There are many different reasons why companies hold team building activities. Whether it's to squeeze out the creative juices from the employees, to enhance their communication skills, or to encourage teamwork and unity, all team building activities have one common goal-it is to empower the employees and motivate them to produce nothing but the best results at work. This is to benefit not only the company but the employees as well.

And whatever specific goal a particular team building event is aiming at, one aspect that should always be included in the program are team building games and exercises. These keep the whole event fun and alive. At the start of the event, an interesting ice breaker game would surely warm up the crowd. And when a few begins to yawn in the middle of a speech, a fun interactive game would surely liven up the audience.

Since coming up with interesting and exciting games is not that easy, here are some ideas and suggestions for games and activities that are in line with different specific team building goals.

Creativity enhancement

If your team's problem is that they find it hard to come up with creative ideas and fresh concepts, a team building activity that focuses on creativity enhancement may be your heaven-sent answer. Games that should be played in such team building event should center on the creative imagination and how to stretch it to its fullest capacity. One example is a role-play or a skit. Ask your team to divide themselves into groups and then give them some different story plots which they will expand and play out. Be sure to provide interesting story plots (an Alien trapped inside the Boss's body sound like a more promising story plot than a day at the supermarket). Not only will the employees have a lot of fun, this activity will surely get their imaginations working and running like crazy.

Teamwork and unity

Team games like team obstacle relay, tug of war, and newspaper dance are excellent games that are not only thrilling and exciting but also promote teamwork and unity. These will enlighten employees on how with proper teamwork a task can easily and effectively be accomplished.

Good communication

Ask the employees to join into pairs. One will be the direction giver and the other who will be in blindfold will be the one to traverse the obstacle maze course. This will show them how important real listening is and how pseudo-listening can cause problems between people in a company. Aside from that, this will also teach them the significance of clear specific instructions as well courtesy to develop and maintain good relations.

Resourcefulness

A game of "Scavenger's Hunt" or "Bring Me" can surely bring out the resourcefulness of the employees. Ask them to bring or look for things that cannot easily be found within the premises of the event (like a newspaper dated two years ago) and you will be surprised at the great lengths they will endure to acquire these items. Encourage them to practice the same motivation during work.

Just a note to the facilitator: don't forget to bring beverage coolers. Most of these games are physically demanding and tiring. There's nothing like a refreshing round of cold drinks to replenish the team's vigor and energy.

Because these games are not entirely meant for fun, it is recommended that the facilitator emphasizes the values that the teambuilding game wants to instil among the employees and explains clearly how these are connected to the games.