Team Building for Small Groups: Five Activities That Actually Build the Team (Not Just Fill an Afternoon)

Small-group team building is usually the easy win that teams skip. A team of 3 to 15 people is the exact size where a well-designed 60-minute activity can install a specific behavior that compounds across the next quarter. A team of 50 cannot; a team of 2 does not need it. The sweet spot is small, and most companies waste it by booking the same generic activity a 500-person off-site would book.

The five activities below each install one specific pattern: (1) structured curiosity — how to ask a question that moves a project forward. (2) Visible accountability — how to name a commitment in front of peers. (3) Collaborative decision making — how to decide faster without skipping dissent. (4) Real-time feedback — how to give useful feedback inside a 15-minute window. (5) Cross-functional translation — how to explain your work to someone who does not share your jargon. Each activity is scoped for small teams and each is designed to be facilitated by the team leader, not a vendor.

Below is the mechanics of each activity, why small-group scale makes it work, and how the Learn2 participant-driven philosophy (team members design the activity’s finish state themselves) applies to any small-team setting.

If you are looking for a way to make it easier for your employees to interact with each other, then you should consider allowing them to participate in team building activities. Not only do team building activities help strengthen the relationship that your employees have with each other, but they are also a lot of fun. Below are five team building ideas for a small team:

1. TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE

This is a great icebreaker activity. You can have your employees write down three things about themselves. Two of the things have to be true, and one of them has to be a lie. Everyone will have to guess which one is a lie. It typically takes between 15 and 30 minutes to complete this activity, depending on the amount of time the size of your team.

2. THE EGG DROP GAME

This game requires that your team members use their creative thinking skills. The objective of the egg drop game is to create a package that will help protect an egg from an eight foot drop. You should give your teams about five minutes to create their package. When all of the teams have finished building their package, they will have to drop the egg. The groups whose eggs do not shatter should be given prizes.

3. SCAVENGER HUNT

Scavenger hunts are not just for children. Your employees will enjoy this game also. You should hide some things around the building and give people clues on how to find them. The team who finds the most things first should be given an award.

4. HUMAN BINGO

This is another great team building activity that will require your employees to move around and get to know other people. You will need to get some bingo cards and fill them with interesting facts. You can put things on the card such as “owns a pet”, “is an only child,” “has children” and “traveled to another country.” The first person to fill up their card should be given an award.

5. SALES EXERCISE

You should give each team an item, such as a lamp, pen, notebook or tie. You should give each one of the teams five minutes to create a 30 second jingle that advertises their item. The team who comes up with the most creative jingle should be given a prize.  

HOW WE CAN HELP

It is important for your team members to participate in team building activities on a regular basis. You may run out of team building activity ideas eventually, but we can help you. We offer a-lot of fun team building ideas for a small team that your employees will love.