12/10/2018
Close-knit teams work more effectively and productively together. This is why scheduling regular team bonding activities encourages staff members to get to know their colleagues better while also having a little fun.
What’s a fun and effective team bonding activity that’s free or budget–friendly?
1. Group workouts
This activity can bring a team or group closer together than a good, old-fashioned group workout or boot camp. Not something that will make people pass out and hurl, but something that everyone involved can win at.
2. Feedback circles
Everyone had to provide both positive and constructive feedback to everyone else. We took turns—first, one person would receive feedback from everyone, and then we would switch. The person receiving feedback wasn’t allowed to respond or argue, but just had to listen.
3. Naming and branding individual teams
Like a sports team, give office teams a name, and a natural sense of ownership will occur. Have them create their own logos and, if they really get into it, some office swag.
4. In-office happy hour
You can have happy hour right in your office! Pick up or order some drinks and snacks. End one Friday of the month an hour early, and get everyone to shut off their computers, stop working, and start relaxing.
5. Potluck lunches
Potlucks are a really fun way to bring the team together at little to no cost to your company. Everyone loves to eat so most people get really excited about them. It allows people to show off their personal cultures and ethnicity through foods.
6. Park or beach games
There are plenty of games that you can play at a beach or park that provide some great team bonding on a budget. It could be volleyball, disc golf, or other sports that involve a team, followed by a picnic.
7. Volunteering as a team
Spending a few hours at a soup kitchen, gathering toys for needy children, or organizing a community cleanup brings teams together. Employees get the warm feeling of helping others, and it gives your team a chance to get to know each other and work together outside the office.
8. Improv workshops
Improv is all about spontaneity and can build team bonding by helping employees get out of their comfort zone. There are several improv workshop exercises that you can get online at no cost.
9. Friendly internal competition
Everyone loves a little competition. We’ve hosted a range of internal competitions to keep things interesting. These competitive, yet friendly activities, include indoor and outdoor games, fund-raisers, mobile app games like “Heads Up,” and more.
10. Coffee walks
Our team loves to step out of the office for a coffee break. We try to do a team walk once a month, when we all go together. It allows us to get some air and chat about non-business life while we treat the team to coffee.
11. Monthly game nights
My team recently started holding monthly game nights after work. It’s a great way to not only relax and bond, but you utilize a lot of different skills playing board games.
12. Camping
We go camping at the beach or mountains with our team. It’s fun, low-cost, and a great bonding experience.
13. Employee mentorship
One of the most successful and fun programs we’ve had is our mentorship program. Team members bond across departments with one veteran and one junior employee pairing up and prepping for a pitch off.