In a dynamic work environment, team building is a crucial challenge. Team challenges at work help create a sense of unity within the company. A strong team bond ensures that employees work together more openly, transparently, and supportively. This not only improves the workplace atmosphere but also has a positive impact on productivity.
A strong team of talented employees will always solve complex challenges more effectively than even the smartest individual players. The team will develop creative solutions and collaborate more efficiently through mutual support and shared goals.
Team development goes through different phases, but the key factor is successfully bringing individual members together.
There are many creative and engaging team-building ideas suitable for both indoor and outdoor activities. Even remote teams have various options to connect, build trust, and enhance collaboration.
Promoting team building through team challenges for work
- Improvement of communication, trust, and cooperation skills.
- Promotion of a culture of trustful and fearless collaboration.
- Motivation of creative skills and unconventional thinking to solve problems.
- Enhancement of the work environment and employee morale.
Teams that achieve a high level of engagement, creativity, and collaboration also benefit from psychological safety, a concept that is crucial for a company’s success and innovative strength. Psychological safety describes a trusting and respectful environment where every team member can freely ask questions and share ideas without fear of criticism or devaluation. Such teams have been proven to work more efficiently, make fewer mistakes, and experience lower turnover rates as well as reduced absenteeism.
What makes a good challenge for team-building?
A good workforce team challenge is characterized by clear goals, a well-thought-out structure, and a high fun factor. Regardless of different skill levels, all participants should be able to contribute meaningfully. The focus is on the positive group experience. Achieving a goal together or solving a task strengthens the sense of unity.
Company team challenges also encourage communication and the exchange of different perspectives. Additionally, participants benefit from a mix of variety, creativity, and real added value for collaboration in everyday work life.
Ultimately, a successful team challenge at work is one where the group grows closer through shared experiences and integrates the skills learned into their professional context in the long run.
- Clear Goal
Every company team challenge should have a tangible goal that motivates participants. Whether it’s running a certain distance, developing a creative solution, or saving resources together—the goal must be inspiring and achievable. - Relevance and Meaningfulness
The challenge should relate to the interests and values of the participants. Connecting it to topics like sustainability, health, or social projects provides additional motivation. - Fair Conditions
To ensure inclusivity, the challenge should accommodate different skill levels. Teams with diverse strengths should have the opportunity to contribute effectively. - Interactive Elements
Gamification, such as point systems, leaderboards, or rewards adds excitement and encourages active participation. - Communication and Teamwork
Good challenges for team building foster interaction and collaboration. Tasks that can only be solved together strengthen team cohesion. - Flexibility
Different work environments and schedules require flexible participation options, such as digital tools that work remotely. - Fun and Lightness
The fun factor is essential! Playful elements and humorous interactions create a positive atmosphere. - Feedback and Reflection
After the challenge, results should be made visible and discussed collectively. This reinforces a sense of achievement and appreciation.
By skillfully combining these components, challenges for team building can be both engaging and have a lasting positive impact on team culture and work efficiency.
Ideas for team challenges at work
Companies can engage in a variety of activities: Sports challenges, such as a step challenge, a running or cycling challenge, promote movement and health. A CO2 challenge creates a shared goal and raises awareness of sustainability and environmental issues. Creative challenges, like collaborative art projects or hackathons, strengthen team spirit and bring fresh ideas into the company.
Social initiatives, such as donating together for charitable causes, planting trees within the company, or engaging in volunteer work, also foster a sense of unity. These challenges not only encourage employees to connect and collaborate within their teams but also contribute to a positive company culture defined by mutual support, motivation, and enjoyment.
Challenges for team-building for greater team spirit and cooperation
Company team challenges are an effective tool for strengthening team cohesion. By challenging team members to work together toward a common goal, they foster a sense of unity and bring the group closer together. At the same time, playful tasks create a relaxed atmosphere where trust can grow, and everyone can contribute their individual strengths. By coordinating with each other, distributing tasks, and developing solutions together, team members learn to combine their diverse skills and approach complex problems constructively. The skills developed, ranging from clear communication to innovative thinking, have a lasting impact on everyday work. They not only enhance team dynamics but also boost productivity.
This way, strategies and tools for better collaboration can be tested and practiced in a fun and engaging manner.
Icebreaker: “Two Truths and a Lie”
Team size: From 3 people
Duration: 2–3 minutes per person
This icebreaker is a great way to foster team spirit and learn more about colleagues. The concept is simple: Each team member thinks of two true statements and one lie about themselves. The game becomes especially engaging when the true facts are surprising or unusual (e.g., “I went wingsuit flying in the Alps”) and the lies sound believable (e.g., “I sing in my city’s cathedral choir”).
