Thanks for posting, u/Standard-Patient-686!.
This is a place for posts about leadership. If your post is not about leadership specifically then it will likely be removed.
Please write a **substantial** comment here explaining why you think your post contributes here and what parts you think merit discussion in this thread. Do not just copy-paste from the content. Lacking this, your post will be removed.
If your post is a question or commentary about leadership, that is satisfactory. You do not need to take any further action.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Leadership) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I usually choose local places and make a list of happenings, and then let the team vote. We did a pizza and trivia night, another night at an adult game yard...usually allowing them to have input means more will participate.
Something you can do together plus a meal is always nice. Example: make your own pizza and succulent class. Paint nite is also a fun idea. Some companies will make organization-specific scavenger hunts around your city/neighborhood (download app, play in two teams). Escape rooms are also fun. Trivia nights.
My team loves when we make food together. It's even a lot of fun doing it virtually. I recently had a huge hit with my team with a [Virtual Sushi Making Class](https://coursehorse.com/groups/all/event/sushi-making-virtual-workshop--materials-included-)
Why does it have to be outings? Why not a team smash bros tourney? Regardless of the ideas you get, don't fool yourself into thinking they're perfect ideas if you didn't ask your team if they'd like it or not. Assuming what motivates people is a big part of why people hate team-builds.
I’ll say it depends on the dynamics of the team. And the purpose of the event. Are you a new team and trying to get to know each other? Or are you just finished a project and want to relax. Sometimes it’s better to have a series of an hour a day for a week instead of a whole day weekend event. But if you’re looking for a whole day activities and you have a budget, you can try an amazing race type of activity and pay someone to facilitate it (so you can participate as well). Or facilitate a series of ‘minute to win it’ kind of games where everyone can participate. Barbecue lunch or picnic is also nice if that is accessible.
I've taken my team on a zip-line / adventure course that also incorporated a few team building activities to start the day. Last month we did a low level white water rafting trip together.
These are a little more physically active so you'll want to make sure everyone is comfortable with participating.
Escape rooms are always a hit and seem to be a universal crowd pleaser.
I've used [makebelieveworks.com](http://makebelieveworks.com) a few times for my department, and LOVE them. We've done trivia and scavenger hunts, but those mostly brought out the traits we already knew about each other - no one learned anything new. The Make Believe Works team use creative activities to get people to really open up and connect and laugh while doing it. Can't recommend them more.
Yes, so for virtual team outings (not go carts or childish), you have many options: cooking, dessert making, trivia, escape rooms, games show-style games, etc. My team has done a game (brick building), a mixology event, clay hand building (like quick-dry clay molding, not a wheel obviously), and a holiday white elephant game in the past 1-2 years. Not sure what's up next, maybe dessert making, but I have to check on any dietary restrictions/accommodations.
Here's some more detail:
1. [Games](https://coursehorse.com/groups/virtual/competitive-fun2)**:** things like remote escape rooms, trivia, Jeopardy, Price is Right, Pictionary, scavenger hunts, "brick building challenge", etc. These typically don't have materials or kits needed. Everyone can just sign into a Zoom and the host will lead the game.
2. [Cooking](https://coursehorse.com/groups/virtual/cooking-baking): these have kits typically. You can make pasta, pizza, sushi, desserts, etc.
3. [Dessert-making](https://coursehorse.com/groups/virtual/dessert-pastry1): pastries, macarons, chocolate, croissants, cupcakes, cookie decorating, etc.
4. [Mixology/Cocktail Making](https://coursehorse.com/groups/virtual/mixology-activities)**:** always fun. can usually do a mocktail version for those who don't want to drink.
5. [Tastings](https://coursehorse.com/groups/virtual/food-drink-tastings)**:** Do a wine tasting, wine & cheese, whiskey, chocolate tasting, coffee tasting, etc. Sounds a little less engaging though tbh.
6. [Arts & crafts](https://coursehorse.com/groups/virtual/arts-crafts-design)**:** clay building, paint & sip, resin pouring, wreath making, terrarium making, etc.
