Team bonding activities play a crucial role in nurturing team spirit and strengthening connections, especially in remote teams where employees don’t have the chance to share regular lunch breaks or casual office chats.
Many managers often associate team building with large, costly events like office trips, parties, or adventure courses. However, this isn’t always necessary.
At InspHire, we’ve found success with our monthly “Tuegether” event. With two offices in different cities, it’s important for us to meet face-to-face occasionally and spend quality time together—not just working side by side, but truly connecting.
Over the past year, our Tuegether Days have featured a variety of activities that are both budget-friendly and simple to organize. These 1-2 hour sessions have helped us build stronger bonds, spark creativity, and get to know each other better. Here are some of the activities we’ve enjoyed:
1. Candle Making Workshop
A creative activity that’s easy to set up. We purchased candle-making kits that included wax, containers, and decorative items. We booked a meeting room and created a cozy atmosphere with candles, dried oranges, fruits, and flowers. For two hours, we immersed ourselves in the creative process, decorating our candles while letting new ideas flow.
2. Preserved Flower Pictures Workshop
For this workshop, all you need are dried flowers, which can be bought or preserved in advance using a heavy book. We hosted this activity around Rosh Hashanah, decorating the table with pomegranates and apples. One of our employees even brought an apple cake. Each participant selected flowers they liked and created their own floral compositions, resulting in a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
3. Funny Quiz About Employees
Perfect for getting to know your team better, especially if you have new employees. Gather fun facts about each team member—like a funny story, an unusual hobby, or a favorite childhood band—and create an interactive quiz. The employee with the most correct answers wins a prize. Tools like Kahoot make it easy to create and host these quizzes. If your team is large, consider dividing them into smaller groups.
4. Knowledge Sharing Sessions
Encourage employees to share useful information with their colleagues through presentations. Topics can range from case studies and industry insights to practical workshops on specific skills or software. This not only fosters learning but also highlights the expertise within your team.
5. Round Table or Brainstorming Sessions
When you need to generate new ideas or share insights, a round table discussion can be highly effective. Make it more engaging by creating question cards or setting up rules, like rolling dice to determine who speaks next. This format encourages participation and ensures that everyone’s voice is heard.
6. Recognition and Compliments Activity
Expressing gratitude is essential for a positive workplace. Organize a recognition activity where employees write compliments or thank-you notes to each other. We created individual envelopes for each team member and provided a variety of compliment cards. Employees could pick a card or write their own personal message, and at the end, everyone received an envelope filled with positive notes from their colleagues.
7. Strategic Sessions and Year-End Results
It’s important to keep employees informed about the company’s progress and future goals. We regularly hold sessions where we present our achievements, discuss plans, and highlight how each employee’s contributions are driving the company forward. These sessions often include recognition for top performers and those who have been with the company for several years.
