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However, improving morale remains a challenge that many companies struggle to overcome.
Boosting employee morale brings outstanding results, but how can enterprises achieve this? Let’s discover 17 team building activities to boost morale and improve engagement of entire teams.
3 Benefits of Activities to Boost Team Morale
Workplace morale is directly related to the happiness, productivity, and engagement of the entire office.
Moreover, team building activities have already proven to be cost-effective for companies of all sizes, but why are team morale boosters important? Let’s see what the data and official studies say about activities that boost employee morale.
1. Better Team Morale Leads to Improved Engagement
A study by Gallup says that improving morale could be the most efficient solution for U.K. companies to fix several productivity problems faced by employees over the years.
Among the most relevant pieces of information gathered by the study, we have the following:
- 57% of UK workers do not feel engaged at work, which leads to reduced productivity.
- Only 19% of managers and directors feel highly engaged at their company. If directors and managers are not engaged, the company morale goes down in all areas.
- 91% of engaged employees show signs of reduced stress, which creates the need to strengthen morale in order to improve other work-related areas.
2. Boosting Morale Increases Job Satisfaction
Another study by Gallup titled “State of the Global Workspace” discusses how an individual team members act inside the workplace when there isn’t a constant morale boost inside the company:
- Lack of engagement and morale boosts have 3.8x as much influence on employee stress than day-to-day work location.
- 60% of team members are quiet-quitting as a direct result of a lack of engagement. 41% of quiet quitters would improve team morale and company culture above pay and benefits (28%) to fix their workplaces.
- Low employee engagement leads to 37% more absenteeism. Giving employees the tools they need to increase morale leads to improved employee satisfaction in all areas.
3. Employee Morale is a Priority When Choosing a New Job
Companies that encourage employees and boost their morale are more likely to keep workers for longer than low-morale companies.
A workplace survey by Staples called “Does Your Workplace Deliver?” shows us that 41% of team members say that they would take a pay cut if their company invested more in their health and well-being, which is directly related to the morale of the entire team.
Moreover, SilkRoad says that the morale-boosting process starts as soon as people get employed in a company, since improving the onboarding process directly increases morale by 53%.
17 Team Building Activities to Boost Morale
By implementing fun team building games focused on improving morale, both in-person and remote employees can experience the benefits of these activities.
Let’s check out some of the best 17 morale-boosting activities that will positively impact work environments for companies of different sizes and industries.
1. Inspirational Quotes
Are you familiar with that iconic scene from “The Office” television show where Michael Scott wrote on a whiteboard, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” to motivate the team members?
Well, this classic team building exercise is more effective than you might think. Organize your work team and ask each team member to come up with an inspirational quote or motivational phrase to implement in the office.
You can hang the motivational posters in an office break room while also throwing some free food into the room.
This activity works to raise spirits and boost morale in a fairly simple yet highly engaging way.
- Group Type: All group sizes (in-office and remote).
- Activity Duration: From 30 to 45 minutes.
2. Virtual Bingo
Having fun in the workplace is a great way to improve morale among co-workers.
Remote employees tend to suffer from isolation more than in-office teams, and Teamland has the perfect solution for them: Virtual Bingo.
Add an extra layer of fun to your classic bingo night by gathering remote teams into a high-energy bingo experience - workers will form strong bonds as they feel part of a real work team.
- Group Type: Medium and big-sized remote teams.
- Activity Duration: 1 hour.
3. Video Game Room
We all love video games, and planning an in-office video game room session is an efficient morale booster for all work members.
Organize a video game room session with all group members while keeping in mind that some people might have better gaming skills than others.
Pick family-friendly, cooperative video games (such as Mario Kart or sports games), and make teams compete against each other organically and transparently.
- Group Type: Small and medium-sized groups.
- Activity Duration: From 1 to 2 hours.
4. Pet a Pet
Pets are part of our day-to-day lives as we form strong connections with our furry friends.
Pet a Pet is a simple game that consists of bringing your pet to the office or showing it via video call.
Gather the entire group in a room and ask them to bring their pets. Make them tell the story behind their pet’s adoption and name, and witness how morale is boosted by following this fairly simple yet highly passionate activity.
- Group Type: Small and medium-sized in-office and remote teams.
- Activity Duration: From 45 minutes to 1 hour.
5. Board Games Night
There are several board games that can be brought into the office to work as morale boosters for the whole team.
Pick board games that everyone likes, such as Pictionary or Monopoly, and divide team members into smaller teams.
By creating a healthy competition (sales team vs. marketing team is a classic!), employees get to know each other and boost engagement in a really fun way.
- Group Type: Medium-sized in-office groups.
- Activity Duration: From 1 to 3 hours (depending on the board game chosen).
6. Build a Tower
Build a Tower is one of those fun office games that never gets old. Divide team members into teams, and make them build a tower using only office supplies.
The first team that builds the best tower wins! This simple activity works to improve morale and increase employee engagement by fostering communication efforts and problem-solving skills.
- Group Type: Small and medium-sized in-person teams.
- Activity Duration: From 1 to 1.5 hours.
7. Kind Words
A study by the BMR Institute titled “The Neuroscience Behind Our Words” shows us that kind words positively affect us on a deep psychological level.
Complimenting each other and highlighting strong points work as team members and staff morale boosters, which directly impact the entire functioning of work processes.
- Group Type: All group types.
- Activity Duration: From 30 minutes to 1 hour.