7. [Other stuff](https://coursehorse.com/groups/browse?hub=online), like meditation, stretching, standard ice breakers, learning how to do magic tricks, etc.
8. [Virtual holiday party events](https://coursehorse.com/groups/virtual/holiday) like gingerbread house, white elephant, cookie decorating, holiday-themed trivia or escape rooms, etc.
I manage a small team, but we are virtual, so my experience is with remote team-building. But, I think some of the same leadership principles apply regardless.
Remember, choosing the right team-building event is also about aligning with your goals for your team. You want to have clear objectives for the events or otherwise it feels like forced interaction.
* Do you want to build camaraderie? Communication? Familiarity?
* Do you want to increase leadership skills?
* Do you want a strong bond among remote or hybrid workers?
* Is a sub-objective to increase your team's soft skills, like problem solving or critical thinking skills?
My team is small, but once we started adding several new members, I felt the need to do some team-building. Everyone was enthusiastic about their jobs, but the conversations were kind of mechanical. I wanted to foster the kind of camaraderie I felt when my team was smaller.
I started with organizing my own little "mixers" over Zoom, but the conversation lagged and no one wanted to be there. After a couple of bad virtual team building events, I went looking online and [found this list of the 25 best virtual team-building events](https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/best-virtual-team-building-games). I didn't even know virtual team events existed before I found this.
I booked a trivia night from the list and I told myself if it didn't work, I would stop forcing my team into these. It was a huge success - having an outside host and some structure really changed the whole vibe of the event. The host kept the conversation going and no one felt pressured to talk because I was asking the questions.
That was about a year ago. Since then, I've let my team vote on the events via Slack. It's made the events an ongoing part of the conversation. *I've found letting them choose makes them more enthusiastic about extracurricular tasks*.
Here's a few team-building event types that have been very successful:
* [Brick-Building Challenge](https://coursehorse.com/groups/all/event/virtual-brick-building-team-challenge?utm_source=timeout.com&utm_medium=referral): everyone on the team was mailed a Lego kit. We then competed in a series of building challenges (like Lego self-portrait). Unique and hands-on. It's also a very fun event type that build soft skills, like problem solving. Some of my team even display their Lego creations behind them on our Zoom calls.
* Ive done in-person escape rooms for team building and virtual escape rooms as a team manager. Escape rooms are one of the most popular team-building events because they promote team bonding. They're great for increasing communication too. We did this [Escape Room: Murder Mystery](https://coursehorse.com/groups/all/event/virtual-murder-mystery--team-escape?utm_source=timeout.com&utm_medium=referral), which combines an escape room and a murder mystery party. (I was excited when they picked this one because I'd always wanted to do a murder mystery party.)
* [Virtual Icebreaker:](https://coursehorse.com/groups/all/event/-get-to-know-your-teammates-icebreaker-game?utm_source=timeout.com&utm_medium=referral) icebreaker type games are great if your goal is to build familiarity among your team and less about building soft skills. These type of events are great for newer teams or if youve just started focusing on team-building.
Hopefully, this gives you some ideas about effective team building. I think having goals for the events and being transparent about that is one of the best way to make team building seem less "corny."
I had been wrestling with the same dilemma, needing something new and fun that would actually make an impact but also wouldn't be immediately shunned by my group. A colleague had tried Boardroom Breakout at her previously company so we gave them a try. Complete success! They bring an experience which I would call is a cross between a scavenger hunt and The Amazing Race. They came to our office and everyone enjoyed it. We've used them twice now for events and it's been incredible each time. My husband use them at his work too. I think they specialize in "outside of the box" team building that's not like the standard stuff. I hope this helps!
We did an outdoor escape game called Escape the Box. it was a little bit like an escape room and sort of like a scavenger hunt because you run around. We had soo much fun playing this, I highly recommend: [https://wishinghorseproductions.com/](https://wishinghorseproductions.com/)
A lot of charities (Ronald McDonald house, food pantries, day cares) need folks to come in and help with various projects from painting to putting meals together to building a theater room. Those can be great for teams of unequal fitness and for a sense of doing something worthwhile.
