Team Building Activities
Team building activities
Teams/forming groups
1)Forming – meet, greet, dependant, roles, rules
2)Storming - Counter dependant – like, dislike, challenge, silent, conflict
3)Norming – rules, perfect, roles clarified, form solid roles / rules, compromise, function, unwritten
4)Mourning – separate, interdependent, problems solved, depart, break up
*Team, communication, SAFETY and Respect!
Have you Ever?
Icebreaker
Description-
Stand in circle, have spots you have to stand on, person starts in middle (so there’s one less spot, and someone has to stand in the middle!)
To get out of the circle, you have to ask a question, “Have you ever…”, and anyone who says “Yes”, has to get to a different spot other than the one next to them or their own!
Things to think about
*Teams, leaders, dynamics, move, approach, goal = not to be in the middle, how did you move?
Moniker
Name game, name recognition
Description-
You take the first letter of your name, and use a noun, adjective, or verb to precede your name… example, “Brilliant Brian”. After you go around the circle and establish names, you clarify. Then you pass a ball around the circle (across from each other), while saying the names. You add balls, or even water balloons while juggling names / objects.
Things to think about
*Name recognition, juggling, direction, multitasking, teamwork, communication, remembering…
Group Juggle
Multitasking
Description-
From the Moniker game, you add objects to juggle, distract, interact, communicate, reverse the direction, clarify, communicate, team, internal/external, process, listening, skill, ideas, response, ripple / domino effect, balance, boundaries, trust, ideas, driven…
Hula Hoop
Teamwork
Description-
Link arms together, put hula-hoop inside arms, and you have to get the hula-hoop around the circle.
Things to think about
*Comfort, skill level, teamwork, communication, pride, assistance/support/encourage, building, improvement, flexibility, “fit”, help, team, creative, dynamics, TRUST, link, communicate
Trolley’s
Team
Description-
Two pieces of wood on the ground, everyone stands on them, then you take a rope from the wood in each hand, and have to move all at one time (no falling).
*Things to think about
*Process, strategy, communication, goal, in the midst of confusion, verbal and non verbal communication (can make rules to where there is 1 leader, and they can’t speak, pick the quietist person…), affected by trust, height, size, strength, “leap of faith”, working together, communication/teamwork. Talk, efficient? Pay attention, adjust, encourage, input, define, interpret, control, help/hurt, feedback, group goal/vision/define/interpret/change
Mission Impossible
“The Cure”
Description-
Take a jump rope or rope(s) and make a circle with the radius the length of the tallest person. Put a cup of water in the middle (say it’s a billion dollar cure to make gas or something), and you have to get the water our of the circle without holding /touching the rope, and can’t touch inside the rope.
*Things to think about
*SAFETY! You have to lower someone in there, yet harness the person(s) lowering the other person inside the rope! Spotters, support, encourage, TEAM, strength, ideas, involved? Trust, participate, trial and error. Effort, initiative, boundaries, team, coordinate. Short term, long term. Process, “reverse trust fall”. Listen, work together. Leader? *Sometimes people use their belts, and they snap! RISK?!
Blind Polygon
Description-
Some people are blindfolded, some can’t talk, some can’t use an arm, maybe someone has to walk only backwards (pick the people who talk a lot / extroverts to be the silent ones that can see), pick the quiet ones to be blind. You have a rope that you have to get into the shape of a polygon. The mute have to lead the blind. People have to make sense of their “new world”.
*Things to think about
*Communicate, verbal, non verbal (snap/clap), communicate, plan, who’s “Needy”, who “needs to know”, TRUST, info, acceptance, task, goal, leaders? Ideas, resources, combine, needs
Whale Watch
“Balance/teeter totter”
Description-
Have to have a balancing platform, and get people on it without the ends touching the ground, and get everyone on there, and can have people switch sides (ends can’t touch).
*Things to think about
*Rely, trust, communication, weight/height, communication, turbulence, people chanting / chiming in (need to trust/communicate) , respect, patience, response
]
Mountain Top
Patterns
Description-
You have 3 platforms that are spaced out, and you can’t jump to and from them, but have 2 pieces of wood that people have to balance with weight, and they stand on it, let others over, then they stand on it, then you get to it… using teamwork/the platforms/weight/each other, and the tools you have, you get to the end.
Things to think about
SAFETY! You can turn your ankles easy on this… Process, teamwork, communication, coordination, clarity, ego, change, adjust, verbal, dominating?, appreciate, strengths, weaknesses (physical/mental). Group, trust, involved, intro vs. extro, accept, remember, utilize, group. Energy, impact, organize, styles, tools.
