Could you describe one unconventional team-building activity that had a surprisingly positive impact on your team, and why do you think it was successful?

One unconventional team-building activity we did was setting up a digital whiteboard where everyone freely illustrated their life story, career path, and interests (with music playing, of course). It was a creative way for our nimble design studio team to express ourselves authentically and really get to know each other. The activity built stronger connections, trust, and understanding of everyone's unique journey in an organic way.

At PolicyMe, we're a remote-first company, meaning that we are always looking for unique ways to create connection at a distance. Inviting Olympic athletes to lead interactive movement exercises during our 2023 town hall meetings was a unique way to do just this. These five-minute opening sessions, led by inspiring athletes like Micha Powell, cultivated a shared sense of enthusiasm and connection, setting the tone for our discussions. They were so successful, we even brought Micha in for a 1-hour in-person session at the start of 2024 to deep dive on her expertise so that our team could learn about how to perform at an Olympic athlete level. The key takeaway: offer employees unique, memorable experiences that they couldn't access alone. This is what helps build meaningful memories and strong connections.

In our weekly team standup meetings, we implemented a process called "Red Dotting." When you enter a mall, an airport, or any facility that's challenging to navigate, there is usually a map in the central location or entryway. That map almost always has a Red Dot that reads "You Are Here." Well the Red Dot process in our standups was just a super brief statement of "where we were" that day, emotionally speaking. Examples are "I'm excited about ______," or "I'm a little frustated by ________," or "My kid had me up all night, I'm exhausted." These are one-way statements and cannot be challenged or questioned. The point of the exercise is to quickly understand where each of your team members are emotionally/psychologically so that you might be a better teammate and/or set them up for success. It might explain why one person isn't talkative that day, so you don't take offense to their short answers. It might mean that you jump in and help them with a task because they are in the weeds or exhausted. This easy exercise creates deeper connection through communication, which enhances the ability of team collaboration. And it takes just a couple of minutes of time.

One unique team-building activity that had an unusually positive effect on our team was the Science Fiction Hackathon. This activity aimed to have teams brainstorm and prototype futuristic solutions that could address real-world issues. It was less about implementing these ideas in their entirety, and more about thinking differently, outside our comfort zones. Each team member was immersed in the activity; they delved deep into their creative reserves to ideate futuristic solutions. Collaboration was natural in an environment that welcomed wild ideas. It was the sheer novelty of the idea, combined with the cloak of a fun, challenge-driven environment that made it a success. This hackathon forced everyone to abandon typical constraints and think beyond the present, a feat inspiring enough to bond individuals. The shared purpose fueled a climate of mutual respect, understanding, and unity.

In my experience, the best team building activities are the ones that happen naturally alongside work when there is a feeling of psychological safety and space. For example, when team members are sent to a client visit in another city and manage to get lost navigating the new environment and have to find their way back together. Or someone sends a funny video to the team group chat and the rest of the team quotes it like a workplace inside joke. Or you realize you have a shared interest with a coworker and feel comfortable chatting with them about it or even arranging to go out together to enjoy it outside of work as friends. These are the kinds of intangible things that gel a team together, and the tricky bit is that they aren't really something that can or should be organized. It's something that grows organically when people are working in an environment of mutual respect and trust. If you foster an environment like that for your team, it's going to be worth a thousand times more than some cheesy icebreaker exercises or putting a ping pong table in the break room.

One team I led had recently been formed and the team members didn't know each other well. While there weren't any real issues with how we operated, I knew that a stronger team dynamic was possible and both the quality of our work and each person's fulfillment from their work would be better if we operated as a higher-performing team. In one weekly team meeting, I proposed we start the meeting by playing "highlight / lowlight," where each team member shared one highlight of their prior week and one lowlight. They could be from their work lives or their personal lives; I just asked that they share genuine experiences from the week before. The team was very skeptical and had no real interest in trying this idea. I asked the team to humor me for a few weeks and start every team meeting this way. If after a month everyone still thought it was a terrible idea, we'd stop doing it. The first week was awkward and no one felt like it was a good use of their time. By the second or third week, some teammates raised great things that had happened in the past week and others joined in congratulating them. Other team members shared lowlights of their week and many teammates realized they had no idea that team member was having a tough time. The exercise built empathy and understanding surprisingly quickly. After a month, true to my word, I asked the team if we should stop doing the "highlight / lowlight" exercise every week. No one wanted to stop. It became a favorite beginning to our team meeetings and the language of "highlight / lowlight" was picked up in other conversations. When someone was having a rough day, another teammate might offer, "This sounds like a lowlight. How can I help?" Other weeks when everything was running smoothly, the team would talk about which one of them was going to have the best "highlight" of the week. There were a few things that made this team-building activity successful. First, it's easiest to do this exercise with a relatively small team. Second, the team was willing to try something different that was uncomfortable at the start, and keep doing it for a while. That wouldn't have been possible if my team didn't have some trust in me to begin with. Third, team members really did enjoy getting to know each other better and the "highlight / lowlight" activity made it easier for them to connect with each other outside of our team meetings. Years later, I've heard from members of that team how fondly they look back on the exercise.

