egg Drop Challenge promotes collaboration and teamwork as participants pool their creative ideas and problem-solving skills to achieve a team-building goal

Tea and Coffee ID

Why not combine your team-building efforts with the delightful aroma of tea and coffee? That's exactly what the "Tea and Coffee ID" does. It's a fun activity where participants taste different types of tea and coffee and work together to match them to the cards with their names.

Comment configurer le jeu :

1. Prepare three different types of tea and three different types of coffee. You might want to try more extravagant flavors if you have coffee experts in the office!
2. Create cards with the names of the tea and coffee varieties. Make sure they are shuffled and placed face down. 
3. As a team, participants will take turns tasting each beverage and discussing their observations. They then work together to match the beverages to the cards with the corresponding names. 
4. The goal is to match all the beverages with their names as accurately as possible.

How it benefits the conflict resolution:

• Bonding: The Tea and Coffee ID activity is a unique way for team members to bond. They can share a moment of relaxation and downtime.
• Stress relief: Tasting tea and coffee can be a soothing and stress-relieving activity. It provides an opportunity for team members to unwind, de-stress, and enjoy a comforting beverage.

Let Surf Office take it from here!

Interested in taking these ideas further? Surf Office is here to handle the logistics of offsite retreats while you work on your essentials - strengthening the bonds of your teams!

With more than 100 locations across the USA and Europe, catering to every demand from golden sandy beaches to mountainous retreats, we've got you covered.

We also take care of the following: 

🚗 Airport transfers

🏨 Accommodation

🎯 Team building activities

🍽️ Réservations de restaurants

🗺️ Retreat planning assistance

🔧 Onsite support (if requested)

‍

Contact us today for more information!