Statements can be shared spontaneously or prepared in advance as part of a presentation, with each person having their own slide. Then, each participant presents their three statements, and the rest of the group votes on which one they believe is the lie. The game guarantees fun, entertainment, and engaging conversations, helping team members get to know each other better.
“Two Truths and a Lie” is particularly effective for teams whose members are not yet well acquainted. The shared facts create a relaxed way to start conversations and discover more about colleagues—an excellent icebreaker for successful team development!
Icebreaker: “What I Can Offer You”
Team size: From 5 people
Duration: 1–2 minutes per person
This activity is perfect for seminar events where participants have time to connect between presentations and program sessions. The concept is simple yet creative: Each team member thinks of an activity or skill they would like to share with others. These can be personal hobbies, talents, or interests, such as:
- “I’d love to teach you the basics of knitting.”
- “If anyone is up for morning yoga, feel free to join me.”
- “I read a lot and would be happy to share book recommendations.”
- “I collect wild herbs and invite you to join me for an afternoon herb walk.”
This challenge creates a relaxed atmosphere where participants can get to know each other naturally and engage in meaningful conversations. At the same time, it encourages the exchange of interests and helps build personal connections within the group.
Icebreaker: “The Shoulder Tap”
Team size: From 3 people
Duration: Less than 1 minute for the whole team
“The Shoulder Tap” is not a traditional game but a simple yet powerful mood booster, perfect for seminars, team challenges, or even daily work routines. It brings positive energy, lifts spirits, and creates a moment of appreciation. Whether as a closing ritual in a meeting, a spontaneous energizer during a challenge, or even in an online session, The Shoulder Tap is always a great fit.
We discovered it during the pandemic and have since incorporated it into our regular team meetings, often in virtual calls, as many of our team members work remotely.
How the Shoulder Tap Works:
- Begin with a few words about the current situation. Mention challenges the team has overcome or the everyday pressures everyone faces. Especially in difficult times, like those experienced during the pandemic, this exercise can provide recognition and motivation.
- Ask participants to stretch their hands up.
- Have them cross their arms and tap their shoulders with their flat palms.
- Encourage everyone to silently or audibly thank themselves—whether for great teamwork, personal achievements, or simply for doing their best.
The Shoulder Tap is simple, unexpected, and guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone’s face. A small gesture with a big impact!
Team Challenge: “Shared Vision Workshop”
Team size: 3–10 people
Duration: 20 minutes
The Shared Vision Workshop team challenge offers teams the opportunity to collaboratively develop an inspiring direction for a fictional project or an overarching goal. Using a virtual whiteboard such as Jamboard [https://jamboard.google.com/] or Miro [https://miro.com/de/], participants first gather all ideas, then group them into meaningful categories, and finally distill them into a clear, shared vision. This process not only promotes strategic thinking but also enhances the exchange of ideas and team cohesion.
Examples of fictional projects or goals directly related to one’s work:
- “Green Office” Initiative – Reducing the ecological footprint in the office
- Digital Detox App – Developing an application to promote mindful digital use
- Hybrid Learning Concept – Combining online and in-person training sessions
- In-house Innovation Fair – An event to showcase new ideas and projects
- Sustainable Coffee Break – Concepts for environmentally friendly break arrangements
By working together on a shared vision, participants learn to integrate different perspectives, highlight the best suggestions, and agree on a common goal. This strengthens the sense of unity, facilitates future collaboration, and creates a motivating foundation for further project development. The Shared Vision Workshop is particularly effective for teams looking to intensify their cooperation and collaborative idea exchange.
Challenge: “The 30-Second Pitch”
Team size: From 3 people
Duration: 1–2 minutes per person
This challenge enhances both creativity and presentation skills. Each team member selects a random (real or fictional) object and must sell it in just 30 seconds. The challenge lies in delivering a compelling pitch in a very short time. After each pitch, the team collectively evaluates how creative and persuasive the presentations were. By sharing different ideas, participants learn to give constructive feedback and refine their communication skills.
Challenge: “Tower of Strength”
Team size: From 4 people
Duration: 20 minutes for the entire team
This challenge brings teamwork to its most creative form! Using unconventional materials such as spaghetti, marshmallows, tape, and string, the team must collaboratively build a tower at least 30 cm tall that is sturdy enough to hold a small object (e.g., a ball). Success requires strategic planning, clever tactics, and quick problem-solving. Tower of Strength is particularly effective in enhancing cooperation and communication skills in a short period—while guaranteeing a lot of fun along the way!
