40 team building activities for businesses of any size and budget

June 11, 20195 min read

Does the thought of a ropes course tie you in knots? Maybe karaoke makes you cringe?

Don’t worry—team-building activities don’t have to be anxiety-producing. In fact, the best games and events reduce workplace stress rather than add to it.

If you’re a small business owner eager to create strong teams, we have you covered with this better-than-ultimate list of team-building activities, divided into four categories.

The broad scope ensures there is something to suit every size and setting: large groups to small, conference rooms to the outdoors, simple to the usual. The key is to realise that one size rarely fits all, given the different ages and interests in a typical company—not to mention budget and time constraints.

If you’re not sure which activities might appeal, the best option is to ask or have your team vote. After all, the goal is to bring the team together, not make them want to run away.

And now, on with the team-building activity list.

‘Get to know you’ icebreakers and ideas

These team-building games offer the benefit of getting to know colleagues through fun, informal games. Because of that, we recommend playing them in smaller teams or in groups of two or three.

These can be the kick-off to another activity or during regular, more productive team meetings. They even work for remote employees.

Pair people up and have them find 10 things they have in common.
Play a few rounds of trivia questions, office trivia, or “name that tune.” The twist is that someone different plans the questions or songs focusing on those that are unique to them and their interests.
Host a show-and-tell. What better way to get to know coworkers than have them bring in a photo or object that’s special to them? You could make it an ongoing activity with different themes—most important person to me, favourite teacher and why, best vacation ever, etc.
Ask everyone to “fill out their favourite” food, place, TV show, movie, etc. For added team bonding, use sticky notes, index cards, or small pieces of paper, shuffle them after they’ve been filled out, and let everyone vote on which favourite belongs to who.
Hold a “brag-a-thon.” Have everyone share their most exciting moment or proudest achievement; you can even do categories such as “at work,” “at school,” “in my hobby.”
Take a personality quiz. Knowing what makes your coworkers tick can enhance teamwork.
“Find someone who…” Put together a game card and have colleagues find someone who is an only child, has lived overseas, etc.
Have a team potluck and have everyone bring in their “secret specialty dish.” Guess whose is whose and have them share a story about why it’s special to them.
Play two truths and a lie.
Have a round of “speed dating.” Colleagues rotate and spend five minutes getting to know each other.

Collaborative team building exercises

These are designed to get people working together in small groups to create new bonds among colleagues who might not normally be paired up—and could even spur potential new ideas that can help the business.

Produce a short video series—use a fun or thought-provoking question to interview team members; these can also be repurposed on your social media.
Plan a scavenger hunt. It can take place around your office building, office park or around your town.
Host a board game night or puzzle-making competition. Rotate who picks the game and encourage choices simple enough that the whole team can be playing in no time. Alternatively, divide up puzzle pieces into random batches and give small teams 30 minutes to solve as much as they can before rotating.
Hold a hackathon. Choose a thorny team problem and take an afternoon brainstorming as many solutions as possible with people from all different departments participating.
Dream big. Have everyone share the one goal they have for the company—a dream client, a huge problem they’d like to solve.
Play minute-to-win-it games. You can find instructions and over 200 different versions here.
Switch jobs for a day. This can create an amazing dynamic and promote better understanding among everyone.
Do a puzzle together.
Play charades or Pictionary.
Have a “progressive lunch.” Different departments host different parts of the meal—appetiser, main course, dessert.

Volunteer team building events

Volunteering together can be a fantastic way to build culture and camaraderie at your workplace—while simultaneously helping the community. Here are some ideas to consider.

Help sort or package food at a food bank.
Cook and/or serve a meal at a homeless shelter.
Spread cheer at an assisted living facility.
Participate in a bike build. Your company donates funds to buy a few bikes and employees work together to assemble them.
Beautify a neighbourhood park or hospital grounds.
Plant a community garden and deliver the food to a food bank.
Set up outdoor swing sets or basketball hoops at a children’s club or preschool.
Collect items for a family or school and deliver them together.
Invite a local kids’ group into your place of business to learn more about what you do.
Volunteer at an animal shelter; clean cages, cuddle and walk pets.

