How to Plan a Team Building Activity That Isn’t “Corny”

There is nothing worse than a “corny” team building activity that has everyone rolling their eyes. Check out five ways you can make sure everyone genuinely has fun at your next employee event.

Updated: January 27, 2025

Team building has a reputation—and even we’ll admit that it’s sometimes deserved—for being awkward, forced, or just plain ineffective.

Most of us have probably been there (although we hope you haven’t): standing in a circle, nervously locking eyes with a colleague, bracing for impact as you prepare to “trust fall” into their arms. Or maybe you’ve been subjected to an icebreaker where everyone has to say something “unique” about themselves—cue the panic as you realize you have no fun facts, only existential dread (icebreakers are great if you choose the right ones—we’ve got a list of 500+ icebreaker questions that won’t disappoint).

These old team building clichés exist for a reason. They’ve spent decades being solidified. 

But this doesn’t have to be the case. You and your colleagues don’t have to struggle your way through a cringe-worthy team building activity. 

It’s 2025, and workplace dynamics are shifting. With remote and hybrid teams becoming the norm and employee engagement more important than ever, team building has evolved into something more meaningful, experiential, and tailored to your group’s unique culture. It’s no longer about trust falls, cringey role-playing exercises, or passing around a “talking stick.”

So, how do you make sure your next team building event is actually fun and impactful? 

We’ve got some tips for you to follow. 

5 Factors That make team Building Activities Feel Corny

Before we dive into the steps you can take to make sure your team building activity isn’t corny, let’s address the elephant in the room: what exactly is it that makes some team building activities feel cringe? 

1. The Activities Feel Forced or Unnatural

When employees feel like they’re being put on the spot or pushed into uncomfortable interactions, it creates resistance instead of engagement. Activities that require overly personal sharing, cringeworthy role-playing, or excessive enthusiasm can make people check out instead of participate.

2. There’s No Clear Purpose

If the event feels like a time-filler with no real goal, employees may wonder why they’re there. A lack of purpose makes activities feel pointless rather than productive. When people don’t see the relevance to their work or team dynamics, it turns into an obligation rather than an opportunity.

3. It’s the Same Old Thing

Repetitive, outdated activities—like trust falls, overly scripted icebreakers, or generic problem-solving tasks—can feel stale, especially if employees have done them before. If people already know what’s coming, they’re less likely to engage.

4. It Doesn’t Consider the Group’s Preferences

What works for one team might not work for another. If the activity is too high-energy for a reserved group, too low-key for an active team, or just doesn’t match the company culture, it can feel disconnected and ineffective.

5. It Feels Like Work Disguised as Fun

Employees can tell when an activity is really just a meeting in disguise. If the event is overloaded with corporate jargon, forced discussions, or exercises that feel like an extension of their daily tasks, they won’t see it as a genuine break from work.

Avoiding these common missteps helps ensure team building feels engaging, valuable, and enjoyable—without the awkwardness.

5 Things You Can Do to Make Sure Your Team Building Activity Isn’t Cringy

Corny team building activities are usually the result of poor planning, a lack of connection to the team, or simply repeating the same tired formats that employees have endured before. To create an experience that people actually enjoy, you need to be intentional about how you approach it. That means choosing activities that fit your team, setting the right tone, and making sure the event feels like a valuable and engaging use of time.

Here’s how to do it.

1. Know Your Audience (And Ditch the One-Size-Fits-All Approach)

One of the biggest mistakes planners make? Assuming that all team building activities work for all teams.

Spoiler alert: they don’t.

If your office is full of introverts, forcing them into a high-energy social activity might be their personal nightmare. Likewise, if your team thrives on competition or collaboration, a slow-paced activity might have them checking their watches.

Today, personalization is key. Instead of defaulting to a generic activity (looking at you, trust falls and forced fun) take the time to tailor an experience that fits your team’s unique vibe.

Here’s how:

• Survey your team: Before choosing an event, ask employees what kinds of challenges they’d actually enjoy. Whether they prefer hands-on problem-solving, physical activity, or creative collaboration, getting their input will help you pick the best fit.
• Consider team dynamics: A leadership team may benefit from an activity that emphasizes strategic decision-making, while a newly formed department might need something that encourages casual networking and communication.
• Think about engagement styles: Some teams love a high-energy, race-to-the-finish format, while others prefer structured challenges that require deep thinking and cooperation. Finding the right balance ensures that everyone stays involved and engaged.
• Tie it to your workplace goals: If your company wants to strengthen collaboration, choose an activity that requires teams to work together in new ways. If leadership development is a focus, consider an event that challenges decision-making, adaptability, and problem-solving.

Taking the time to match the right activity to the right people means less eye-rolling and more genuine engagement. And that’s how you take team building from corny to actually worthwhile.

2. Give Your Activity a Purpose

If your team building activity feels pointless, employees will check out before it even begins. No one wants to spend an afternoon on a meaningless game when their inbox is overflowing. The best team building events have a clear purpose—something that connects back to your team’s goals, values, or challenges.

If you’re not sure what that purpose should be, take a step back and ask a few key questions:

• What do we want to get out of this event? Is the goal to strengthen cross-departmental collaboration, improve problem-solving skills, boost morale, or give back to and do some good?
• Why are we doing this now? Is there a specific challenge the team is facing, like communication issues, new hires who need to integrate, or low engagement?
• What would success look like? Are you looking for measurable outcomes like improved workflow between teams, or is it more about overall morale and connection?

Once you have those answers, make sure the purpose is clearly communicated to the team before the event. If employees don’t understand why they’re doing an activity, it’s easy for them to dismiss it as a waste of time.

