Can you have a team without trust? In my experience, the answer is no.
Trust is the glue that holds a team together. It’s what makes you feel confident that your teammates have your back when things get tough.
A team without trust is like a sandcastle without water.
If you take away that key ingredient, the whole thing falls apart.
When you trust your team, you can communicate freely, bounce ideas off each other and work toward common goals with confidence. It isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s the secret sauce that turns a group of individuals into a collaborative, successful cadre that gets a lot of meaningful things done.
That’s why great leaders regularly implement activities to build trust in the workplace.
| High-Trust Teams vs. Low-Trust Teams | ||
| Traits | High-Trust Teams | Low-Trust Teams |
| Communication | Open, honest and frequent communication | Limited, guarded and ineffective communication |
| Collaboration | Seamless collaboration and teamwork | Siloed work and lack of cooperation |
| Innovation | Openness to new ideas and experimentation | Fear of failure and resistance to change |
| Morale | High morale, job satisfaction and retention | Low morale and disengagement |
But I get it.
Nobody likes that awkward silence when team bonding activities are mentioned, right?
By choosing and pitching activities based on your employees’ different personalities, you can get everyone on board and rowing in the same direction.
I’ve got 24 team building activities to share, so let’s start browsing all the options to find the right fit for your team!
Key Takeaways
- Trust is the glue that holds a team together. Without it, effective teamwork is difficult (if not impossible).
- Engaging activities are a great way to break the ice and start forging valuable bonds that build trust.
- You can show employees you care about their preferences by matching activities with their needs and personalities.
- Effective trust-building activities encourage teamwork, communication and problem-solving, and they help you understand each other’s strengths.
- Uplift yourself (and your team culture) with help from a few of my favorite books, including “Good to Great” by Jim Collins and “Atomic Habits” by James Clear.
1. Office Olympics
Welcome to the Office Olympics! This activity breaks the ice, encourages teamwork and builds trust among your colleagues.
From paper airplane contests to chair races, the Office Olympics offer a range of team-building challenges that encourage teamwork and a healthy dose of friendly rivalry.
And don’t forget about the trust-building portion of the games. Encourage teams to strategize and support each other to enhance their trust.
Set aside about 1-2 hours for this event, depending on how many mini-games you want to include.
Quick Tip: To ensure fairness (and to avoid feeling like gym class), I recommend randomly assigning teams for this activity.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-2 hours | 4+ | In-person |
2. Team Volunteering
This activity is all about giving back and staying true to your core values.
Spend the day cleaning up a local park, volunteering at a food pantry or organizing a charity drive — the options are endless!
Working together to solve problems, delegate tasks and navigate unfamiliar situations at volunteering events will strengthen communication and build trust in each other’s abilities.
And when the event is over, take some time to reflect on the experience as a team. What went well? Were there any challenges along the way? What was the impact of your efforts?
Quick Tip: Encourage different team members to take on leadership roles while volunteering. This fosters a sense of empowerment and strengthens trust as you rely on each other to lead effectively.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 2-4 hours | 2+ | In-person |
3. Escape Room Challenges
If you haven’t participated in an escape room, here’s a quick recap: you and your team are locked in a room. Together, you’ll solve puzzles and find clues to “escape” the room within the time limit.
If you don’t have trust and communication, your team won’t get out before the buzzer sounds.
Your employees will be encouraged to listen to each other’s ideas, explain their thought processes and delegate tasks effectively. As team members rely on each other to (literally) find their way, they’ll strengthen communication and build trust.
Just be careful you don’t let the more dominant personalities override the good ideas of others.
Challenge your employees to step up or step aside, depending on what skills they need to work on.
Quick Tip: Try not to exceed five people per escape room. Too many players can make it hard for everyone to be heard.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-2 hours | 2+ | In-person |
4. Three Truths and a Lie
As the truths and the lies come out, so does the trust.
Seems counterintuitive, I know.
But despite the word “lie” in the title, this game is actually a powerful trust-building activity.
The ultimate goal of the game: help create a space where everyone feels more connected and comfortable being themselves.