‘Just for fun’ team building activities

Lastly, some activities should be purely fun and social. But think beyond happy hour, bowling, and mini-golf. Here are a few to try.

Cheer for your local team at a sporting event. Don’t overlook semi-pro teams; the tickets and concessions can be a lot cheaper.
Visit a bookstore. Give every employee a small allowance for each to choose a book and then have each share what they chose and why.
Get jumping at a trampoline park.
Attend a cooking class together.
Complete an escape room challenge.
Participate in a local cooking competition, like a rib or chilli cook-off.
Relieve stress. Bring in a massage chair or have a yoga or meditation session.
Glam up. Bring in a stylist to do nails or hair—guys and gals should both be included.
Have a family day. Get to know your colleagues’ families—and vice versa—with a family-oriented activity at a park or indoor play space (depending on ages).
Break something. Yes, “rage rooms” are a thing in many cities and might be the perfect stress reliever after a particularly trying time.

Looking for something else?

Get QuickBooks

Smart features made for your business. We've got you covered.

See how it works

Help Me Choose

Use our product selector to find the best accounting software for you.

Choose your product

QuickBooks Support

Get help with QuickBooks. Find articles, video tutorials, and more.

Start learning

Group heading
- - QuickBooks reserves the right to change pricing, features, support and service at any time. Prices are in AUD and include GST. See our Terms of Service for further information.
  - Pricing: All prices are in AUD.
  - ProAdvisor Program: Please find the terms of our ProAdvisor program here.
  - Discount: For new QuickBooks customers, receive a 30% discount off the current monthly price for QuickBooks Self-Employed, QuickBooks Online Simple Start, QuickBooks Online Essentials or QuickBooks Online Plus for the first 3 months of service, starting from date of enrolment. From month 4 from the date of enrolment, the price will change to the then current monthly price. See current prices here. QuickBooks Payroll prices are not eligible for this discount. For further details about QuickBooks Payroll prices see here. Your account will automatically be charged on a monthly basis until you cancel. You may cancel at any time. There is no limit on the number of subscriptions ordered under this offer. This offer cannot be combined with any other QuickBooks Online promotion or offers.
  - Trial: First thirty (30) days of subscription to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Self-Employed and QuickBooks Payroll (including QuickBooks Advanced Payroll), starting from the date of enrolment, is free. During the free trial, you may pay any number of employees using QuickBooks Payroll free of charge. To continue using QuickBooks after your 30-day trial, you'll be asked to present a valid credit card for authorisation and you'll be charged monthly at the then-current fee for the service(s) you've selected.
  - QuickBooks Payroll powered by KeyPay: Payroll services are offered by a third-party, Webscale Pty Ltd, the makers of KeyPay. QuickBooks Payroll is only accessible via QuickBooks Online subscriptions. You will be charged $5.00 (incl. GST) per month for each ‘active employee’ paid using QuickBooks Payroll. An ‘active employee’ is one who has been paid at least once in the billing month. For Advanced Payroll, there is an additional monthly subscription fee of $10 (incl GST). Pricing, terms and conditions, including service options, are subject to change.
  * KeyPay was voted the leading payroll solution for SMBs <50 employees (Australian Payroll Association 2021 Payroll Benchmarking Study)
  - Customer support: Call or chat to an expert for QuickBooks Online Accountant, QuickBooks Simple Start, Essential and Plus, or use in-product QB Assistant and chat for QuickBooks Self-Employed. You'll also find useful resources in the QuickBooks Community.