Leap of Faith
Trust Fall
Description-
Teams of people by two. One stands with arms folded, relaxed, don’t move. Another stands behind them and is in a stance that they can hold their weight as they fall back, then pushes them (gently) back up.
*Things to think about
*Use resources, strength, TRUST, build, merge, and commands! USE Commands/SAFETY! “Spotter ready”, respond “spotter ready”, then “falling”, spotter = “fall on”… Develop and prepare for wall climb. TRUST.
The Wall
Climb
Description-
Have to get over a 15 ft wall. Spotters, lifters, and helpers (at top and bottom). Safety! Goal, vision, plan = to get over wall.
*Things to think about
*Teamwork, strength, combine, coordinate, task, obstacles in life = encounter/engage/approach/lift/support/encourage/assist! Process, strategy, how to get everyone over (can only go over once, have 2 people at top), but everyone spots/helps!!!
Trust, support, what’s needed… figure out… problem solve. All or none, change, adjust, team, personal satisfaction from helping… Strengths, weaknesses, roles, rules, team, knowledge, aware, develop, involved, team…
Recovery is not an event, it’s a process! Break routine
Closing Exercises – can use whenever…
Zoom
(fun/interaction)
Description –
Everyone sits or stands in a circle, and you have to say “Zoom” louder with each person.
*Things to think about
*Interact, get comfortable, VOICE, interact, communicate, have to achieve goal as a team. Ideas, all say zoom at one time low, then once loud. Have someone direct / conduct each person louder. Fun! Or sing it at your tone/pitch, and keep it steady so everyone can hear you!
Stew
(Fun/interaction)
Everyone adds to the pot (“Stew”) to make a stew. Connect, consistent, connect… Spices = variety, steak = strength, carrots = energy / conviction, Spinage = strength/courage, Sweat = hard work, Garbage = distractions, … non verbal, communication, teamwork, trust, balance, flavor, UNIQUE flavor/consistency, team/individual, trust, let it simmer, need a ladle, stir it (together, in the middle near “pot”), all put hands (grasp thumbs and turn….) yelling your motto, chant, or “Zoom”!
Diversity, togetherness, flavor, different, change, develop, style, dynamics, limitations, capabilities, taste, change, flavor…
Teams/forming groups
1)Forming – meet, greet, dependant, roles, rules
2)Storming - Counter dependant – like, dislike, challenge, silent, conflict
3)Norming – rules, perfect, roles clarified, form solid roles / rules, compromise, function, unwritten
4)Mourning – separate, interdependent, problems solved, depart, break up
*Team, communication, SAFETY and Respect!
Have you Ever?
Icebreaker
Description-
Stand in circle, have spots you have to stand on, person starts in middle (so there’s one less spot, and someone has to stand in the middle!)
To get out of the circle, you have to ask a question, “Have you ever…”, and anyone who says “Yes”, has to get to a different spot other than the one next to them or their own!
Things to think about
*Teams, leaders, dynamics, move, approach, goal = not to be in the middle, how did you move?
Moniker
Name game, name recognition
Description-
You take the first letter of your name, and use a noun, adjective, or verb to precede your name… example, “Brilliant Brian”. After you go around the circle and establish names, you clarify. Then you pass a ball around the circle (across from each other), while saying the names. You add balls, or even water balloons while juggling names / objects.
Things to think about
*Name recognition, juggling, direction, multitasking, teamwork, communication, remembering…
Group Juggle
Multitasking
Description-
From the Moniker game, you add objects to juggle, distract, interact, communicate, reverse the direction, clarify, communicate, team, internal/external, process, listening, skill, ideas, response, ripple / domino effect, balance, boundaries, trust, ideas, driven…
Hula Hoop
Teamwork
Description-
Link arms together, put hula-hoop inside arms, and you have to get the hula-hoop around the circle.
Things to think about
*Comfort, skill level, teamwork, communication, pride, assistance/support/encourage, building, improvement, flexibility, “fit”, help, team, creative, dynamics, TRUST, link, communicate
Trolley’s
Team
Description-
Two pieces of wood on the ground, everyone stands on them, then you take a rope from the wood in each hand, and have to move all at one time (no falling).