By sharing personal tidbits, like whether you want to get better at golf or speak multiple languages, show team members that you’re willing to let your guard down.
This exercise can lead to discovering shared interests or experiences, fostering a sense of camaraderie and trust among the team.
Quick Tip: Don’t make your truths and lie too obvious! Encourage your team to think outside the box with statements that could feasibly be true or false.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 30 minutes – 1 hour | 2+ | Both |
5. Team Scavenger Hunt
Picture this: your employees racing around, decoding clues and high-fiving as they conquer challenges together.
As teams navigate a scavenger hunt, they learn to rely on each other’s unique strengths, communication styles and problem-solving skills.
For example, let’s say Jorge is great with puzzles while Michelle has strong observational skills. Together, they can conquer this challenge while learning new and valuable information about their teammate.
Plus, the healthy dose of competition will amp up the excitement and keep everyone on their toes.
Quick Tip: Include a variety of challenges that tap into different skills and strengths, encouraging collaboration and trust-building among team members.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-4 hours | 2+ | In-person |
6. Blindfolded Trust Walk
The Blindfolded Trust Walk is a team-building activity where participants divide into pairs, with one person blindfolded and the other acting as their guide.
This exercise is a great way to encourage high-control personalities to loosen the reins and trust their teammates. It also helps the other participants learn how to give effective guidance and learn more about what communication style works for each of their teammates.
The objective is to build trust between team members by emphasizing communication and cooperation.
But be warned: this activity requires a beginner level of trust to accomplish.
Teams without a starting foundation of trust should start with an activity that doesn’t require a blindfold — like two truths and a lie or personality workshops.
Since this activity requires a little more vulnerability, check in with each employee before the event to make sure they’re comfortable being blindfolded.
Quick Tip: Make safety a top priority. Scan the room for things that could potentially harm blindfolded participants.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-2 hours | 2+ | In-person |
7. Personality Workshops
Personality workshops can be a game-changer for building trust within your team.
These sessions aren’t just about figuring out who’s the office comedian; they provide a safe space for colleagues to understand each other’s communication styles, working preferences and even hidden strengths.
By shedding light on these differences, personalities that might have clashed before can now find ways to collaborate effectively.
It’s like having a cheat sheet for your teammates, fostering empathy and appreciation for how everyone approaches their work.
This newfound understanding paves the way for open communication, which is the bedrock of any trusting team.
Enneagram is my favorite personality assessment tool, but you can use whichever option works for your team.
Quick Tip: When determining the workshop’s format, consider your team’s unique needs. Are your employees more receptive to a presentation, interactive activities, group discussions or a combination?
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-2 hours | 2+ | Both |
8. Yes, And
Unconventional doesn’t mean ineffective!
This popular improv game is a surprisingly powerful tool for building trust among colleagues.
It moves away from competition and instead focuses on building a story together, one idea at a time. By saying “yes, and” to each other’s suggestions, team members learn to actively listen, embrace new ideas and collaborate in a supportive way.
This fosters a sense of psychological safety, where everyone feels comfortable taking risks and sharing their thoughts freely.
The result? A more trusting and creative team environment where everyone feels valued and their contributions matter.
This is a fantastic option for teams that haven’t worked together much or have a low level of trust. The lighthearted nature of the game helps break the ice, build rapport and create a more cohesive unit.
Quick Tip: Create a positive and supportive environment where team members feel comfortable expressing ideas. Emphasize that there are no wrong answers.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-2 hours | 2+ | Both |
9. Build a Spaghetti Tower
Building spaghetti towers isn’t just about childhood memories — it’s a surprisingly effective way to strengthen your team!
This activity throws a fun curveball at your employees, encouraging them to think outside the box.
With just a pile of spaghetti, some tape and a time limit, teams have to strategize, problem-solve and delegate tasks to create the sturdiest structure.
The laughter, the frustration and (hopefully!) the triumph of a successful tower contribute to a strong sense of camaraderie.
Plus, the debriefing afterward allows teams to analyze their approach, celebrate successes and learn from inevitable spaghetti-related mishaps.