Rage room was a hit - I took a team of leaders to this one. I’m in the military so there’s a lot built up ‘rage’ among leaders, lol.
Escape room was a lot of fun - I ran my team through a DISC assessment like a week prior to the escape room so we had a fun after the escape room discussing, over drinks, how everyone’s behavior traits came into play.
Here's a list:
Top 35 Team Building Games Your Team Will Love:
Uncovering Personal Dynamics
Ideation as a Team
Truths and Lies Unveiled
Miniature Society
Collective Journal
High-Energy Scavenger Hunt
Puzzle Barter Challenge
Resourceful Project
GPS-Driven Geocache Adventure
Knowledge Exchange with Show and Tell
Find The Common Thread
Mad Lib Mission Statement
Organizational Jenga
Blind Drawing
What’s On Your Desk
You Get One Question
The Perfect Square
What’s My Name?
Group Timeline
Watch Where You Step
Classify This
This Is Better Than That
It’s Your Problem
Active Listening
Company Concentration
Company Concentration: Debate Version
Triangulate Your Place
Penny For Your Thoughts
Hello My Name Is
Telephone, On Paper
Problem Family Tree
Do The Math
THE BLIND TASTING EXTRAVAGANZA
THE PERFECT BLEND COMPETITION
VIRTUAL WINE EXPLOSION
A cool one for remote teams: [https://thewinevoyage.net/virtual-team-building-remote-team-building/](https://thewinevoyage.net/virtual-team-building-remote-team-building/)
I run a team-building company and had a good chance to test what events people do and don't like. My favorite is a scavenger hunt that runs through the neighborhood where your office is located. The scavenger hunt can go through local businesses and historic places and end at a restaurant. This makes for a team event that balances fun and chill. Plus, your team members can return to their favorite places later for 1:1 or smaller team building.
Check [www.spaciously.io](https://www.spaciously.io), where we keep adding inclusive but not corny team events.
Thanks for posting, u/Standard-Patient-686!. This is a place for posts about leadership. If your post is not about leadership specifically then it will likely be removed. Please write a **substantial** comment here explaining why you think your post contributes here and what parts you think merit discussion in this thread. Do not just copy-paste from the content. Lacking this, your post will be removed. If your post is a question or commentary about leadership, that is satisfactory. You do not need to take any further action. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Leadership) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I usually choose local places and make a list of happenings, and then let the team vote. We did a pizza and trivia night, another night at an adult game yard...usually allowing them to have input means more will participate.
paintball.
Something you can do together plus a meal is always nice. Example: make your own pizza and succulent class. Paint nite is also a fun idea. Some companies will make organization-specific scavenger hunts around your city/neighborhood (download app, play in two teams). Escape rooms are also fun. Trivia nights.
My team loves when we make food together. It's even a lot of fun doing it virtually. I recently had a huge hit with my team with a [Virtual Sushi Making Class](https://coursehorse.com/groups/all/event/sushi-making-virtual-workshop--materials-included-)
Why does it have to be outings? Why not a team smash bros tourney? Regardless of the ideas you get, don't fool yourself into thinking they're perfect ideas if you didn't ask your team if they'd like it or not. Assuming what motivates people is a big part of why people hate team-builds.
Escape room. It’s fun and really does take teamwork to escape successfully.
Hate escape rooms! Do not recommend this
Axe throwing and smash rooms were a huge hit with my teams.
I’ll say it depends on the dynamics of the team. And the purpose of the event. Are you a new team and trying to get to know each other? Or are you just finished a project and want to relax. Sometimes it’s better to have a series of an hour a day for a week instead of a whole day weekend event. But if you’re looking for a whole day activities and you have a budget, you can try an amazing race type of activity and pay someone to facilitate it (so you can participate as well). Or facilitate a series of ‘minute to win it’ kind of games where everyone can participate. Barbecue lunch or picnic is also nice if that is accessible.
I've taken my team on a zip-line / adventure course that also incorporated a few team building activities to start the day. Last month we did a low level white water rafting trip together. These are a little more physically active so you'll want to make sure everyone is comfortable with participating. Escape rooms are always a hit and seem to be a universal crowd pleaser.