I once had a boss who was really into using showmanship to motivate the sales force. This included him and the leadership team acting out parodies of famous movies with scripts relevant to our business. These could be anything from a skit covering one scene up to a lengthy production. Creating these videos at high quality was a serious effort; it wasn’t like one take filmed on a phone and you’re done. I’m talking professional equipment, props, costumes, site selection and negotiation, soundtracks, re-shoots, editing: the whole gamut. For those of us on the leadership team who put in the grueling work to make these productions a success, it created incredible camaraderie and some of my best team-building memories. For the sales force, seeing their leaders go through so much effort (and embarrassing themselves repeatedly) to make them laugh was a huge win. You need to show your people that while you’re serious about business, you don’t take yourself too seriously.

Thinking back on a fun and unexpectedly impactful team-building activity, karaoke definitely stands out. We didn't know what to expect when it was first suggested, but it was a huge hit! Instead of just a few brave souls stepping up, everyone got into it and had a blast. What made karaoke so successful was the way it brought everyone together in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. It broke down barriers, removed titles and let people connect in a way that's hard to replicate in a typical team-building exercise. Plus, it was just plain fun! Seeing everyone let loose and have a good time showed us the power of mixing things up and trying something different. So now, whenever we get the chance, we're definitely bringing out the karaoke machine!

After completing the final stages of development—reflecting Bruce Tuckman's stages of group development—forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning—we arranged a team-building activity. This unconventional event focused on celebrating our milestones and strengthening bonds. During this activity, we encouraged everyone to share their initial impressions of each team member and how those impressions transformed. This exercise promoted honesty and transparency within the team, leading to deeper bonds and increased trust. Additionally, we had humorous moments as we remembered our first interactions. I also discussed how I initially hesitated but ultimately embraced stepping out of my comfort zone, highlighting how this experience positively influenced my perceptions of others. This initiative helped us strengthen our team dynamics and inspired us to approach our work more innovatively and creatively. Also, it brought us closer together and encouraged a culture of transparency and honesty, leading to a more cohesive environment.

Some time last month, I noticed my team was slacking on their different tasks and so I decided to look out for a different way to put the team back on track. One of the activities we tried out was taking some time off work to watch some movies together. The plan was just to put the team back on track but watching movies together as a team did not only get the team on track but also created a space for everyone on the team to bring out the most creative and innovative part of themselves. During this period we were able to bond so well as a team and even thought of better ways we could approach and handle our different tasks. After this period, my team came back on track and performed better than they have ever done.

We hosted an AI creative competition where we grouped teams across departments and had them use ChatGPT 4 for various tasks. Teams competed for creating the best new company logo, creating a new features in the app, coding a program that actually worked related to language learning, and creating Facebook ads for Ling. The result was our teams bonded in such a fun and engaging task and everyone learned news skills.

One unconventional team-building activity that had a surprising impact on our team was a Cooperative Gaming Marathon. We chose video games that encourage teamwork, such as "Overcooked" and "Portal 2." Creating a fun, casual environment allowed our team members to relax and interact more naturally. Unlike traditional team building activities that can sometimes feel forced, this gaming session was light-hearted, yet fostered a competitive spirit that everyone enjoyed. The success of this activity could be attributed to the necessity of communication and collaboration demanded by these games. To succeed in these games, players need strategic discussion, problem-solving, and in-the-moment adaptation. This experience mirrored actual work scenarios, where communication and collaboration are vital, resulting in a valuable team-building exercise.

Just last year, we organized a fishing trip for our team as a team-building activity. At first, some team members were sceptical about the idea, but as we went through the activity, everyone had a great time and felt more connected to each other. One of the reasons why the fishing trip was successful is that it allowed everyone to step out of their comfort zones and try something new. Fishing is not a common activity for most people, so it gave everyone a chance to learn together from scratch. This experience led to a sense of camaraderie and teamwork that we wouldn't have achieved through traditional team-building exercises. Moreover, the activity took us out of our usual work environment, which helped break down the barriers between team members and allowed us to connect with each other on a more personal level. We had the opportunity to chat, share experiences, and bond over the shared experience of trying to catch fish. Overall, it allowed us to build stronger relationships, break down barriers, and develop a sense of camaraderie and teamwork that carried over into our work.

We once took our team to an escape room challenge. Unlike typical team outings, this activity forced us to solve puzzles and work together under the gradually building pressure of time running out. Regardless of whether you end up solving all the puzzles and escaping in time, the activity’s success for teams lies in its demand for diverse thinking styles and collaborative problem-solving, reflecting the real challenges we often face in the workplace. A surprising benefit was how the simulated high-pressure environment brought out hidden leadership qualities in team members. And delivered benefits very efficiently – in under an hour, a deeper understanding and respect amongst colleagues was fostered.