It’s a lighthearted activity that builds trust, communication and a shared memory that your team will be talking about for a while.
Quick Tip: Don’t take yourself too seriously! Most teams will benefit from loosening up, having some fun and strengthening their collaborative muscles.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-2 hours | 2+ | In-person |
10. Board Game Tournament
This corporate team-building activity swaps out the boardroom for the game board.
A board game tournament is a fun and strategic way to boost trust among your team. It offers a chance to unwind in a casual setting, supporting employees who feel overwhelmed at work.
The thrill of victory (and the not-so-thrilling feeling of defeat) can be shared experiences, bringing colleagues together.
Plus, strategic games often require teamwork and communication, as teammates work together to develop winning strategies.
This lighthearted competition can reveal hidden strengths and build trust as team members rely on each other’s skills to navigate the game. It’s a win-win for building camaraderie and fostering a more connected team.
The selection of board games is nearly endless, but teams might enjoy options like Codenames, Hanabi or Concept.
Quick Tip: As much as you like your job, very few employees would say no to a little more fun at work. This is as much a reward for great work as it is for trust-building!
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-2 hours | 2+ | In-person |
11. Team Book Club
I’m a big believer that a good book can change your life — and the dynamic of your team.
A team book club is an insightful way to build trust among colleagues. Through their interpretations of different books, team members can discover the hidden depths of each other’s personalities and perspectives.
This newfound understanding can encourage empathy and respect, creating a stronger foundation for trust.
Plus, lively debates and shared “aha!” moments during discussions create a sense of camaraderie that translates back to the office.
Book clubs are a win-win for building intellectual connections and a more cohesive team culture.
If you want to transform your team culture or evolve from a boss to a leader, here are a few of my favorite books to help you out.
Book recommendations:
- Good to Great by Jim Collins
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Influence by Robert Cialdini
- The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath
Quick Tip: Create a shortlist of books and allow team members to vote on which ones they’d like to read. Involving your employees in the decision-making increases engagement and buy-in.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1 hour | 2+ | Both |
12. Vision Board Workshop
A vision board workshop is a dynamic way to supercharge your team’s trust and fire everyone up about the future.
But it’s not just about crafting collages.
A vision board is a powerful and effective way to explore each team member’s goals and aspirations. Colleagues can break the ice and share their professional dreams by tossing around magazines, photos and inspiring words.
This vulnerability fosters empathy and understanding as everyone discovers what truly makes each other tick.
The best part? You can translate those shared goals into a visual masterpiece with a team vision board. It’s a powerful way to build trust, ignite creativity and get everyone marching toward the future, united and inspired.
Quick Tip: Provide guidance on how to create the vision board. Offer suggestions for brainstorming goals, selecting images and examples of completed boards.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-2 hours | 2+ | Both |
13. “Someday” Lists
“Someday” lists might seem like a solitary activity, but they can be a surprisingly effective way to build trust among colleagues.
Sharing aspirations in a “Someday” list activity helps teammates open up about their personal and professional goals.
This act of vulnerability fosters a sense of connection and understanding. As colleagues discover each other’s passions and hidden talents, it sparks conversations that go beyond daily tasks.
This newfound appreciation for each other’s unique goals strengthens the team dynamic and creates a more supportive work environment.
Quick Tip: Remind employees why you’re encouraging them to share — to create a supportive work environment and a stronger team dynamic.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-2 hours | 2+ | Both |
14. Collaborative Story Building
This activity lets your team tap into their creativity by weaving a story together one sentence (or plot twist) at a time.
The beauty lies in the unexpected.
By building upon each other’s ideas, colleagues discover hidden talents for storytelling and problem-solving. It fosters a sense of psychological safety, where everyone feels comfortable taking risks and contributing their unique voice to the narrative.
The collaboration and satisfying conclusion of the story contribute to a stronger team bond.
Quick Tip: Encourage active listening so your team can build on each other’s ideas and communicate effectively to move the story forward.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-2 hours | 2+ | Both |
15. Show and Tell
Remember childhood show and tell?
