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38 Fun team-building exercises for small groups that actually work

With experience from over 700 company retreats, we detail 38 effective team-building exercises to significantly boost creativity and your team's collaboration.

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Classification Exercise
Team building games

Classification Exercise

For this one, you’ll need to gather about 20 supplies from around the office. Grab a variety like water bottles, coffee filters, paper clips, etc. Then have your team find common denominators and group the items according to those qualities. Encourage them to come up with 4 or 5 different groupings, each with a few items in them. This forces creative thinking about everyday objects, which is a good way to get creative juices flowing. Communication is also important in getting people to agree to the classification.

Desert Island Exercise
Team building games

Desert Island Exercise

For a quick and easy icebreaker that doesn’t require any materials, try this simple question and answer exercise. Simply ask what each person would bring if they were stranded on a desert island. Then go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves, along with the one item that they would choose. They should pick one thing and then offer a brief explanation of why they chose it.

Role Model Analysis
Goal setting activities

Role Model Analysis

Ready to take a page from the playbook of the greats? Enter the Role Model Analysis, where participants embark on a journey of inspiration and practical insights. The game plan? Identify role models or mentors who've aced goals similar to the ones you're chasing. This activity allows for studying the traits and strategies of those who've been there, done that, and applying those lessons to your own goal-setting approach. Top Tip for Facilitator: Encourage diversity in role models. Remind participants that role models can come from various fields and backgrounds. The key is to draw inspiration from a range of sources. As the facilitator, guide them to explore traits and strategies that resonate with their unique journey, creating a customized roadmap to success.

Habitica
Goal setting activities

Habitica

Not something that can be played as a group, but something that can really help with setting goals. Habitica is an online platform and mobile app that gamifies goal-setting and task management. It transforms your goals and habits into a role-playing game where you create a character, set goals, and earn rewards for completing tasks. In this game, you begin by crafting a character to embody you. Input your tasks, habits, and daily goals, each linked to a specific achievement. Successfully completing these earns in-game rewards, like experience points and virtual currency, allowing your character to level up, unlock new features, and face challenges. Neglecting tasks or failing incurs consequences for your in-game character. This game shows the person first-hand what it’s like to set a clear goal and how it feels to reap the rewards. It also shows the person that not meeting your goal will result in consequences. In theory, this can be then applied in real-life work! Top Tip: Set this as homework for all the group!

Mock TED Talk
Goal setting activities

Mock TED Talk

Imagine standing on that iconic red circle, sharing your most audacious goal with the world as if you've already aced it. In this activity, participants channel their inner TED speaker and deliver a brief presentation that could rival the real deal. Public speaking about your goals isn't just about eloquence; it's about fostering confidence, celebrating achievement, and nurturing a positive mindset. Get ready to captivate your audience – even if it's just your team – and let your goals take center stage in the spotlight! Top Tip for Facilitator: Remind the employees it's about sharing dreams, victories, and the occasional stumble. As the facilitator, be the hype person, the supportive audience member, and the constructive critic all rolled into one. Let the stage be a place where authenticity shines, and goals take center stage with a side of passion!

Goal Journaling
Goal setting activities

Goal Journaling

In this activity, individuals become the authors of their own success stories. The game plan? Keep a goal journal, a personal chronicle where you jot down the highs, the lows, and everything in between on your journey to crushing those goals. Why? Because journaling isn't just putting pen to paper; it's a map of progress, a mirror reflecting challenges, and a compass to keep you on course. Get ready to unleash the power of the written word – your goals are waiting to be documented and conquered! Top Tip for Facilitator: Let everyone know this isn't a sprint; it's a marathon of self-reflection and growth. Remind them that every scribble in their goal journal is a step toward victory. Foster an atmosphere where sharing the journey, bumps and all, is not just okay but celebrated. Create a safe space where the power of putting pen to paper becomes a transformative experience.