Alright, let me tell you about trying out some of those quick team building things. We weren’t exactly hitting rock bottom, but you know how it gets sometimes? Just felt like we needed a little something to shake things up, get people talking outside of just work tasks. So, I decided, let’s give a few of these easy activities a shot. Didn’t want anything too complicated or time-consuming.
Getting Started: The Idea
First, I just floated the idea during a casual chat. Mentioned maybe doing a quick 10-15 minute thing once a week, just to break the routine. Got a few nods, a few shrugs, but nobody outright objected, which I took as a green light. My main goal was just to get people interacting a bit more personally, remember we’re all humans, you know?
First Attempt: Two Truths and a Lie
We started with something super simple: Two Truths and a Lie. Figured everyone kinda knows this one. Gathered everyone in the break room after lunch one day. I went first to get the ball rolling.
How it went:
- Explained the rules real quick: Say three things about yourself – two true, one false. Everyone else guesses the lie.
- It was a bit awkward at first. People were hesitant. But once the first person got guessed right (or wrong!), things loosened up.
- We learned some genuinely surprising stuff about each other! Found out Sarah used to be a competitive figure skater and Mike once won a hot-dog eating contest. Stuff you’d never know just from emails and meetings.
- It took about 15 minutes, maybe 20 because we got chatting after some reveals. Easy peasy.
My takeaway: This was dead simple and actually worked. People were laughing. Good start.
Second Try: The Human Knot
Next week, I thought we’d try something a bit more physical, but still quick. The Human Knot. Got about 8-10 people to stand in a circle.
How it went:
- Told everyone to reach across the circle with their right hand and grab someone else’s hand.
- Then, reach across with their left hand and grab a different person’s hand.
- Okay, now the fun part: Untangle yourselves without letting go.
- This was chaos, but fun chaos! Lots of “Wait, go under!”, “No, step over!”, “Whose hand is this?!”.
- It took a bit of communication and teamwork. Some people naturally took charge, others were happy to follow directions.
- We actually managed to untangle into one big circle! Took maybe 10 minutes. High fives all around.
My takeaway: Great for getting people moving and forcing some non-work-related problem-solving. You see different sides of people when they have to physically cooperate like that.
Third Go: Desert Island Scenario
Wanted something more discussion-based next. So, I threw out the classic “Desert Island” question during a coffee break.
How it went:
- Posed the question: “If you were stranded on a desert island, what three non-essential items would you bring and why?” Stressed the non-essential part to make it more fun.
- Went around the small group that was there.
- Answers were all over the place! Books, music players (assuming magical batteries, haha), a comfy pillow, a specific type of snack…
- The ‘why’ was the interesting part. It sparked little conversations about hobbies, comfort items, and what people value when you strip away the basics.
- No real ‘goal’ here other than sharing and chatting. Lasted about 10 minutes.
My takeaway: Good for understanding personalities and preferences on a different level. Very low pressure.
Overall Thoughts
So, did these quick things magically transform the team? Nah, not overnight. But they definitely helped inject some positive energy. People seemed a bit more relaxed around each other afterward. Little inside jokes started popping up from the activities. It was less about the specific activity and more about taking a few minutes to connect as people, not just colleagues. Simple stuff, didn’t cost anything, didn’t take much time, but felt like a decent return on investment for team spirit. We kept doing short ones occasionally, just mixed them in. Worth trying if things feel a bit stale.