Believe it or not, it can be a surprisingly effective trust-building tool for corporate teams.
Instead of old toys, colleagues bring in objects that hold personal or professional significance. Sharing these unique items sparks conversations that go beyond daily tasks.
Maybe one team member’s love of rock climbing translates to a fearless approach to problem-solving, or another one’s antique camera collection reveals meticulous attention to detail.
Your team can breathe new life into this old idea, creating a fun and engaging way to build trust and discover the hidden facets of your team.
Quick Tip: Lead by example by starting the conversation. This helps employees feel more comfortable contributing and learning.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-2 hours | 2+ | Both |
16. This Week, That Week
This simple activity goes beyond the usual work updates.
Team members take turns sharing a personal highlight from their current week (“This Week”) and a professional accomplishment from the previous week (“That Week”).
It might be a delicious meal they cooked, a volunteer project they participated in or a challenging task they aced at work.
By sharing these diverse experiences, colleagues gain a well-rounded picture of each other’s lives. The personal touch strengthens the team dynamic, creating a more supportive and trusting work environment.
It’s a win-win for building trust and getting to know the people you work with on a deeper level.
Quick Tip: Give a few examples to get the ball rolling. This helps you clarify what the activity calls for.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-2 hours | 2+ | Both |
17. Gather Around the Gratitude Jar
Cultivate positivity and build trust with a twist on the classic gratitude jar.
Sometimes, the best ideas are the most simple.
Throughout the week, team members anonymously jot down things they’re grateful for, big or small. It could be a delicious team lunch, a supportive colleague or a successful project completion.
Then, during a team meeting, gather around the jar and take turns picking out notes. Reading these expressions of appreciation aloud fosters a sense of connection and shared purpose.
This is an excellent activity for leaders who want to boost morale and appreciation — that should be you!
By recognizing the positive impact of their work and colleagues, team members feel valued and motivated. It’s a heart-warming way to build trust and remind everyone why they enjoy working together.
Quick Tip: Incorporate the gratitude jar into team meetings and encourage your team to read aloud or share notes of appreciation with the group.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 10-20 minutes | 2+ | Both |
18. Virtual Watercooler Channels
Foster connections that flow freely — even in a digital workspace.
Virtual water cooler channels aren’t just another place for work updates (although those are important, too). They are dedicated virtual chat threads for casual conversation.
Imagine it as the digital equivalent of bumping into a colleague by the coffee machine.
Team members can share funny memes, discuss weekend adventures or chat about their favorite shows. This seemingly trivial banter builds trust and strengthens relationships.
By talking about everyday life, employees create a sense of community and camaraderie that translates back to work.
So, embrace the power of casual conversation. You might be surprised at how much closer your virtual team becomes.
Quick Tip: Clearly outline the channel’s purpose and set some loose guidelines to encourage respectful conversations.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| NA | 3+ | Both |
19. Appreciation Storytime
Appreciation storytime is an intentional way to build trust and appreciation in your team.
During your next team meeting, each team member shares a story about a time a colleague went above and beyond.
It could be a last-minute project save, a helpful mentorship moment or simply offering a listening ear during a stressful time.
Providing a space where employees can publicly acknowledge acts of support highlights the value each team member brings. Not just in terms of skills, but also in terms of their positive impact on the team dynamic.
This recognition shows everyone their contributions are valued and appreciated, leading to a more supportive and motivated team environment.
Quick Tip: Make sure all members of your team are seen and heard. Actively look for ways you (as a leader) can call out awesome contributions.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 30 minutes – 1 hour | 3+ | Both |
20. Protect the Egg
In Protect the Egg, teams channel their inner MacGyver to create a contraption using limited materials, like straws, tape and balloons.
The goal: To keep a raw egg safe from a dramatic drop.
I know this seems like a silly activity, but these low-stakes team building exercises are a great way to foster trust.
During the activity, teams must delegate tasks, brainstorm ideas and rely on each other’s skills to create a successful egg protection system.
It’s a lighthearted activity that reminds everyone of the importance of effective collaboration and a little bit of creative trust-falling.
