10 Team-Building Activities that Motivate

Employee disconnect is cited as a significant factor in many peoples’ decisions to leave an organization. 27% of those who left their company in the first year stated the lack of collaboration led to their decision. Finding ways to increase teamwork and collaboration within a company is essential to organizational success.

Here are 10 team-building activities to motivate your teams once they regroup after Covid-19:

1. Team Lunches

Setting up team lunches is a quick and easy way to create group rapport. Scheduled group outings for lunch creates a break from the workday and allows coworkers to communicate in a more relaxed atmosphere. Employees find that group lunches help to fuel cross-department brainstorming as well as cement interpersonal, professional relationships.

2. Schedule Time for Workplace Clubs

Whether it be a book club, knitting club, or walking club, find a way to integrate common hobbies into a small portion of the workday — even if it’s biweekly. Studies show workers who take short breaks throughout the day are more productive and focused on the task at hand. Outside of clearing their mind, these small group breaks offer a chance for your employees to build a sense of community. 54% of employees state a strong sense of community has kept them from leaving their current position.

81% of #millennials state they will be committed to an employer that offers long-term #mentoring. What is your company doing to foster meaningful relationships in the workplace? @RedBranch Share on X

3. Group Mentoring

It is no secret that mentoring and continuous training leads to higher rates of success in the workplace. With millennials quickly becoming the largest group in the workforce, mentoring programs are sure to become essential to organizations. 81% of millennials state they will be committed to an employer that offers long-term mentoring. You can capitalize on this momentum by pairing senior-ranking employees with younger coworkers. Give them the opportunity to impart wisdom, share stories, and offer advice. Not only will this help to create a sense of community, but it will also provide your teams with a chance to improve their skill sets and camaraderie.

4. Group Volunteering

Camaraderie, reduced turnover rates, and more robust company culture are all benefits companies can expect with instituting corporate volunteer programs. Charity programs offer an opportunity to put their abilities to use in a meaningful way, and there is also evidence showing that charitable contributions lead to increased leadership skills and a broader set of professional skills.

Need some ideas? Check out these 50 volunteering ideas and tips from SignUpGenius.

5. Meeting Icebreakers

Icebreakers are a quick and easy way to help loosen the team up in meetings, especially before collaborative meetings like a brainstorming session. Need some advice on icebreakers to use before your next meeting? Here are 13 ideas for icebreakers from HubSpot.

6. Cross-Department Shadowing

Rather than the classic “Bring Your Kid to Work Day,” you can implement a “Bring An Employee to Your Department Day.” Pair people up from various departments and have them spend an afternoon shadowing each other. This allows employees to understand the daily processes of different departments better, and might even open their eyes to new career opportunities. If their workload doesn’t allow for this, encourage departments to hold weekly catered lunch and learns. These allow teams to show off the importance of their job and educate the team about a day in the life of their position.

7. Offer On-Site Classes

Many workplaces are realizing the correlation between employee fulfillment and engagement. By implementing fun classes after work hours or on the weekends, ranging from courses on cooking, crafting, and even beer making, companies can provide fun opportunities for their employees and families to learn together.

8. Set Organizational Goals as a Team

When teams set goals together, individual members feel a strong sense of belongingness. Working toward overarching company goals and understanding how their role directly affects the outcome gives employees a sense of buy-in. For team goals to be successful, they need to be meaningful to each person on the team. Goals should be made transparently, with clear responsibilities outlined.

Tip: Departments should set smaller goals together that push the team along and align with overarching organizational goals to further the company roadmap while improving individual skills.

Check out these 10 tips for motivating employees through #teambuilding after #Covid19 from @RedBranch: Share on X

9. Company Sports Teams

Company sports teams are an excellent way for organizations to encourage teamwork and employee wellness. Intramural teams help reduce stress and break down company barriers while boosting a healthy level of peer-to-peer competition. Sports teams help tighten the bond between employees. Studies show that the more connected an employee feels to their coworkers, the more likely they are to stay in their role and make a genuine impact on the organization.

10. Offer Collaboration Spaces

97% of employees and leaders believe a lack of alignment within teams negatively impacts the outcome of a task, and 33% of millennials state they would like collaborative workspaces. Finding space within their structure to facilitate collaborative work helps to increase teamwork and motivate your employees to work more effectively.

Tip: Designate areas around the office space as collaborative work environments. Encourage employees to use these spaces frequently to create a strong sense of community.

Teamwork is an essential part of any organization, even when you’re working completely remote. Check out our COVID-19 Swipe File with important resources, including The Beginner’s Survival Guide to Working from Home and Virtual Company Culture Building.