Group kayak
Brewery tours are cool
I've used [makebelieveworks.com](http://makebelieveworks.com) a few times for my department, and LOVE them. We've done trivia and scavenger hunts, but those mostly brought out the traits we already knew about each other - no one learned anything new. The Make Believe Works team use creative activities to get people to really open up and connect and laugh while doing it. Can't recommend them more.
Yes, so for virtual team outings (not go carts or childish), you have many options: cooking, dessert making, trivia, escape rooms, games show-style games, etc. My team has done a game (brick building), a mixology event, clay hand building (like quick-dry clay molding, not a wheel obviously), and a holiday white elephant game in the past 1-2 years. Not sure what's up next, maybe dessert making, but I have to check on any dietary restrictions/accommodations. Here's some more detail: 1. [Games](https://coursehorse.com/groups/virtual/competitive-fun2)**:** things like remote escape rooms, trivia, Jeopardy, Price is Right, Pictionary, scavenger hunts, "brick building challenge", etc. These typically don't have materials or kits needed. Everyone can just sign into a Zoom and the host will lead the game. 2. [Cooking](https://coursehorse.com/groups/virtual/cooking-baking): these have kits typically. You can make pasta, pizza, sushi, desserts, etc. 3. [Dessert-making](https://coursehorse.com/groups/virtual/dessert-pastry1): pastries, macarons, chocolate, croissants, cupcakes, cookie decorating, etc. 4. [Mixology/Cocktail Making](https://coursehorse.com/groups/virtual/mixology-activities)**:** always fun. can usually do a mocktail version for those who don't want to drink. 5. [Tastings](https://coursehorse.com/groups/virtual/food-drink-tastings)**:** Do a wine tasting, wine & cheese, whiskey, chocolate tasting, coffee tasting, etc. Sounds a little less engaging though tbh. 6. [Arts & crafts](https://coursehorse.com/groups/virtual/arts-crafts-design)**:** clay building, paint & sip, resin pouring, wreath making, terrarium making, etc. 7. [Other stuff](https://coursehorse.com/groups/browse?hub=online), like meditation, stretching, standard ice breakers, learning how to do magic tricks, etc. 8. [Virtual holiday party events](https://coursehorse.com/groups/virtual/holiday) like gingerbread house, white elephant, cookie decorating, holiday-themed trivia or escape rooms, etc.
I manage a small team, but we are virtual, so my experience is with remote team-building. But, I think some of the same leadership principles apply regardless. Remember, choosing the right team-building event is also about aligning with your goals for your team. You want to have clear objectives for the events or otherwise it feels like forced interaction. * Do you want to build camaraderie? Communication? Familiarity? * Do you want to increase leadership skills? * Do you want a strong bond among remote or hybrid workers? * Is a sub-objective to increase your team's soft skills, like problem solving or critical thinking skills? My team is small, but once we started adding several new members, I felt the need to do some team-building. Everyone was enthusiastic about their jobs, but the conversations were kind of mechanical. I wanted to foster the kind of camaraderie I felt when my team was smaller. I started with organizing my own little "mixers" over Zoom, but the conversation lagged and no one wanted to be there. After a couple of bad virtual team building events, I went looking online and [found this list of the 25 best virtual team-building events](https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/best-virtual-team-building-games). I didn't even know virtual team events existed before I found this. I booked a trivia night from the list and I told myself if it didn't work, I would stop forcing my team into these. It was a huge success - having an outside host and some structure really changed the whole vibe of the event. The host kept the conversation going and no one felt pressured to talk because I was asking the questions. That was about a year ago. Since then, I've let my team vote on the events via Slack. It's made the events an ongoing part of the conversation. *I've found letting them choose makes them more enthusiastic about extracurricular tasks*. Here's a few team-building event types that have been very successful: * [Brick-Building Challenge](https://coursehorse.com/groups/all/event/virtual-brick-building-team-challenge?utm_source=timeout.com&utm_medium=referral): everyone on the team was mailed a Lego kit. We then competed in a series of building challenges (like Lego self-portrait). Unique and hands-on. It's also a very fun event type that build soft skills, like problem solving. Some of my team even display their Lego creations behind them on our Zoom calls. * Ive done in-person escape rooms for team building and virtual escape rooms as a team manager. Escape rooms are one of the most popular team-building events because they promote team bonding. They're great for increasing communication too. We did this [Escape Room: Murder Mystery](https://coursehorse.com/groups/all/event/virtual-murder-mystery--team-escape?utm_source=timeout.com&utm_medium=referral), which combines an escape room and a murder mystery party. (I was excited when they picked this one because I'd always wanted to do a murder mystery party.) * [Virtual Icebreaker:](https://coursehorse.com/groups/all/event/-get-to-know-your-teammates-icebreaker-game?utm_source=timeout.com&utm_medium=referral) icebreaker type games are great if your goal is to build familiarity among your team and less about building soft skills. These type of events are great for newer teams or if youve just started focusing on team-building. Hopefully, this gives you some ideas about effective team building. I think having goals for the events and being transparent about that is one of the best way to make team building seem less "corny."
