Team-building games are used frequently as a way to promote team motivation, promote bonding and improve communication. A team-building exercise can be effective both for groups who have never met and for those who already know one another. These exercises are often creative and range from clapping and chanting in unison to games that allow members of the team to share their personal experiences.
Back-to-Back Drawing
Divide people into pairs and have each pair stand back to back. Give one member of the pair a pencil, a piece of paper and a clipboard. Give the other person in each pair a photo. The person who has the picture gives verbal directions to the other player, who attempts to draw an exact replicate of the photo that has been provided. Once the drawing is complete, players compare it with the photo.
Zip Zap Zop
Zip Zap Zop is a silly game that works on attention to detail and teamwork. This game contributes to team building as it requires listening closely to the members of your team. By yelling out the correct word when selected, your teammates will also know that you are paying attention. Have each member of the team stand in a circle. One player begins the game by yelling "Zip!" while pointing to another player, who must yell "Zap!". Again, that player points to someone else, who must immediately yell "Zop!". The game continues with each word being said in order. If any player messes up and says a word in a different order, that player is eliminated.
Call of the Wild
This game is useful as an icebreaker or to break up the monotony of a meeting. Write the names of common animals on index cards. Each animal must appear on at least two cards. Pass out the cards to participants, instructing them to keep their animals secret. Have everyone stand in an open area, close their eyes and begin making the sound of the animal they selected. Everyone must roam around, following the sounds of others to meet up with the other players who were given the same animal card.
What Does Your Name Mean?
This game is used as a way to learn the names of each person in your group while learning a little about them. Get the group together and instruct each person to tell the group his name and explain why their parents chose it, what he thought of the name growing up and how he feels about the name today. This should make for some interesting stories that can be the topic of conversations in the future. You can also ask everyone if they have nicknames and, if so, how they got them.
References
- "Quick Team-Building Activities for Busy Managers: 50 Exercises that Get Results in Just 15 Minutes"; Brian Cole Miller; 2003
- "Team Building Activities for Every Group"; Alanna Jones; 2000
- "The Big Book of Team Building Games: Trust-Building Activities, Team Spirit Exercises and Other Fun Things to Do"; John Newstrom; 1997
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