Building Stronger Teams Through Games

In today’s work environment, there can be a lot of challenges building genuine connections between team members. Along with workplace programs for management skills and communication skills, a focus on “playtime” is necessary too. Not only to give employees a break from the workload, but to give them a chance to connect to their co-workers in a different way. Strengthening professional relationships through teamwork doesn’t only happen during a high-stakes project; it can happen through working together in a team-building game.

 

If there’s time at an event, try adding a fun ice-breaker game to get teams to “warm up” their creative side. Ask participants: “Tell me something interesting about yourself that’s *not* on your resume”. Another idea from an even more creative brain space: “Satan announces he’s opening “Heck: a *less severe* version of “Hell”. What kind of torture goes on there?” This ice-breaker will get teams thinking outside-the-box and it’s also very entertaining!

 

Why Games Work for Team Building:

 

The Power of Shared Experiences

Games aren’t just for entertainment—they’re powerful tools for team-building that can transform how your team works together long after the game ends. When teams play together, they create memories that strengthen relationships. They create a more unique bond than what a normal work meeting would provide.

 

Breaking Down Barriers

Games level the playing field. The CEO might struggle with a riddle that the newest team member solves instantly. This reshuffling of expertise creates space for new patterns of respect and collaboration.

 

Revealing Hidden Talents

Many workplace environments only showcase a narrow set of skills. Games can reveal completely different abilities – creativity, spatial reasoning, quick thinking, leadership – that might otherwise remain hidden. When playing team games, encourage members to take on roles to match their natural abilities: Strong navigators can manage maps and directions; Detail-oriented members can track clues and answers; Organized thinkers can keep the team on schedule; Natural mediators can help build consensus.

 

Reflection: The Key to Lasting Impact 

The most powerful learning happens during reflection. After the team-building game, ask questions like:

What did our team excel at? Provide specific examples.
Who surprised you in a good way, and how?
What was our biggest roadblock, and how did we overcome it?
If our team had a “baseball walk-up” song, what would it be and why?
What was the most resourceful solution we found?

These questions transform a fun activity into meaningful insights about how teams function.

 

Creating Joy

Most importantly, games create joy. People in the workplace want more time for learning, exploring, and connecting with their coworkers. Simply, finding more time to HAVE FUN.

 

Valerie Querns
Event Host for Watson Adventures in Chicago
Watson Adventures hosts team-building scavenger hunts all over the US, in museums and also outdoor locations.

 

Content provided by Women Belong member  Valerie Querns