Our team tried an escape room for our team-building exercise—it turned out to be a fantastic choice. Locked in a room, we had to solve various puzzles to 'escape' before time ran out. It pushed us to communicate effectively, think creatively, and rely on each other's strengths. In this environment, people's hidden talents shone, which helped us all understand and appreciate one another. I would definitely suggest trying this approach if you're looking for a unique way to bring your team together and have a little fun in the process.

One unconventional team-building activity that had a surprisingly positive impact on my team was a collaborative art project. Instead of doing traditional trust falls or problem-solving exercises, we decided to engage in a creative endeavor like building worlds inside a video game. Engaging in activities like this allowed my team members to tap into their artistic side and think outside the box. It gave a refreshing break from the usual routine and sparked new ideas and perspectives. Furthermore, working together on a shared project strengthened the bond between my team members and encouraged collaboration. It required us to communicate effectively, share resources, and solve problems together, all of which are essential skills in any team setting. Overall, the collaborative art project was a unique and enjoyable team-building activity that had a lasting positive impact on our team dynamics. It reinforced the importance of creativity, collaboration, and trust in achieving our goals.

An unconventional team-building activity that we tried was a "Professional Storytelling Workshop." The workshop was led by a professional storyteller who taught us the art of storytelling using personal and professional experiences. Each team member was asked to prepare a short story about a significant experience in their career or life that impacted their work ethic or professional outlook. These stories were then shared in a casual, intimate setting, allowing team members to open up and share more about their personal journeys. This exercise was successful for several reasons. It created a space for vulnerability and authenticity, which are crucial but often overlooked aspects of team dynamics. Hearing each other's stories fostered a deeper understanding and respect among team members, revealing common challenges and triumphs. This not only brought the team closer but also improved communication skills, as team members learned how to convey their thoughts and feelings more effectively. The storytelling workshop turned out to be a powerful way to strengthen emotional connections within the team, leading to improved collaboration in our daily work.

At Zibtek, one unconventional team-building activity that we tried, which turned out to be highly effective, was a "Silent Meeting" day. The idea was to conduct all our internal communications without speaking; instead, we used written forms of communication, like chats, emails, and written notes. The goal was to enhance our team’s ability to express ideas clearly in written form, which is crucial in our field of software development, especially when dealing with remote teams. Why It Was Successful: Enhanced Written Communication Skills: This activity pushed everyone to refine their ability to convey complex ideas succinctly and clearly through writing. Improving these skills is invaluable, especially in an environment where digital communication predominates. Inclusivity: It provided an inclusive environment for those who might be quieter or less likely to speak up in meetings, allowing them to express their thoughts and ideas fully without the pressure of verbal communication. Focus and Thoughtfulness: The format encouraged more thoughtfulness and focus in communications. Team members reported that they felt their interactions were more deliberate and less prone to misunderstandings than verbal conversations. Fun and Curiosity: The novelty of the exercise brought a fun and curious element to the day. It sparked creativity in how people chose to communicate and broke the routine in an unexpected way, which was refreshing and engaging. The success of the Silent Meeting day in boosting written communication and team inclusivity was a surprising and valuable outcome, underscoring how stepping away from conventional norms can lead to significant team-building benefits. This experience has led us to incorporate more written communication training and practices in our regular team development sessions.

One unconventional team-building activity that yielded surprising positive results at Weekender Management was what we called the "Hospitality Hunt." This involved breaking our team into small groups, each tasked with spending a day experiencing the local tourism and hospitality scene as a visitor would. Teams were given a set budget and certain objectives, like trying out local eateries, visiting attractions, and even staying overnight in different local rentals. The activity stemmed from realizing that our team members, deeply interested in the daily grind, rarely experienced our service from a guest's perspective. By stepping into our clients' shoes, not only did teams bond over shared experiences and adventures, but they also brought back insightful feedback and innovative ideas on enhancing our service offerings. This approach transformed our operational strategies and service improvements. For instance, one team suggested partnerships with local businesses for exclusive deals for our guests, a strategy which led to an increase in guest satisfaction and repeat bookings. The key to its success was that every team member directly contributed to enhancing our core service offerings while building stronger interpersonal relationships.

One unconventional team-building activity that had a surprisingly positive impact on our team at Velvet Caviar was what we called the 'Idea Hackathon'. Instead of traditional recreational activities, we gathered everyone for a full-day session where teams were tasked with developing a completely new product idea from concept to prototype within a single day. It didn’t have to be perfect, or even feasible, but it needed to be innovative and reflective of our brand's aesthetic and values. The energy in the room was electric. Teams were cross-functional, combining members from marketing, design, operations, and finance, which meant everyone had to step out of their comfort zones and lean into their creativity and teamwork. The results were astounding, not only did we come up with some ideas that actually went on to be developed into products, but the collaborative spirit fostered during the hackathon carried over into our everyday work. The success of this activity was rooted in its ability to empower each team member. People were engaged, their voices were heard, and they could directly see the impact of their creativity. It was a powerful reminder that innovation isn't just about new ideas, but about breaking down barriers and building up teams.