Benefits of Trust-Building Activities
Boost Employee Engagement
New team members can benefit greatly from trust-building activities, fostering stronger relationships and encouraging trust among all team members.
Building trust inside the workplace is one of the most critical drivers of engagement.
A study by Deloitte shows how building trust is a key factor in employee engagement.
Increase Productivity and Happiness
- Companies that foster high levels of trust yield better outcomes for both new and existing team members, whether in physical or remote environments.
- A study by HBR shows the impact of trust on employee productivity and happiness.
- Workers at high-trust companies are more productive and happy.
Positive Impact on Company Culture
- Implementing trust-building event activities in the workplace fosters the “Culture of Transparency.”
- A company culture based on honesty and transparency can increase employee trust and engagement.
- Trusts impact the company culture at large scale.
Types of Team Building Activities
Active Games
Scavenger Hunt
- Scavenger hunts are a fun and interactive way to build trust and teamwork.
- Teams must work together to find hidden items or complete tasks.
- This exercise promotes communication, problem-solving, and collaboration.
Minefield
- Minefield is a trust-building exercise that involves navigating an obstacle course while blindfolded.
- Team members must rely on their teammates to guide them through the course.
- This exercise promotes trust, communication, and teamwork.
Frostbite
- Frostbite is a trust-building exercise that involves building a makeshift “tent” using office supplies.
- Team members must rely on their teammates to complete the task.
- This exercise promotes communication, problem-solving, and collaboration.
Creative and Indoor Activities
Egg Drop
- The egg drop challenge is a highly effective trust-building exercise for teams, as it encourages members to collaborate towards a shared objective.
- The activity involves building a contraption to protect an egg from breaking.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Pinball
Pinball is a dynamic trust-building exercise that involves a team member being gently pushed into the center of a circle formed by their colleagues. The objective is for the blindfolded person to navigate through the course with the help of gentle nudges from other team members. This activity fosters mutual comfort and trust, as participants must rely on each other’s guidance and support. Pinball is fun and engaging and an excellent tool for enhancing communication skills. Whether conducted in an office or a local park, this trust-building exercise helps team members build stronger connections and improve their collaborative efforts.
Trust Walk
Trust Walk is a classic trust-building exercise that involves creating a path with obstacles and having team members guide each other through the course while blindfolded. This activity is designed to promote trust and enhance communication skills, as participants must rely on each other’s guidance to navigate the course safely. Trust Walk requires team members to work closely together, fostering a sense of reliance and support. This exercise can be conducted in various settings, including offices and local parks, making it a versatile tool for building employee trust and improving teamwork.
Trust Building Exercises
Verbal Exercises
Two Truths and a Lie
- Two truths and a lie is a classic trust-building activity that requires team members to guess which statement is false.
- The activity involves sharing personal facts and trying to guess which one is a lie.
- This exercise promotes communication, problem-solving, and collaboration.
“Yes, and?”
- “Yes, and?” is a trust-building exercise that involves creating a story together.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
- This exercise promotes communication, problem-solving, and collaboration.
You Get One Question
- You get one question is a trust-building exercise that involves asking a question to determine if someone would be a good fit for a role.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
- This exercise promotes communication, problem-solving, and collaboration.
Quick Exercises
Pencil Drop
- Pencil drop is a fun and easy activity that requires a ball of string, pencils, and water bottles.
- The goal is to work together to lower the pencil into a water bottle without using their hands.
- This exercise promotes communication, problem-solving, and collaboration.
Birthday Lineup
- Birthday lineup is a trust-building activity that requires team members to arrange themselves in order of their birthdays without speaking.
- This exercise encourages cooperation, problem-solving, and communication.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Eye Contact Challenge
- Eye contact challenge is a trust-building activity that requires team members to hold eye contact for several seconds.
- This exercise improves social skills and builds trust through eye contact.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Virtual Team Building Activities
Virtual Scavenger Hunt
- Virtual scavenger hunt is a remote trust-building activity that requires team members to work together to find items.