8. Trivia Time
It’s Trivia Time! Teamland has prepared a new way to approach trivia games directly tailored to your team.
Trivia Team is a hybrid experience that works to boost employee engagement as knowledge is tested in a fun way.
This quick game is a great way to introduce new members to the team and create friendships along the way.
- Group Type: Small and medium-sized hybrid teams.
- Activity Duration: From 30 minutes to 1 hour.
9. Movie Review Night
We all have favorite movies and films to share with our coworkers, but instead of just watching a movie, let’s boost employee morale by creating quick reviews right after the movie ends.
Choose a movie that all the team likes, watch it together with some popcorn, and discuss the outcome of the movie to improve communication skills.
- Group Type: Medium and small-sized teams.
- Activity Duration: From 2 to 3 hours.
10. City Hunt
City Hunt is not your classic in-person scavenger hunt, but something else!
Teamland’s City Hunt is an activity that consists of different fun team building games and hunts for objects scattered all over a city.
As team members work with each other, they learn to communicate better and feel more engaged with their company.
- Group Type: Medium and big-sized in-person teams.
- Activity Duration: From 1 to 2 hours.
11. Volunteering Projects
Volunteering in the community is always a great way to collaborate with those who need it.
Take a few hours to volunteer for local community service and create bonds together without a competitive feeling in the middle of the team.
With Teamland’s Food Bank, your team earns points through trivia and grocery-themed challenges, eventually converting these points into groceries for donation to local charities.
- Group Type: All in-person group types.
- Activity Duration: 2 hours.
12. Terrarium Making Workshop
Not all workplaces have an outdoor garden to work on, so what about creating a terrarium together?
Teamland’s Terrarium Making Workshop is a quick, enjoyable, and peaceful activity that works to boost morale and encourage employees to keep their working space in harmony.
Terrariums represent the company values, and they look great on desks and working spaces, so this is one of the best team building exercises to participate in together.
- Group Type: All in-office group sizes.
- Activity Duration: 1 hour.
13. Amazing Race
Experience the thrill of a real-life adventure game show with Amazing Race.
Race around the city in teams, deciphering clues, navigating unfamiliar areas, and completing both physical and mental challenges on a limited budget.
Teams are gradually eliminated throughout the race and the first team to reach the end wins the grand prize.
This isn't merely a sprint through the city; it's ultimate team-building adventure!
- Group Type: Small and medium-sized teams.
- Activity Duration: 2-3 hours.
14. Two Truths and A Lie
Two Truths and One Lie is a classic team building activity that makes team members open up with each other.
As team members share two truths and a lie about them, others will need to guess the correct ones to continue with this game.
This makes employees open up with each other and creates lasting bonds inside the workplace.
- Group Type: All remote and in-person group sizes.
- Activity Duration: From 30 minutes to 1 hour.
15. Dance Class
Dancing brings good vibes and positive mindsets into the office! By learning how to dance, each team member can feel more connected and close to their coworkers.
Teamland’s Dance Class is meant to cover the needs of all your team members, even the shy ones!
Finish the class with an impromptu dance party and celebrate together to the rhythm of life.
- Group Type: All in-person group sizes.
- Activity Duration: 1 hour.
16. Simple Team Lunch
Having lunch with the whole team is one of the most underrated team building activities.
Breaking bread with other people makes you feel more connected to them, and improves the morale of employees by creating authentic relationships that last longer.
It doesn’t have to be a special lunch - even the most standard meals work to enjoy the benefits of a simple team lunch (or dinner!).
- Group Type: All in-person or remote team sizes.
- Activity Duration: From 1 to 2 hours.
17. In-Person and Virtual Happy Hours
Happy hours are not the most original team building activities, but they work!
In-person and virtual happy hours are fun, vibrant, and entertaining.
Teamland provides companies with all the materials they need to have a smooth and memorable happy hour. It’s time to relax, forget about work-related problems, celebrate milestones, and improve morale!
- Group Type: All virtual and in-person group sizes.
- Activity Duration: 1 to 2 hours.
Summary: 17 Best Team Building Games to Boost Morale
Fostering morale inside the workplace brings amazing advantages to both companies and employees alike.
As employees feel more appreciated, companies can build and rebuild team morale on the go. Let’s check out a summary of the best 17 team building games to boost morale that you can try out:
- Inspirational Quotes: Share motivational quotes and boost spirits with office posters.
- Virtual Bingo: Bond through remote bingo for team fun.
- Video Game Room: Play video games in the office for camaraderie.
- Pet a Pet: Show off pets for a passion-filled morale boost.
- Board Games Night: Compete in friendly board games for team bonding.
- Build a Tower: Construct office towers for teamwork and problem-solving.
- Kind Words: Compliment for positive impact on team dynamics.
- Trivia Time: Play customized trivia for engaging team interaction.
- Movie Review Night: Watch and discuss favorite films for better communication.
- City Hunt: Unique scavenger hunt to foster communication.
- Volunteering Projects: Collaborate on community service for team bonding.
- Terrarium Making Workshop: Create desk terrariums to boost morale.
- Scavenger Hunts: Hunt for objects in a friendly team competition.
- Two Truths and A Lie: Share facts and lies for team openness.
- Dance Class: Learn dancing for positive office vibes.
- Simple Team Lunch: Share meals for authentic relationships.
- In-Person and Virtual Happy Hours: Unwind and celebrate together for morale boost.
