Almost 75 percent of employers rate “teamwork and collaboration” as very important in the workplace. What’s more, a Stanford study on motivation and collaboration revealed that team members who worked collaboratively stayed on task 64 percent longer than those who worked alone. These employees also reported “higher engagement levels, lower fatigue levels and a higher success rate.”
The good news is that working on team dynamics doesn’t have to mean hours away from the office. All you need are five minutes, a little preparation and fun team-building gifts to bring your employees together. These 5-minute team-building activities can be used to reduce stress and engage staff during regular team meetings. Or use them as icebreakers when bringing multiple teams together.
Pick up candy pieces with chopsticks
Looking to help employees reduce stress during a particularly busy time? Make them laugh! Studies show employees who are happy at work take 10 times fewer sick days than unhappy employees. Start the laughter with a simple game that requires minimal setup. Offer each employee a set of chopsticks. Then set out a large bowl (or bowls) of candy pieces, like Swedish Fish® or M&M’s® and give everyone a small dish or cup. The person who pulls the most candy from the bowl using the chopsticks in five minutes wins a jar of M&M’s. Want everyone to feel like a winner? Pass out packets of M&M’s to the remaining participants.
Two truths and a lie
This game helps staff members get to know each other better. Ask everyone to think of two truths and a lie about themselves. After each team member tells their truths and a lie, the others try to guess which statement is the lie. If you want to up the stakes a bit, offer some small prizes for the most interesting lie or the lie that fooled the most people. Offer a colour-changing stadium cup for the most surprising lie.
Build a paper tower
Break the group into small teams and give each team member a piece of paper. Their task is to build the tallest tower they can as a team in the time allotted—a process that requires collaboration and communication. When the game is over, give away team-building gifts, like the teamwork puzzle stress reliever or the foam puzzle cube, that will remind associates they are all important building blocks in your business.
Five minutes goes a long way
At your next meeting, take a few minutes to bring a little laughter to the office or get people working together. Use these 5-minute team-building activities coupled with team-building gifts to get the fun started!