Quick Tip: This activity is a fantastic icebreaker for new teams. Working together on a silly challenge helps team members build rapport and get to know each other in a relaxed setting.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-2 hours | 2+ | In-person |
21. One Question, One Answer
This simple yet powerful activity gets colleagues talking on a deeper level.
Here’s how it works: Team members take turns writing down a single, thoughtful question on a piece of paper.
These can range from work-based questions like, “What’s your proudest accomplishment at work?” to personal questions like, “If you could have any superpower, what would it be?”
Someone then folds and shuffles the papers for anonymity. One by one, each team member picks a question, answers it honestly and shares their response with the group.
By opening up about their thoughts and experiences, colleagues create a sense of connection and understanding. It’s a low-pressure way to discover hidden depths in your team members, fostering trust and a more supportive work environment.
Quick Tip: Employees can easily participate in this activity regardless of location, so it’s great for dispersed teams.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 30 minutes – 1 hour | 2+ | Both |
22. Silent Birthday Lineup
Challenge your memory and build trust with a twist on the classic birthday line-up.
In “Silent Birthday Lineup,” the is to arrange yourselves chronologically by birthday, all without uttering a word.
This simple activity requires that team members rely on nonverbal cues, like pointing to birth months or using hand signals, to figure out their place in line.
It’s a lighthearted activity that reminds everyone of the importance of teamwork with a dash of friendly competition.
Quick Tip: While this could be adapted for a Zoom chat, it works best for in-person teammates and larger groups. Keep that in mind before starting.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 15-20 minutes | 5+ | In-person |
23. Home Office Tour
This activity is perfect for team members who want more remote work tips.
This unique activity goes beyond video calls and allows a glimpse into each other’s workspaces. Team members can volunteer to share their home office setups, showcasing their favorite decor, productivity hacks or even the occasional surprise pet visitor.
Of course, your home is incredibly personal to you. So, this must be on a volunteer basis.
But for those who choose to share, a home office tour can be a fun and informative way to break the ice, build rapport and discover hidden quirks that make your team special.
Quick Tip: Remember to respect everyone’s comfort level! This is essential to building trust instead of breaking it.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 15-20 minutes | 2+ | Remote |
24. What’s in the Box?
“What’s in the Box?” is an effective trust-building activity for your in-person team. It sparks curiosity and gets people working together to solve a puzzle.
Teams can play this activity in two ways. In one version, participants compete with a blindfolded guesser using yes/no questions to identify an object by feel.
Another option involves one surprising object and the entire team working together to describe it creatively through touch.
This game helps build trust by encouraging teammates to work together through strategic questions or creative descriptions.
This strengthens their ability to rely on each other and builds a sense of shared accomplishment. The element of playfulness also helps!
By working together in a lighthearted environment, teammates can relax and feel more comfortable with one another.
Quick Tip: Prepare clear and concise instructions to avoid confusion and manage time effectively. That includes setting up a distraction-free space.
| Time | Participants | In-person or Remote |
| 1-2 hours | 2+ | In-person |
More Tips for Building Trust in the Workplace
Trust is the bedrock of any successful team. When colleagues trust each other, they’re more likely to communicate openly, collaborate effectively and ultimately achieve better results.
Here are some tips to build a more collaborative and trusting team:
- Try fun team-building activities like the ones from this list.
- Encourage open, honest and transparent communication.
- As a leader, demonstrate consistency, integrity and reliability.
- Set clear goals, roles and expectations for everyone on the team.
- Practice empathetic and supportive leadership techniques for all employees.
- Encourage opportunities for collaboration in and across teams.
- Create a culture of gratitude by recognizing employee contributions.
- Take accountability for your actions and decisions as a leader.
- Strive to understand each employee’s strengths and weaknesses.
- Create regular feedback loops within your team.
A healthy team culture goes beyond fun and games. However, these activities to build trust in the workplace are a great place to start.
For more insight on how to become an amazing team lead and mentor, check out the Better Leader Newsletter. Cheers to transforming the way you lead!
Until next time,
Thomas
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