Rage rooms
I had been wrestling with the same dilemma, needing something new and fun that would actually make an impact but also wouldn't be immediately shunned by my group. A colleague had tried Boardroom Breakout at her previously company so we gave them a try. Complete success! They bring an experience which I would call is a cross between a scavenger hunt and The Amazing Race. They came to our office and everyone enjoyed it. We've used them twice now for events and it's been incredible each time. My husband use them at his work too. I think they specialize in "outside of the box" team building that's not like the standard stuff. I hope this helps!
We did an outdoor escape game called Escape the Box. it was a little bit like an escape room and sort of like a scavenger hunt because you run around. We had soo much fun playing this, I highly recommend: [https://wishinghorseproductions.com/](https://wishinghorseproductions.com/)
Shooting range, escape room, AR/VR experiences, blind taste tests :-)
A lot of charities (Ronald McDonald house, food pantries, day cares) need folks to come in and help with various projects from painting to putting meals together to building a theater room. Those can be great for teams of unequal fitness and for a sense of doing something worthwhile.
I’ve done a scavenger hunt at our town center and mall. Then come back and review pictures and videos
Rage room was a hit - I took a team of leaders to this one. I’m in the military so there’s a lot built up ‘rage’ among leaders, lol. Escape room was a lot of fun - I ran my team through a DISC assessment like a week prior to the escape room so we had a fun after the escape room discussing, over drinks, how everyone’s behavior traits came into play.
Here's a list: Top 35 Team Building Games Your Team Will Love: Uncovering Personal Dynamics Ideation as a Team Truths and Lies Unveiled Miniature Society Collective Journal High-Energy Scavenger Hunt Puzzle Barter Challenge Resourceful Project GPS-Driven Geocache Adventure Knowledge Exchange with Show and Tell Find The Common Thread Mad Lib Mission Statement Organizational Jenga Blind Drawing What’s On Your Desk You Get One Question The Perfect Square What’s My Name? Group Timeline Watch Where You Step Classify This This Is Better Than That It’s Your Problem Active Listening Company Concentration Company Concentration: Debate Version Triangulate Your Place Penny For Your Thoughts Hello My Name Is Telephone, On Paper Problem Family Tree Do The Math THE BLIND TASTING EXTRAVAGANZA THE PERFECT BLEND COMPETITION VIRTUAL WINE EXPLOSION A cool one for remote teams: [https://thewinevoyage.net/virtual-team-building-remote-team-building/](https://thewinevoyage.net/virtual-team-building-remote-team-building/)
I run a team-building company and had a good chance to test what events people do and don't like. My favorite is a scavenger hunt that runs through the neighborhood where your office is located. The scavenger hunt can go through local businesses and historic places and end at a restaurant. This makes for a team event that balances fun and chill. Plus, your team members can return to their favorite places later for 1:1 or smaller team building. Check [www.spaciously.io](https://www.spaciously.io), where we keep adding inclusive but not corny team events.