Building a team that fully trusts and supports each other is a challenge. The daily office talk is often not enough on its own. In order to create a great team that works seamlessly together you need to spend time cultivating those relationships. Below are a few free exercises you can do in 15 to 30 minutes. Take a break once a week and play one of these games with your team. You’ll likely start to notice the difference in how your team interacts right away!
Two Truths and a Lie
No matter how familiar you already are with your team this game is bound to help you learn more about the individuals you work with. Before a meeting one morning ask all your employees to have two truths and one lie about themselves ready to share with the group. At the start of the meeting have each person share their three statements and then work as a team to try to figure out which one is a lie. Lies that are well hidden make the game more fun.
For example:
- I can play the piano.
- I can’t swim.
- I once sang to of a stadium full of people.
Let’s say the lie in this example is, about not being able to swim. This could spark all sorts of conversations about this person’s life. Let those conversations happen and then start the game over with the next person.
Ha, Ha
You may have played this game as a child, but it can still be a fun way to break up the day and get everyone smiling. After everyone is sitting down, tell them all that they have to remain as serious as possible. Pick one person to start the game by saying “Ha” just once. Then the next person sitting beside them adds on saying “Ha, Ha.” The game goes on in this fashion adding the word “Ha” each turn. Players are eliminated when they laugh or make a noise when it’s not their turn. The last one left is the winner.
There are many other games and icebreakers that you can use to try to help bring your team together, and send them back to their desks smiling. Soon your team will know each other as actual people instead of just coworkers.