  - Devices: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Self-Employed and QuickBooks Payroll require a computer with Internet Explorer 10, Firefox, Chrome, or Safari 6 and an Internet connection (a high-speed connection is recommended). The QuickBooks Online mobile app works with iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets. QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll are accessible on mobile browsers on iOS, Android, and Blackberry mobile devices. Devices sold separately; data plan required. QuickBooks Payroll cannot be used on the mobile apps. Not all features are available on the mobile apps and mobile browser. QuickBooks Online mobile access is included with your QuickBooks Online subscription at no additional cost. Data access is subject to cellular/internet provider network availability and occasional downtime due to system and server maintenance and events beyond your control. Product registration required.
  - Cloud storage: Data access is subject to Internet or cellular provider network availability and occasional downtime due to events beyond our control.
  - Get paid faster: Based on customer data for invoices paid online versus offline from Jan 2016- Dec 2016. Optional fee-based service. PayPal is an optional fee-based service. The PayPal service is provided by PayPal Australia Pty Limited (ABN 93 111 195 389) which holds Australian Financial Services Licence number 304962. Any information provided is general only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Please read and consider the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement at paypal.com.au before acquiring or using the service.
  - Tax deductions: Tax deductions not guaranteed due to being subject to user data entry errors. Mileage calculation provided by the Australia Taxation Office - 72 cents per kilometre from 1 July 2020 for the 2020–21 income year. To a maximum of 5,000 business kilometres per car (Deductions are only applicable to cars)
  - CSIA awards: Awarded by Customer Service Institute of Australia in Australian Service Excellence Awards: Winner Service Excellence in a Small Contact Centre 2017, Customer Service Professional of the Year 2018, Service Champion for Service Excellence (in a Small Contact Centre) 2018, Service Champion for Customer Service Project of the Year - Service Innovation 2018.
  - 160.000 Australian small businesses: Based on the number of QuickBooks Online users in Australia as of August 2018.
  - Run business more easily: Based on a survey of small businesses using QuickBooks Online conducted in September 2018.
  - Multiple accounts: These terms apply to QuickBooks AU customers only. Multiple account discount offer is valid only if you are signing up for more than one QuickBooks Online subscription with each order. View terms and conditions for multiple accounts pricing here . To inquire further about the multiple account offer, please call 1800 917 771.
  - Reviews: GetApp, Capterra, Google Play Store, Apple App Store reviews last updated on 30/05/22.
  - Cost per day claim: Based on a QuickBooks Simple Start Plan at its regular retail price of $25 per month and a 31 day month.
  - Cost per day claim (annual): Based on a QuickBooks Simple Start Plan at its regular retail price of $270 per year and a 365 day year.
  - Annual Billing: You may pay for your QuickBooks Online subscription on an annual, upfront basis to enjoy a discount on the current fees. If you use QuickBooks Payroll powered by KeyPay, your payroll costs will still be charged monthly to your nominated payment method in accordance with your usage as set out here. If you cancel your QuickBooks Online subscription within the pre-paid 12 month period, you will not be eligible for a refund, but will retain full access to your QuickBooks Online subscription for the remainder of the 12-month period. Unless cancelled by you prior, your annual subscription will auto-renew on the 12 month anniversary of your sign-up date using the billing details you have given us. Discounts, prices, terms and conditions are subject to change.
  - Nearly 8 million customers: Based on number of global QuickBooks subscribers as of July 2021.
  - Free Onboarding:*Not available for the QuickBooks Self-Employed product or trials.
  - ProAdvisor, QuickBooks Tax powered by LodgeIt Claim: *Based on the following assumptions if products were purchased independently of QuickBooks Online Accountant: $2,690 for LodgeiT Professional and $1,200 per annum ($100/mth) for Payroll Standard from KeyPay with six full time employees. For details https://employmenthero.com/pricing/?pricing-tab=payroll https://lodgeit.net.au/functionality/pricing-for-accountants/
  - Our Terms of Service apply to all QuickBooks Online subscriptions. Please review them carefully.