12 Zero/Low-Cost Team Building Games

Creative team building activities can be a great way to boost employee performance, job satisfaction, and employee engagement.
12 Zero/Low-Cost Team Building Games
Team building activities are a great way to not only get to know your colleagues but also to work together and develop positive relationships among members of your team. While there are plenty of team building activities that require specific materials, you may not have access to them. Fortunately, there are still plenty of team building ideas that don’t require any materials — so grab a few coworkers, and get ready for some fun! Creative team building activities can be a great way to boost employee performance, job satisfaction, and employee engagement.

In this article you will find:

12 Zero-Low Cost Team Building Games

1. Cooking Together

Requirements/Additional Resources:

  • Video Platform
  • A special host (anyone at the company who likes to cook)
  • Recipe + list of ingredients

Description of Activity:

Know anyone with some incredible cooking skills, or have a special dish to share? Simply set up an online event where folks can tune in and learn how to cook something new together. Don’t forget to send the recipe out ahead of time! We advise simple recipes with pantry and common ingredients.

2. Play the Castaway Game

Requirements/Additional Resources:

  • Video Platform
  • A unique item you have at home

Description of Activity:

Have your teammates come to your next meeting with a few items around their office space (the more unique the better). Then, tell your team that they have to pick only one item that they would use to survive if stranded on a desert island. Ask each team member to present what they chose and why.

3. Group Board Games

Requirements/Additional Resources:

Description of Activity:

As a large or small team get on a call and have some fun with a good old fashion game night! Some of our suggestions include customized jeopardy, trivia, Jackbox games, group puzzles, or word games such as Code Names.

4. Yoga/Team Workout

Requirements/Additional Resources:

Description of Activity:

Get a small or large team together and stay mindful and healthy through yoga, or various other virtual workouts.

5. Group Meditation

Requirements/Additional Resources:

Description of Activity:

As a smaller group get together and participate in a guided meditation to start off the day on the right foot, or as a de-stressor throughout the day.

6. Guided Sound Meditation

Requirements/Additional Resources:

Description of Activity:

Take a few moments with your team to stay grounded and enjoy some guided meditation to the tune of a professional cellist.

7. Virtual Karaoke

Requirements/Additional Resources:

Description of Activity:

After a long week or even a long day, tune into some group karaoke as a way to start off or wrap up your virtual happy hours!

8. Virtual Concert

Requirements/Additional Resources:

  • Video Platform

Description of Activity:

Recruit some talented employees to put on a virtual concert/ talent show. Throughout the concert have other employees spread some love and support in the chat on the side!

9. Sew Masks

Requirements/Additional Resources:

Description of Activity:

Know anyone with some exceptional sewing skills? Or live video together while following a DIY video! As a small group hop on a call with a sewing guide and learn how to sew masks to donate to first responders in your community.

10. Team Bingo

Requirements/Additional Resources:

Description of Activity:

Play bingo with your teams! Use an online Bingo card generator and get people together via video.

11. Ask Me Anything (AMAs)

Requirements/Additional Resources:

  • Video Platform
  • An individual from a company or an expert in an interesting field

Description of Activity:

Highlight someone interesting in your organization and has an AMA. AMA’s allow peers, co-workers, and employees to ask a very someone anything they want to know about their journey to today.

12. Virtual Panel or Speaker Series

Requirements/Additional Resources:

  • Video Platform
  • One option includes starting a well-being internal series focused on bringing in well-being thought leaders and educators
  • Another option is inviting a therapist to speak on mental wellness during a pandemic and WFH tips

Description of Activity:

Invite speakers or leadership or employee experts to lead a discussion or host a webinar! Use any video conference platform, schedule 30mins-1hour during lunch, and invite everyone to join! Plan panel speakers around certain themed months (i.e. Mental Health Awareness month, LatinX Heritage month, etc.). Another option is to invite employees to speak on a virtual panel about their own personal interests or experiences.

Author Details

Written by:
Najeeb Khan
Role:
Head of Training & Events
Expertise:
Leadership Development, Team Training, Belonging, Diversity & Inclusion, & Innovation
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What you should do now

Whenever you're ready...here are a few ways we can help you:

1. Book a team social event. If you'd like to work with us to have more engaging team events, book an event.

Don't know what activity to pick? Use the Team Building Idea Generator for options.

2. If you'd like to learn remote work strategies for free, head to our blog where you'll find several guides and posts.

3. If you'd like to create a offering for companies for a skill that you have, then contact us and let us know.

4. If you know someone who’d enjoy reading this page, share it with them via email, Linkedin, Twitter, or Facebook.

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