- The activity involves communication and teamwork to complete the challenges.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Virtual Escape Room
- Virtual escape room is a remote trust-building activity that requires team members to work together to escape a virtual room.
- The activity involves communication and teamwork to solve puzzles and escape the room.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Show-and-Tell
- Show-and-tell is a virtual trust-building activity that requires team members to share personal stories and experiences.
- The activity involves sharing personal information and building connections.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Unseen Drawing
- Unseen drawing is a virtual trust-building activity requiring team members to draw an image together.
- The activity involves one team member drawing an image while the other team member gives instructions.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Building Trust with Team Members
Communication Exercises
Open and Transparent Communication
- A culture of openness fosters an environment where team members feel free to express their thoughts and opinions without fear of consequences.
- Open and transparent communication can lead to increased employee engagement and productivity.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Active Listening
- Active listening is a trust-building exercise that requires team members to listen carefully to each other.
- The activity involves listening to each other’s perspectives and building understanding.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Feedback and Recognition
- Feedback and recognition is a trust-building exercise that requires team members to give and receive feedback.
- The activity involves recognizing each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Problem-Solving Exercises
Back-to-Back Drawing
- Back-to-back drawing is a trust-building activity requiring team members to draw an image together.
- The activity involves one team member drawing an image while the other team member gives instructions.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Pipeline
- Pipeline is a trust-building exercise that involves transporting a ball or marble through a series of pipes.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
- This exercise promotes communication, problem-solving, and collaboration.
Snakes
Snakes is an engaging trust-building exercise where a team member directs a “snake” of people to pick up objects while blindfolded. This activity promotes teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, as participants must work together and rely on each other’s guidance. The exercise requires the team to coordinate their movements and communicate effectively to achieve their goal. Snakes can be conducted in different settings, such as offices and local parks, making it a versatile and effective tool for building trust and enhancing communication skills among team members.
Collaboration and Teamwork Exercises
Collaborative Art Project
Design a Team Logo
- Designing a team logo is a trust-building activity that requires team members to work together to create a logo.
- The activity involves sharing ideas and building a common goal.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Share Passion Projects
- Share passion projects is a trust-building activity that requires team members to share their personal projects and interests.
- The activity involves building connections and understanding.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Teaching Time
- Teaching time is a trust-building activity that requires team members to share their knowledge and skills.
- The activity involves building trust and understanding.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Running Trust Building Exercises
Tips for Success
Provide Advanced Warning
Providing advanced warning is a tip for running trust-building exercises that require informing the team and giving team members time to prepare.
The activity involves setting clear expectations and building trust.
Team members must work together to complete the task.
Get Approval from Above
- Getting approval from above is a tip for running trust-building exercises requiring approval from management.
- The activity involves building trust and understanding.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Set the Tone
- Setting the tone is a tip for running trust-building exercises requiring a positive and supportive tone.
- The activity involves building trust and understanding.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Measuring Success
Evaluate Employee Engagement
- Evaluating employee engagement is a way to measure the success of trust-building exercises.
- The activity involves assessing employee engagement and building trust.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Monitor Productivity and Happiness
- Monitoring productivity and happiness is a way to measure the success of trust-building exercises.
- The activity involves assessing productivity and happiness.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Best Practices for Team Building
Consistency is Key
Delegate Responsibility
- Delegate responsibility is a best practice for team building that requires giving team members autonomy and responsibility.
- The activity involves building trust and understanding.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Recognition and Reward
- Recognition and reward is a best practice for team building that requires recognizing and rewarding team members’ efforts.
- The activity involves building trust and understanding.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Lack of Clear Objectives
- Lack of clear objectives is a common mistake to avoid when running trust-building exercises.
- The activity involves setting clear expectations and building trust.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
Insufficient Communication
- Insufficient communication is a common mistake to avoid when running trust-building exercises.
- The activity involves building trust and understanding.
- Team members must work together to complete the task.
To find out how Bridgeline Executive Coaching and Leadership Development can support you in learning about team exercises to build trust, or to set up a coaching session with Nick Tubach, contact Bridgeline Executive Coaching.