*Things to think about
*Process, strategy, communication, goal, in the midst of confusion, verbal and non verbal communication (can make rules to where there is 1 leader, and they can’t speak, pick the quietist person…), affected by trust, height, size, strength, “leap of faith”, working together, communication/teamwork. Talk, efficient? Pay attention, adjust, encourage, input, define, interpret, control, help/hurt, feedback, group goal/vision/define/interpret/change
Mission Impossible
“The Cure”
Description-
Take a jump rope or rope(s) and make a circle with the radius the length of the tallest person. Put a cup of water in the middle (say it’s a billion dollar cure to make gas or something), and you have to get the water our of the circle without holding /touching the rope, and can’t touch inside the rope.
*Things to think about
*SAFETY! You have to lower someone in there, yet harness the person(s) lowering the other person inside the rope! Spotters, support, encourage, TEAM, strength, ideas, involved? Trust, participate, trial and error. Effort, initiative, boundaries, team, coordinate. Short term, long term. Process, “reverse trust fall”. Listen, work together. Leader? *Sometimes people use their belts, and they snap! RISK?!
Blind Polygon
Description-
Some people are blindfolded, some can’t talk, some can’t use an arm, maybe someone has to walk only backwards (pick the people who talk a lot / extroverts to be the silent ones that can see), pick the quiet ones to be blind. You have a rope that you have to get into the shape of a polygon. The mute have to lead the blind. People have to make sense of their “new world”.
*Things to think about
*Communicate, verbal, non verbal (snap/clap), communicate, plan, who’s “Needy”, who “needs to know”, TRUST, info, acceptance, task, goal, leaders? Ideas, resources, combine, needs
Whale Watch
“Balance/teeter totter”
Description-
Have to have a balancing platform, and get people on it without the ends touching the ground, and get everyone on there, and can have people switch sides (ends can’t touch).
*Things to think about
*Rely, trust, communication, weight/height, communication, turbulence, people chanting / chiming in (need to trust/communicate) , respect, patience, response
]
Mountain Top
Patterns
Description-
You have 3 platforms that are spaced out, and you can’t jump to and from them, but have 2 pieces of wood that people have to balance with weight, and they stand on it, let others over, then they stand on it, then you get to it… using teamwork/the platforms/weight/each other, and the tools you have, you get to the end.
Things to think about
SAFETY! You can turn your ankles easy on this… Process, teamwork, communication, coordination, clarity, ego, change, adjust, verbal, dominating?, appreciate, strengths, weaknesses (physical/mental). Group, trust, involved, intro vs. extro, accept, remember, utilize, group. Energy, impact, organize, styles, tools.
Leap of Faith
Trust Fall
Description-
Teams of people by two. One stands with arms folded, relaxed, don’t move. Another stands behind them and is in a stance that they can hold their weight as they fall back, then pushes them (gently) back up.
*Things to think about
*Use resources, strength, TRUST, build, merge, and commands! USE Commands/SAFETY! “Spotter ready”, respond “spotter ready”, then “falling”, spotter = “fall on”… Develop and prepare for wall climb. TRUST.
The Wall
Climb
Description-
Have to get over a 15 ft wall. Spotters, lifters, and helpers (at top and bottom). Safety! Goal, vision, plan = to get over wall.
*Things to think about
*Teamwork, strength, combine, coordinate, task, obstacles in life = encounter/engage/approach/lift/support/encourage/assist! Process, strategy, how to get everyone over (can only go over once, have 2 people at top), but everyone spots/helps!!!
Trust, support, what’s needed… figure out… problem solve. All or none, change, adjust, team, personal satisfaction from helping… Strengths, weaknesses, roles, rules, team, knowledge, aware, develop, involved, team…
Recovery is not an event, it’s a process! Break routine
Closing Exercises – can use whenever…
Zoom
(fun/interaction)
Description –
Everyone sits or stands in a circle, and you have to say “Zoom” louder with each person.
*Things to think about
*Interact, get comfortable, VOICE, interact, communicate, have to achieve goal as a team. Ideas, all say zoom at one time low, then once loud. Have someone direct / conduct each person louder. Fun! Or sing it at your tone/pitch, and keep it steady so everyone can hear you!
Stew
(Fun/interaction)
Everyone adds to the pot (“Stew”) to make a stew. Connect, consistent, connect… Spices = variety, steak = strength, carrots = energy / conviction, Spinage = strength/courage, Sweat = hard work, Garbage = distractions, … non verbal, communication, teamwork, trust, balance, flavor, UNIQUE flavor/consistency, team/individual, trust, let it simmer, need a ladle, stir it (together, in the middle near “pot”), all put hands (grasp thumbs and turn….) yelling your motto, chant, or “Zoom”!
Diversity, togetherness, flavor, different, change, develop, style, dynamics, limitations, capabilities, taste, change, flavor…
Comments