Team Challenge: “Virtual Escape Game”
Team size: 4–10 people
Duration: 30–60 minutes for all teams
This team challenge is perfect for employees who enjoy logic puzzles and problem-solving. The team enters a virtual escape room and must solve various puzzles and challenges within a time limit to “escape” together. The tasks range from numerical puzzles and logic problems to creative brain teasers.
Each team member contributes their unique strengths, whether it’s analytical thinking, quick comprehension, or the ability to connect clues. Communication is key, as solutions can often only be found through collaboration.
The Virtual Escape Game is ideal for remote and hybrid teams, allowing them to work effectively together despite physical distance—all while having fun!
Challenge: “Emoji Storytelling”
Team size: From 3 people
Duration: 10 minutes per team
This creative icebreaker is a great way to start a meeting. Each team member posts three emojis in a shared chat. The team then collaborates to create a short story of no more than five sentences, with each participant adding just one sentence at a time.
The alternating storytelling often leads to unexpected twists and lots of laughter. Emoji Storytelling enhances team communication skills and demonstrates how building on each other’s ideas can result in a surprising and entertaining outcome.
Challenge: “Story Building”
Team size: 3–8 people
Duration: 15–20 minutes per team
In this creative exercise, the team collaboratively writes a story, with each member contributing exactly one sentence at a time. The twist: each participant can only see the last sentence written by the previous person. This results in a spontaneous and often hilarious or unexpected final piece, which is only revealed in full during the final reading. Story Building encourages adaptability, fosters creativity through improvisation, and strengthens team spirit by allowing everyone to shape the outcome together.
Challenge: “Reverse Charades”
Team size: From 4 people
Duration: 2–3 minutes per person
This challenge focuses on team spirit and collective action. Instead of one person acting out a word for the group to guess (as in traditional charades), the entire team silently performs the word together, while one person tries to guess it. This leads to hilarious moments and strengthens nonverbal communication, as the group must work together to convey the word as clearly as possible. With its high fun factor, Reverse Charades boosts collaboration, energy, and team cohesion in an entertaining way.
Challenge: “Collaborative Art Puzzle”
Team size: 4–8 people
Duration: 15 minutes
In this creative exercise, each team member receives a piece of an abstract image, which only they can see. Participants must describe their section in detail without showing it. The group then combines all the descriptions to reconstruct the full artwork virtually.
This challenge highlights the importance of clear communication and active listening—ensuring that no crucial details are overlooked. Collaborative Art Puzzle is especially beneficial for teams looking to refine their communication skills and attention to detail, as only through precise descriptions and careful listening can a coherent final image emerge.
Team challenges at work to strengthen psychological safety
Challenge: “Chain Ideation”
Team size: 3–10 people
Duration: 15–20 minutes
This team building exercise is designed to foster an atmosphere of appreciation and openness, encouraging the collaborative development of ideas. One team member starts by briefly presenting an idea—this could be a new product, a process improvement, or a creative concept. Each subsequent participant adds an aspect or develops the idea further, without introducing criticism or completely new proposals. Every contribution builds on the existing idea, evolving it into a more concrete vision over multiple rounds.
By continuously “picking up and expanding” previous thoughts, the team creates a safe space where every idea is taken seriously. Chain Ideation nurtures psychological safety, ensuring that suggestions are never rejected or criticized. Instead, all participants experience a sense of value and collaboration, leading to greater openness and stronger team cohesion.
Challenge: “Safe Space Circle”
Team size: 3–10 people
Duration: Approx. 10 minutes
In this exercise, the team sits in a circle (or in a virtual breakout session) and agrees to listen openly and without judgment for the duration of the challenge. Each participant shares something personal—this could be a small success, a challenge, or simply a thought about the day.
The rest of the team listens actively, without commenting or passing judgment. Safe Space Circle builds trust and reinforces the idea that every voice in the team matters. It creates a supportive environment that encourages openness and strengthens team connections.
Challenge: “Feedback Bingo”
Team size: 4–10 people
Duration: Approx. 15 minutes
The goal of this exercise is to establish an open and appreciative feedback culture. Before starting, a Bingo sheet is created (either printed or in a digital format), containing various positive feedback statements such as:
- “Thank you for your help.”
- “Your idea was really helpful to me.”
- “I appreciate your openness.”
Each statement fills a separate box on the Bingo sheet, and every participant receives a copy.
During the 15-minute time frame, participants aim to authentically use as many of the feedback statements as possible in real interactions. When a participant successfully expresses a relevant feedback statement to a colleague (e.g., after successfully working together, they say, “Thank you for your help.”), they mark the corresponding box on their sheet.
