Experiential team building was hot awhile back. For a “fun” day of rope games and unusual problem solving, the group would leave the campus and usually visit an outdoor education facility. However, there was little follow-up, and any lessons learned were never applied at work. Today, the focus is on internal team building activities that can be carried out before a meeting.
12 team-building activities with puzzles
Team-building activities can be more effective when they include puzzles. You can use the following examples of puzzle team-building exercises:
1. Escape rooms
Escape rooms are difficult puzzle-themed activities where your team must cooperate in order to escape a room or building. The puzzle frequently has cryptic clues and riddles that the team must solve in a set amount of time. These tasks call for effective teamwork, creativity, and collaboration between participants, and they can serve as role models for these behaviors in the workplace.
2. Scavenger hunts
Scavenger hunts are enjoyable, adaptable puzzle games where teams must locate specific objects using hints or a map. Create your clues as questions, riddles, and puzzles that require critical thinking for a team-building exercise. Each team will only be able to complete the puzzle and find the next object by working together to decipher the clues. Scavenger hunts test players’ problem-solving abilities and promote teamwork through effective communication.
3. Outdoor mazes
Players must find their way through a network of tunnels or passageways that occasionally lead to dead ends in an outdoor maze, a type of physical puzzle. Your objective in a maze is to find the exit or to get there first. Working in a team calls for effective communication, navigation, creativity, and focus. Outside of the office, mazes are excellent for encouraging collaboration and original thought.
4. Minefield puzzles
Users must locate the “safe” areas in a hypothetical minefield in order to complete a minefield puzzle, whether it be digital or physical. Give each of your teams a timer and a set of hints to help them locate the safe areas. Explain that if they make a mistake and land on a “mine,” they will lose points or be disqualified altogether. During a timed exercise, this kind of puzzle promotes effective teamwork and gives groups practice meeting deadlines under pressure.
5. Jigsaw puzzles
Jigsaw puzzles consist of a number of small pieces that, when put together properly, create one large picture. These can be digital puzzles or physical jigsaw pieces. Jigsaw puzzle assembly tests your team’s ability to observe, be creative, and pay attention. A timer can be added to this activity to see who can finish their puzzle before the deadline. As a result, the group is better able to communicate while pursuing a common objective.
6. Riddles
Language-based puzzles called riddles test a team’s creativity and general knowledge. Usually, a riddle’s solution is straightforward, but due to the complexity of the riddle, finding the straightforward solution requires reasoning. Give your teams identical lists of challenging riddles and a deadline to find the solutions to create a riddle challenge. In order to complete this task, the team must actively brainstorm, listen to one another, and evaluate ideas.
7. Rebus puzzles
Rebus puzzles are visual puzzles that represent a word or phrase with images, symbols, and letters. Rebuses can be word puzzles that use words and their placement to spell out a common phrase or brainteasers that use symbols and pictures to spell out a message. These puzzles test players’ ability to decipher each word using only visual cues and inventiveness. Challenge your teams to finish a list of rebus puzzles in a certain amount of time. This team building activity requires communication and creativity.
8. Imposter puzzles
Some contemporary video games offer a model for fantastic puzzles that foster teamwork. The imposter puzzle, for instance, is a fantastic team-building activity where your team collaborates to identify clues that reveal which team member is the “imposter.” The imposter actively attempts to confuse the team while preventing their identity from being revealed in the meantime. This puzzle is enjoyable and rewarding and calls for cooperation, observation, and problem-solving.
9. Math puzzles
Team members are urged by math puzzles to use their mathematical and critical-thinking abilities. Set your teams up in a timed competition to complete a list of math problems in a particular area and skill level by searching online. Whether team members divide up or collaborate on tasks, this kind of puzzle can foster teamwork toward a common goal and foster critical thinking, both of which are exceptional assets for a team to have.
10. Three truths and a lie puzzles
Despite being a very simple puzzle, this team-building activity is effective at generating conversation, reducing social awkwardness, and fostering familiarity. For your new team members and teams that haven’t had much experience working together, it’s a great puzzle activity. Each employee reveals two truths and a lie about themselves, and the rest of the team must determine which of the three is false. This can create opportunities for casual friendliness and encourage collaboration.
11. Barter puzzles
This is a different take on the jigsaw puzzle challenge, and it would work especially well if your teams have previously enjoyed that team-building activity. This time, divide your group into teams and assign each group a special puzzle with a correspondingly difficult level. The twist, though, is that some puzzle pieces from each group are randomly mixed with other puzzles. Each team must exchange pieces with the other teams to finish their puzzle. This activity uses skills such as strategy, negotiation and problem-solving.
12. Economy puzzles
This puzzle asks your team to design their own economy, which puts a greater emphasis on creativity and critical thinking. They can select the game’s currency, trade options, and other economic characteristics. The game designer might inquire about the nation’s GDP, trade routes, and the value of each team’s currency. This enhances the team’s capacity for problem-solving, collaboration, and communication while also increasing their understanding of economics and finance.
What is a puzzle team-building activity?
Any puzzle-based activity that promotes the growth and development of teams, departments, or entire businesses is referred to as a puzzle team-building activity. A team-building exercise can be used to energize a group or to address a communication issue. A team-building puzzle presents special chances for team members to cooperate toward a shared objective while developing essential problem-solving skills.
Benefits of using puzzles for team-building activities
Team-building exercises increase familiarity and comfort among participants. The following are some advantages of using puzzles for these team-building exercises:
Team Bonding Activities – The Puzzle *71
FAQ
What is a fun team building activity?
Pair Up is a fun team activity that encourages staff members to inquire about names written on each other’s backs. This game is a great way to get everyone excited and break the ice at the start of your team-building activity. Great for: Communication, problem-solving, creative thinking.
How is a team like a jigsaw puzzle?
- Communication activities.
- Problem solving and decision-making activities.
- Adaptability and planning activities.
- Trust-building activities.
What are the 14 indoor team building activities?
A jigsaw puzzle’s pieces represent the members of your team. a unique shape compared to the other pieces and having different requirements As a result, a good team leader will learn about each member’s needs and treat them accordingly. Each jigsaw piece contributes to the overall picture.
