Top 5 Team Building Ideas to Boost Collaboration and Understanding in Your Company
Team-building activities are more than just fun and games—they’re essential for fostering trust, improving communication, and developing stronger working relationships. But instead of settling for the usual icebreaker games, why not take a more insightful approach? By incorporating personality assessments like the StrengthsFinder, Big Five Test, DISC Test, and EQ Test into your workshops and offsites, you can create a deeper sense of understanding and collaboration among your team.
In this blog, we’ll explore some unique team-building ideas, starting with one particularly impactful strategy that has been tried and tested by teams at Amazon, and then follow up with more ideas to inspire your next company offsite.
1. The StrengthsFinder Workshop: Uncovering Hidden Talents
The first and perhaps most powerful team-building idea is using the StrengthsFinder test in a workshop setting. It’s designed to help individuals identify their unique strengths, providing a shared language for team members to understand each other’s core competencies.
Let’s take Patricia, a team lead at Amazon, as an example. Patricia recently organized a team-building workshop using the StrengthsFinder assessment with her team of 12. After completing the test, Patricia discovered that some of her quiet, introverted teammates were incredible at analytical thinking, while others had talents in relationship-building and influencing others. This revelation allowed the team to optimize their workflow by assigning tasks according to everyone’s natural talents.
One of Patricia's colleagues shared, "We’ve been working together for years, but this exercise really made me see everyone in a new light. It’s so much easier to collaborate when you understand the strengths behind the person you're working with."
Why it works: When your team knows each other’s strengths, they’re more likely to support and complement each other’s efforts. It creates a culture where team members feel seen, valued, and appreciated for what they naturally excel at, ultimately improving performance and morale.
You can easily incorporate the StrengthsFinder test into your next workshop or offsite by providing each team member with a personalized report. Plus, you’ll get actionable insights to bring back to the office. Click here to get the StrengthsFinder test for your team!
2. Big Five Personality Test: Understanding Work Styles and Preferences
Another fantastic team-building tool is the Big Five Personality Test, which breaks down personality traits into five key factors: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. This test is highly scientific and provides a nuanced understanding of how each person operates in a work setting.
Imagine bringing your team together to discuss where everyone stands on the spectrum of these five traits. Some individuals may rank highly in openness, making them ideal for creative brainstorming, while others who score high in conscientiousness excel in detailed project management.
Why it works: The Big Five test allows for a broad view of personality, helping teams appreciate the diversity of work styles. It’s an excellent way to understand how individuals prefer to communicate, make decisions, and respond to stress. It’s perfect for creating a balanced team where everyone’s personality traits are put to the best use.
Host a workshop where team members can take the Big Five Personality Test and discuss the results, focusing on how to apply them to improve collaboration.
3. DISC Personality Test: Improving Communication and Conflict Resolution
The DISC Personality Test is another popular choice for team-building workshops. It divides personality into four main types: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. Each of these types has different strengths and preferred communication styles.
For example, people with a Dominance personality are typically decisive and results-oriented, while those with a Steadiness personality value cooperation and consistency. By understanding these differences, teams can navigate potential conflicts more easily and communicate more effectively.
Why it works: DISC is particularly effective in helping teams recognize and adapt to each other’s communication styles, minimizing misunderstandings. If you’ve ever struggled with a team member who seemed overly blunt or, on the other hand, too slow to make decisions, this test provides the framework to better understand those tendencies.
Make DISC a key part of your next offsite. After taking the DISC Personality Test, host a discussion to dive deeper into how each personality type can work together more effectively.
4. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Test: Building Empathy and Emotional Awareness
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. The EQ Test measures these skills and can be an invaluable team-building tool.
In one company, an EQ workshop led to a significant breakthrough in how employees approached feedback. Before taking the test, many team members would shut down during performance reviews because they felt attacked. After learning about emotional intelligence, they could separate emotions from feedback and communicate more constructively.
Why it works: Building emotional awareness and empathy creates a more harmonious work environment. When people understand how to manage their emotions and empathize with their colleagues, they’re better equipped to handle stress and conflict.
Incorporate an EQ Test into your team-building plans to help your team develop these critical soft skills.
5. Strength-Based Team Challenges
One of the more dynamic ways to use personality assessments like the StrengthsFinder or DISC test is to organize a team challenge based on everyone’s strengths. After everyone completes the assessments, divide them into small groups where each group has a mix of different strengths or DISC types.
The challenge could be anything from solving a real business problem to an outdoor team challenge. The key is to ensure that every participant is contributing in a way that plays to their strengths. This not only reinforces the results of the assessments but also allows teams to see how leveraging strengths leads to better outcomes.
Why it works: This approach applies what team members have learned about each other in a fun, competitive way. It’s also a fantastic way to put theory into practice and solidify the benefits of these personality assessments.
Other Fun Ideas for Team Building Activities:
While personality tests offer deep insights and lasting benefits, here are a few more ideas to shake things up during your next team-building workshop or offsite:
6. Escape Room Challenge
Escape rooms are always a hit, offering teams the opportunity to work together to solve puzzles and “escape” within a set time limit. It encourages creative problem-solving and collaboration.
7. Volunteer as a Team
Giving back to the community can be a meaningful way to bond with your team. Find a local charity or cause that resonates with everyone and spend the day helping out.
8. Cooking Class
What’s more fun than food? Cooking classes can help foster teamwork, patience, and communication as teams work together to whip up a delicious meal.
9. Scavenger Hunt
Organize a scavenger hunt across your city or office. Divide teams into groups and give them a list of items or challenges to complete. It’s a fun way to promote teamwork and problem-solving.
10. Team Wellness Retreat
For a more relaxing team-building experience, organize a wellness retreat. You can include yoga sessions, mindfulness exercises, and healthy meals to recharge and bond in a peaceful setting.
Why Personality Tests Should Be Part of Every Team Building Event
While the activities above can be enjoyable and promote bonding, personality tests like the StrengthsFinder, Big Five, DISC, and EQ tests go a step further by providing real, actionable insights into how your team works best. Understanding each other’s personalities creates a foundation for stronger collaboration, better communication, and a more cohesive work environment.
Ready to take your next team-building event to the next level? Incorporate one or more of these personality tests and see the difference it makes in your team’s dynamics.
Explore the options and get started with the StrengthsFinder, Big Five Test, DISC Test, or EQ Test for your next company workshop or offsite.
Let’s unlock the full potential of your team!