The first person to complete a full row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) shouts “Bingo!” and wins the game. At the end of the exercise, the team reflects briefly on the experience using questions like:
- “How did it feel to actively give appreciation?”
- “Where did I find it easy or difficult to express feedback?”
- “How can we integrate this appreciative communication into our daily work?”
Feedback Bingo helps create awareness that constructive feedback and appreciation should not be rare exceptions but an active and regular part of team development.
Challenge: “Fail Forward Brainstorm”
Team size: 3–8 people
Duration: Approx. 20 minutes
This workshop is designed to foster an open and constructive failure culture, where professional or personal “failures” are not seen as flaws but as learning opportunities. Before the session, each participant thinks of a small “failure story”—for example, a project that didn’t go as planned or a situation where a decision turned out to be the wrong one. During the session, each person briefly shares their experience, explaining what went wrong and why. The team then brainstorms possible ways to approach similar situations differently in the future, focusing on solutions rather than blame. Honesty, respect, and curiosity are essential: No one is judged for their mistakes; instead, they receive encouragement and support in finding solutions.
This challenge builds trust among participants and reinforces the idea that openness about mistakes is a crucial step toward growth and innovation. Fail Forward Brainstorm not only provides practical insights for future situations but also strengthens the entire team’s resilience.
By shifting the perspective on failure from something to be feared to something to learn from, teams develop a culture where mistakes are seen as stepping stones to success, and everyone feels safe contributing without fear of criticism.
Challenge: “Values at Work”
Team size: 3–10 people
Duration: Approx. 10–15 minutes
Description:
In this exercise, each team member writes down a personal value or principle that is particularly important to them at work (e.g., respect, openness, reliability). Afterward, everyone briefly explains why this value matters to them and how it can be reflected in everyday work life. Values at Work raises awareness of the different motivations within the team and fosters an atmosphere where each person’s principles are acknowledged and respected.
Challenge: “Empathy Mapping”
Team size: 4–8 people
Duration: Approx. 15–30 minutes
In this exercise, the team collaboratively creates an Empathy Map to put themselves in the shoes of a specific group of people or situation. A virtual or physical whiteboard is divided into four sections – for example, “Says,” “Thinks,” “Feels,” and “Does.” Each person considers from their own perspective what colleagues in a current or upcoming situation (e.g., a major project) might say, think, feel, and do. These thoughts are noted in the corresponding fields, creating a comprehensive picture.
In the second step, the team discusses what consequences can be drawn for working together. Where might potential stress factors lie, and how can the team provide mutual support? By systematically collecting and sharing impressions, different perspectives become visible. Empathy Mapping sharpens understanding for one another, promotes compassionate communication, and highlights ways to constructively improve collaboration and workflows.
Team challenges for corporate health promotion
Challenge: “Office Yoga Break”
Team size: From 3 people
Duration: 10–15 minutes
This challenge encourages the team to participate in a short yoga or stretching session, with simple exercises that can be done directly at the workplace or in a nearby space. The session can be led by an experienced team member or guided through an online tutorial. “Office Yoga Break” helps relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, and strengthen team spirit, as everyone takes a moment to do something beneficial for their well-being together.
The classic team challenge: The step challenge
Team size: From 2 people (any number of teams possible)
Duration: 1 week to 3 months
Participants form small groups and track their daily steps—either using a fitness app or a pedometer. At the end of each week, teams compare their results to see which group has walked the most steps. The competition creates playful motivation to incorporate more movement into daily life.
A step challenge not only promotes physical fitness but also strengthens team spirit, as participants encourage each other along the way.
Changers offers comprehensive services for step challenges. Feel free to explore and test our Changers Fit App completely free and without obligation!
Challenge: “Healthy cooking contest”
Team size: 3–10 people
Duration: 30–60 minutes (plus preparation time)
The team meets either virtually or in person to present a quick and healthy recipe. Each participant then cooks or bakes their dish, and everyone votes on their favorite version. For a remote version, participants can share photos or short videos in a group chat.
The Healthy Cooking Contest raises awareness of healthy eating, encourages idea-sharing, and is a fun and engaging experience. A shared recipe archive could also be created, continuously growing with new contributions and providing inspiration for healthy meals at home.
Challenge: “Mindful Moments”
Team size: 3–10 people
Duration: 5–10 minutes per session
Several times a week, the team takes a short “mindfulness break”, during which they practice a guided meditation or breathing exercise together for a few minutes. This brief pause helps reduce stress, enhance focus, and improve overall well-being. Mindful Moments can be easily integrated into the workday and quickly shows positive effects on both team mood and productivity.
