Team Building Ideas for Positive Corporate Culture

Most of us cringe when we're asked to share a fun fact about ourselves as a part of a team building ice breaker.

Thankfully, team building doesn't have to be awkward—it can actually be a fun, exciting way to boost corporate culture and help employees get to know one another.

Why is Team Building Important?

There are many reasons why it's worthwhile to spend time on team building activities, including: 

• • Building trust between same-level team members, as well as between employees and their supervisors
  • Boosting employee engagement
  • Increasing dedication to the company mission due to deeper bonds with fellow employees
  • Encourages respectful conflict resolution
  • Helps to mitigate tension between employees

Of course, it's important to take a fresh approach to team building that allows employees to get to know one another in a new way. No matter how great an activity may be, if employees have done it year after year, it will get stale (despite new additions to the team).

Tips for Successful Team Building

Successful team building activities allow employees to get to know one another on a new level, seeing coworkers as complete humans with lives outside of the office, instead of just people who clock in and out, day after day. 

Keep these tips in mind as you create team building activities for your staff: 

• • Resist the urge to make complicated, strict activities. Instead, allow room for flow and creative problem-solving. 
  • Remember, socialization is key. There's no need to schedule every moment of a team building activity. 
  • Ask employees for their input. Talking about past team building events can provide valuable insight into how to create a more effective experience in the future. 
  • Offer an opportunity to try something new. Engaging in a new activity levels the playing field, and seeing supervisors struggling with a new task can help to humanize authority figures. 
  • Consider cost, but think about what you'll gain in the long run. Spending money on corporate team building activities can increase productivity, lower employee conflict, and increase employee retention.

Fresh Team Building Activities and Ideas

Developing team building activities that keep employees engaged and excited can be tough, but taking the time required to develop activities that actually build team spirit within an organization is well worth your time. 

Here, we'll take a look at some different team building examples that can help your employees and supervisors come together and develop a sense of camaraderie. 

Team Building Ideas for an In-Person Event

It's great to get your team together face-to-face, and if you're able to hold an in-person team building event, you have many options for bringing your employees together. 

Try these fun in-person event team building ideas: 

• • Solve a puzzle: Team building activities that offer a tangible project can make it easier for shy employees to open up. Asking employees to complete a puzzle together can help them chat with one another while working to accomplish a common goal. Jigsaw puzzles not your style? A murder mystery kit can also provide employees with a fun activity to work on as they get to know each other and grow as a team. 
  • Take a class: Signing up for a cooking or painting class can be a fun way for employees to connect with one another while learning a new skill. Not sure what kind of class might appeal to your employees? Offer a poll to find out what might interest them.

Team Building Ideas for a Hybrid Event

When some of your team is in person and some of the team is working virtually, it can be tough to come up with ideas that are equally engaging for both groups. Here, we'll take a look at some collaborative team building options that can engage your entire organization, no matter where employees are working from. 

• • Virtual wine tasting: This option requires a bit of prep work, but it can be well worth your while. Work with a winery or virtual sommelier to develop a virtual wine tasting class that allows some employees to enjoy wine in the office, while others get to sip and chat over Zoom. To make the experience feel like everyone is hanging out together, stream a Zoom with your at-home employees onto a large screen so that they can easily chat with your in-office crew. 
  • Book club: Choose a fun, exciting bestseller and create a book club that gives employees the option to attend meetings online or in-office. Keep your book club meetings on company time, and don't force employees to miss lunch or a break in order to chat. Remember, when employees bond with each other, productivity goes up, and everyone wins. Don't make employees feel like they need to sacrifice their personal time to engage with their coworkers.

Team Building Ideas for a Virtual Event

Coming up with team building activities for a virtual event can be a bit more challenging, but don't worry—we've got you covered. Try these fun team building activities for your virtual event: 

• • Scavenger hunt: Your employees are at home—challenge them to work as a team to find a list of objects within their home. You can split employees into teams or have them work together as a large group. 
  • Trivia night: Split your team into groups and set up or attend a virtual trivia night. Teams will have fun quietly chatting together while working to win. To increase the fun of a virtual trivia night, set the stakes high—offer lunch at a high-class area eatery or a half-day of PTO for the winner of the game. 

Out and About: How to Build Team Culture Through Outings

Getting your team members out into the real world can provide fun insights into their strengths, and can help them get to know one another on a new level. 

There's no need for outings to be super-formal. If you think your employees would enjoy a super-organized activity like a zip line course or dance lessons, by all means, offer it as a team building option. You may find, however, that your employees have a better chance to get to know one another in a more relaxed environment.

Both virtual and in-person team building sessions can offer fun opportunities to let employees interact in a less-structured environment. Enjoying an in-person or virtual concert together, getting together for an IRL or Zoom happy hour, or celebrating a company milestone through an online or in-person party during work hours can help employees relax and enjoy their time getting to know each other. 

Try to resist the urge to make employees participate in activities during a purely social outing. Instead, allow your employees to take the event at their own pace, getting to know one another on their own terms. When employees see that outing events are relaxed, they'll be more likely to engage in these events in the future instead of gritting their teeth through "mandatory fun."

Changing Corporate Culture: How Team Building Can Change a Negative Work Environment

If your corporate culture has taken a nosedive in recent months, you're not alone. Unprecedented challenges have made it hard to keep employee morale high, desire best efforts. If you've noticed that your employees have been struggling recently, make it clear that you're engaging in team building activities to make their jobs easier—not to add something else to their plates. 

How 6Connex Can Help

At 6Connex, we're here to work with you to create a virtual venue that you need for your event. Whether you're solely focusing on team building ideas or you want to create a virtual trade show that includes opportunities for professionals to get to know one another, we've got you covered. 

Reach out to us today to talk about how we can make your vision for your virtual or hybrid event a reality.