Team building is an essential aspect of creating a productive and cohesive work environment, and games are a great way to invest in team building. Finding games suitable to your large group, though, is a challenge. In this blog, we’ll explore the benefits of large group games, essential elements, and some ideas for games your large group might enjoy. We’ll focus on in-person games you may play at a team offsite.
Team building activities and team outings play a vital role in fostering strong relationships among team members. By participating in these activities, individuals have the opportunity to interact outside of the work setting, which helps with breaking the ice and building trust.
While team building can encompass many different activities and exercises, games are a fun and lighthearted way to build strong bonds. For small groups, these team building games are more straightforward and have their own benefits; small teams can play games that form more intimate bonds.
Large group games, on the other hand, have different benefits for team building. One benefit is that large group games enable many people to get to know one another faster. Instead of having to organize many different team building games across smaller teams, you can plan one large group game and allow a broader swath of the company to participate.
These games for large groups also allow colleagues who may not interact regularly to connect and build relationships. In large organizations, it is common for employees to work in different departments or teams, making it challenging to cultivate a sense of unity and belonging at work. Large group games provide an opportunity for individuals from different areas of the company to come together and bond.
Building a sense of camaraderie and fostering teamwork among individuals is another benefit of large group games. So is healthy competition, which can energize and motivate employees. Participating in friendly rivalries fosters a sense of engagement and excitement, encouraging individuals to put forth their best effort. This can lead to increased productivity and a positive work environment.
A successful team building game for large groups should incorporate specific elements that promote teamwork and enhance individual development. These elements include focusing on communication skills, encouraging problem-solving abilities, and fostering leadership qualities.
Effective communication is at the core of successful teamwork and is most difficult on large teams. Games that involve clear communication objectives, such as relaying information or coordinating actions, help teams practice expressing their thoughts and ideas effectively. You may want to try separating your large group into teams to practice cross-functional communication. It’s best if those teams aren’t perfectly in line with the existing teams at your company. That way, individuals will get to interact in new dynamics they aren’t necessarily accustomed to, broadening their perspectives.
Problem-solving is another crucial skill for effective teamwork. Large group games that present challenges and require teams to find creative solutions prompt individuals to think critically and work together to overcome obstacles. These games can be both mentally and physically stimulating, pushing teams to think outside the box while collaborating under pressure.
Team building games also provide an opportunity for individuals to develop and showcase leadership skills. Some games require teams to elect a leader or rotate leadership roles, allowing individuals to step into positions of authority and practice guiding their team toward success. These are perfect for large groups so individuals can practice leading large teams in a low stakes environment. This fosters the growth of leadership qualities such as decision-making, delegation, and motivating others.
There are plenty of games for small teams to practice team building, but not as many for large groups. We compiled a list of the best large group games that will encourage your team to form strong connections and work on critical skills.
A game focused on communication is "Minefield", which requires one team member to navigate through a "minefield" blindfolded while their teammates provide instructions to keep them from stepping on hidden objects. This exercise encourages teams to practice concise and precise communication as they guide their blindfolded teammate to safety.
Another fun large group game you might organize is a scavenger hunt with a series of puzzles and riddles that must be solved within a specific timeframe. Again, make sure to divide teams differently than they might be divided within your company so individuals get exposure to new people. This large group game tests problem-solving abilities and teamwork as individuals must work together to decipher the clues and find the key to freedom.
Large group games with survival-simulations task teams with navigating a simulated survival situation, where they must make critical decisions and prioritize tasks to ensure their collective survival. Such games give individuals the chance to demonstrate leadership skills while working collaboratively toward a common goal.
One popular indoor large group game option is the "Paper Tower Challenge," where teams compete to build the tallest tower using only newspaper and masking tape. This game encourages creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving as teams work together to come up with innovative designs and construct stable structures.
One popular outdoor game for large groups is "Capture the Flag," where teams compete to capture the other team's flag while defending their own. This game promotes strategy, teamwork, and communication, as teams strategize positions and coordinate their movements to protect their flag.
Organizing team building games for large groups requires careful planning and consideration. Here are a few tips to ensure the success of your team building activities:
When choosing a game, consider the development goals you want to achieve and the mix of personalities and preferences across your large group. While you may want to get team members out of their comfort zones for personal growth, you never want to make anyone truly uncomfortable or play any games that are counter to your team’s culture. Use your best judgment when deciding what games are the best fit for your large group – sometimes taking a poll is the best way to go!
After deciding on your goals for your team building game, you’ll want your large group to do any pre-work that will help everyone get the most out of the game. For example, you may be playing “Survival Scenario” and want to have everyone take a personality test to assess who should be in which role. You might also want everyone to fill out a user manual, which you can do on Candor. That’s another way to get to know one another and figure out the best role for everyone based on their strengths and development goals.
Encourage active participation from all team members to create an inclusive and engaging environment. Design games that involve everyone and promote equal participation. Allocate roles and responsibilities, ensuring that each individual has an important role to play in the success of the game. Make sure all games are equally accessible to all team members.
Following each game, take the time to debrief and discuss the experience with your large group. Reflect on the lessons learned, challenges faced, and successful strategies employed during the game. Encourage open communication, allowing team members to share their thoughts and insights. This reflection will help reinforce the skills learned and encourage the application of those skills in the workplace.
Large group games for team building offer a fun and interactive way to enhance teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills. These games provide opportunities for employee development and relationship building. Regardless of your goals, selecting the right game and ensuring active participation from all members are key to organizing successful team building activities for your large group. Large group games will undoubtedly contribute positively to team dynamics and overall performance. So why wait? Start planning your next large group team building game and watch your team thrive!
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