“All work and no play…” is a common saying that alludes to the danger of working all the time without taking a break to relax and have some fun. To avoid the fatigue and inefficiency that comes with incessant working, modern companies have started adopting a schedule that allows their workers to take a rest and play some games to unwind. However, in addition to being fun, there are some office games that have the added advantage of fostering an inter-office relationship between workers.
Here are some very effective yet simple team building games and activities:
Scavenger Hunts
Few team building activities offer as much fun as a scavenger hunt. Workers get to leave the confines of the office, meet new people, see new places, and complete “silly” tasks with their co-workers. Some hunts come with puzzles, incorporating problem-solving into an already exciting experience. Team Building NYC help companies organize great team building exercises in New York and their scavenger hunts are unrivaled in the tri-state area.
The Minefield
This game can be carried out by as little as four people and as many as twelve (there has to be an even number of participants). While an open space e.g. a parking lot or a beach is the most ideal, the Minefield may also be set up in a very spacious room. Objects—cones, balls, or small chairs—are placed randomly across the open space and team members are placed in pairs. One of them wears a blindfold and the other, using verbal instructions only, guides their partner through the “minefield” and to a pre-set finish line.
The Minefield builds trust and good-natured rapport among team members; it also improves their communication and listening skills.
Sneak-a-peek Puzzle
This game doubles as a problem-solving activity in addition to being a team building exercise. A puzzle is assembled using parts of a building block and the “structure” is kept in a room/office. Workers are split into groups of four with the goal of reconstructing the structure in another room. To that end, each group will send a member to the room where the structure is placed, the member has 10 seconds to memorize the shape/arrangement before re-joining the group and reconstructing it. If the member doesn’t get the arrangement right after 2 minutes, the group sends another member to sneak-a-peek and repeat the process. The first group to reconstruct the puzzle wins.
This team building activity teaches members how to work together to achieve a common goal and relate with one another effectively.
Blind Drawing
This works well in small offices; as few as 3 people may participate, but the more, the merrier. Furthermore, the items required are readily available in nearly all workplaces. Form a group of 2 and have both members in the group sit back-to-back. One member holds a picture and the other, a pen and a piece of paper. The objective is to describe the image in the picture so that the other party can draw it.
For example, if the image depicts a bird in full-flight, the “describer” cannot mention the word “bird”. They can only describe the image using other terms and hope their partner interprets their description appropriately. In the end, the drawing is compared to the original picture and everyone has a laugh about it. This game also improves communication skills and it makes it easier for workers to cooperate when higher stakes are involved.
Community Service
This activity requires some hours outside the office, say a visit—bearing gifts—to a neighboring orphanage, cleaning up a park close-by, or some other activity that is related to values that the company holds dear.
The time spent outdoors can be refreshing and workers can bond over the communal satisfaction that comes with doing something impactful for the society.
Work can be hard and everyone deserves an hour or two from the hustle-bustle that comes with their jobs. The activities outlined above help workers release some workplace tension and at the same time, build effective workplace relationships with their colleagues.