Some team-building exercises
Your teams will be much more effective after taking part in team-building activities. By getting into the habit of organising team-building exercises for your employees, you can see many benefits for your teams and your company. So here are a few fun and stimulating exercises that are easy to set up in your workplace.
Communication and ice-breaking games
Lie or truth?
Time required 15-30 minutes
Start by asking each participant to secretly write two truths about themselves and one lie on a small piece of paper. It is important not to reveal what is written to anyone. Once each person has completed this stage, allow 10 to 15 minutes for an open conversation in which everyone questions their three questions. The idea is to convince the others that the lie is in fact a truth, while on the other hand, each participant must try to guess the truths and lies of the others by asking them questions. After the conversation period, form a circle and repeat each of your three statements one by one and ask the group to vote on which one they think is the lie. A fun game that helps encourage better communication in the office, while allowing you to get to know your colleagues better.
The play of parts
Time required 5 to 10 minutes
Start by asking everyone to look in their pockets, handbags and wallets for any coins they might have and place them on the table in front of them. If someone has no coins or very few, the other participants can share their coins with them so that everyone has the same amount of coins. Ask each person to create a personal logo using the coins in front of them in just one minute. Other materials they may have on them, such as pens, notebooks, wallets, etc. can also be used to create the logo. If the group is particularly large, people can be divided into teams of 3 to 6 people. In this case, they will be tasked with creating a logo that represents them as a team, or even the company logo. Once the time is up, each participant has to explain their logo. Not only does this activity encourage people to get to know each other, it also allows them to get to know each other on a more personal level.
Team-building exercises
Falling eggs
Time required 15-20 minutes
This problem-solving exercise is a highly entertaining classic. Teams of between 2 and 6 people will be required to build a package for an egg that will be able to protect it from a 2-metre fall. Teams can be provided with a variety of tools and other materials. Alternatively, participants will have to get creative, using everything in the office. Once the packages are finished, each team must present a 30-second advert for their package, highlighting why it is unique and how it works. Then drop the egg to see if it really works. As well as teaching groups to work together and communicate, this exercise encourages creativity.
The blocks game
Time required 10 minutes
This exercise requires a few sets of children’s building blocks. The leader will have to build a small sculpture with these building blocks and hide it from the group. The participants should then be divided into small teams of four. Each team should be given enough building materials to duplicate the structure you have already created. The leader must then place his sculpture in an area equidistant from all the groups. One member of each team can come along and look at the sculpture for ten seconds and try to memorise it before returning to their team. After returning to their respective teams, they have twenty-five seconds to explain to their teams how to build an exact replica of the instructor’s sculpture. After trying to recreate the sculpture for one minute, another member of each team can come and have a look before returning to their team and trying to recreate the sculpture. An effective game for teaching participants to solve problems as a group and to communicate effectively.