Challenge: “Hydration challenge”
Team size: From 3 people
Duration: 1 week
The goal of this challenge is to increase daily water intake, leading to more energy and better concentration. Each team member keeps track of their water consumption, either using a tally chart or an app, to record how many glasses of water they drink per day. At the end of the week, the team compares their results and crowns the “hydration champions.”
The hydration challenge encourages a healthy habit and strengthens the sense of teamwork by motivating everyone to improve their well-being together.
Team challenges at work for more climate and environmental protection
Challenges for team-building with a focus on climate protection offer a variety of benefits for companies and their employees. One of the key aspects is the sustainable integration of environmental awareness into everyday work life. Employees have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, demonstrating how small actions can lead to significant impact. This increases motivation to continue engaging with climate protection beyond the challenge itself.
Additionally, environmental challenges strengthen team spirit and enhance employee identification with the company, as everyone works together for a meaningful cause. Participants also develop a greater sense of self-efficacy, those who see tangible results from their actions are more likely to believe in their ability to drive long-term change.
Last but not least, these team activities contribute to improving the company’s image. A workplace that actively promotes sustainability projects an internally and externally responsible and modern profile, an increasingly important factor in times of growing ecological and societal challenges.
Challenge: “Green Goals Sprint”
Team size: 3–10 people
Duration: 15–30 minutes
In this challenge, the team first sets a short-term goal, such as reducing single-use cups within a week. Next, a long-term objective is defined, such as fully transitioning to reusable materials in the office. The team collaborates to brainstorm implementation ideas and evaluates the results at the end of the set period. Green Goals Sprint demonstrates how quick wins can be celebrated while working toward lasting environmental change.
This challenge can also be regularly integrated into the work routine, whether to generate new ideas or to assess the progress of ongoing green goals.
Challenge: “Sustainable Snack Break”
Team size: From 3 people
Duration: 10 minutes
Description:
In this exercise, the team sets a short-term goal to serve only sustainable and locally sourced snacks during their next break. As a long-term initiative, the company could consider switching to regional suppliers in the cafeteria or introducing a weekly “Healthy & Green” action.
Sustainable snack break combines shared enjoyment with mindful resource use, encouraging the team to make environmentally conscious choices beyond just their snack selection.
Challenge: “Eco challenge week”
Team size: 4–10 people
Duration: 1 week
For one week, the team receives a small daily challenge, such as “Use only refillable water bottles today” or “Turn off your workstation to save energy before leaving”. At the end of the week, the successfully implemented actions are evaluated, and the team selects one idea to permanently integrate into daily work life (e.g., setting up fixed energy-saving routines). Eco challenge week creates a quick success experience while laying the foundation for long-term sustainability habits at work.
When the challenge is initiated by employees themselves and ideas are developed collectively, team members feel a stronger connection to the goals and measures. This increases their sense of ownership and self-efficacy, reinforcing the awareness that small actions can have a big impact.
Additionally, this collaborative approach fosters a sense of participation and inclusion, ensuring that every contribution, no matter how small, is valued. Over time, this shared responsibility leads to greater acceptance of sustainable practices and motivates the team to continue and expand their efforts in the long run.
Challenge: “Office Garden Growth”
Team size: 3–10 people
Duration: 15 minutes for brainstorming (plus implementation)
The team first plans a small-scale action, such as planting seeds for edible herbs or flowers in small pots within the office. Over time, this can develop into a larger project, such as a shared office herb garden or even a community garden in the surrounding area, maintained by all employees.
“Office garden growth” not only encourages environmentally friendly thinking but also enhances the workplace atmosphere and creates a shared space for connection and collaboration.
This is how team challenges work in the Changers Fit App
In our administration interface, you will find all the tools needed to set up challenges quickly and efficiently. Additionally, with just a few clicks, you can link motivating tree-planting initiatives or joint donation projects to participant achievements.
The Changers Fit App has several team challenge features:
- Admins can set minimum and maximum team member limits.
- Teams can be predefined by admins or optionally created by employees.
- Teams optionally start when the minimum number of members is reached.
- Team members communicate via a Community Wall.
- Employee achievements can be linked to tree-planting initiatives (Free tree-planting quotas are already included in the “Premium Booking“).
The app includes a community feature for exchanging ideas and planning activities, similar to LinkedIn. Admins can post announcements to all participants. Linking achievements to reforestation motivates employees, saves on administrative costs, and ensures initiatives are climate-positive.
Do you have any questions? Get in touch with us!
We look forward to getting to know you. Let’s set up your first team challenge together in your company.
Daniela Schiffer
d.schiffer@changers.com
+49 172 367 40 38