You don’t need to make everything feel like a formal training session, but giving the event some structure and intent will make it more impactful. Whether it’s leadership development, creative problem-solving, or just a well-earned break to boost morale, a strong purpose helps team building feel like time well spent rather than another meeting they didn’t ask for.

3. Mix Up the Teams

If employees are just working with the same colleagues they interact with every day, team building won’t feel like anything new. It’ll feel like another day at the office—just with a weird icebreaker thrown in. The best way to make team building feel fresh and engaging is to mix people up and encourage new interactions.

• Create balanced teams: Instead of letting people group up naturally, assign teams in a way that ensures employees from different departments, seniority levels, or working styles get the chance to collaborate.
• Encourage new connections: If you have a mix of remote and in-office employees, or newer hires and longtime staff, consider structuring teams so they can meet people they might not usually work with.
• Break up cliques: It’s natural for coworkers to gravitate toward people they already know well, but shaking up those groups can lead to new insights and stronger company-wide relationships.
• Make it feel intentional: If you’re mixing up the teams, explain why. Framing it as an opportunity to connect across teams or learn from different perspectives makes it feel like a valuable part of the experience rather than an arbitrary rule.

Team building is most effective when it pushes people just slightly outside their comfort zones in a way that feels fun and engaging, not forced. By mixing up the teams, you’ll keep things fresh and give employees the chance to build connections they might not have otherwise.

4. Build Engagement and Get People Excited

For team building to be successful, people need to be engaged. If employees show up feeling like they’re just going through the motions, the activity won’t have much impact. The best way to make sure people are invested is to create an experience that sparks motivation—whether that’s through a shared goal, a sense of achievement, or even just an element of fun.

• Make it interactive: People engage more when they’re actively involved rather than just observing. Choose an activity that requires participation, whether it’s solving a challenge, working toward a common objective, or thinking creatively as a group.
• Give the event a sense of purpose: Framing the activity as a chance to accomplish something—whether that’s brainstorming ideas, tackling a shared task, or supporting a cause—makes it more meaningful.
• Encourage friendly incentives: While some groups thrive on competition, others may be more motivated by collaboration. A reward doesn’t have to be tied to winning—it can be as simple as recognizing teamwork, creativity, or effort.
• Build excitement before the event: Participation increases when people know what to expect. Sending out a teaser email, a calendar invite, or even a lighthearted challenge leading up to the event can help get people engaged before it even starts.

Creating a team building experience that people actually want to participate in—rather than one they feel obligated to attend—makes all the difference. By focusing on engagement rather than just competition, you can ensure everyone finds value in the experience.

5. Include Time for Socializing & Feedback

Some of the best team building happens outside of the structured activities. When employees have time to talk, laugh, and connect naturally, the experience feels more enjoyable and less forced. Adding opportunities for casual interaction before, during, or after the event can make the whole experience feel more organic.

• Build in unstructured time: Instead of packing the schedule from start to finish, allow some downtime for people to chat, grab a snack, or debrief casually with teammates. These moments often lead to the most memorable takeaways.
• Encourage informal conversations: Whether it’s a group discussion, a reflection period, or just a chance to share highlights from the experience, giving people space to connect outside of the main activity helps strengthen relationships.
• Gather feedback while it’s fresh: A quick check-in after the event—either in person or via a short survey—can help you understand what worked, what didn’t, and what employees would like to see next time.
• Recognize and celebrate participation: Even a simple acknowledgment, like a shout-out in a company email or a few photos shared internally, can reinforce the value of the event and keep the momentum going.

Team building isn’t just about the activity itself—it’s about the connections people make along the way. By creating space for real conversations and honest feedback, you’ll ensure the experience is meaningful long after the event is over.

15 Non-Corny Team Building Activities You and Your Colleagues Will Love

Want to start planning a team building activity that won’t have your colleagues eyeing the door? Here are a few options.

In-Person Team Building Activities

If you want to get your team together in person for a team building activity, we’ve got some options you’ll enjoy.

Random Acts of Kindness

Feel like getting out and spreading some kindness? We recommend it! Doing good in the world is good for you. In fact, it actually builds team morale. Random Acts of Kindness fuses the scavenger hunt concept with a philanthropic twist. This team building activity gets teams racing against one another to try and complete as many good deeds as possible before time runs out.

Charity Bike Buildathon 

Split into teams to build, decorate, and put together an advertising campaign for children’s bicycles. After each group has presented their bike, you get to donate them all to a charity of your choice!

The Olympiad Challenge

The Olympic Games are coming up this July in Paris, but you and your team can get a jump-start on the excitement, energy, competitive spirit, and sense of community they inspire.

With The Olympiad Challenge, you and your group can take the stage and compete for gold at your very own Olympics-style team building event.card

Your group will break out into “nations,” choosing your national symbol and creating a custom flag before partaking in an Olympic Oath rooted in integrity, fairness, and sportsmanship. Next, you’ll tackle challenges inspired by the ancient athletic games using supplies provided in your team bag, earning points for each one successfully completed.

The team that earns the most points throughout the competition will be named Olympiad Challenge Champions!

Hardware Harmony

If your group is musically inclined, why not head to the park for a jam session?

Using tools, parts, and hardware, your group will need to collaborate in order to create musical harmony. Together you’ll collect household items, rehearse, and put on your very own concert before donating everything to charity.

And if you’d like to learn about even more ways to give back, check out this list of creative volunteer ideas for work teams.

Hollywood Murder Mystery

Ready to get creative and collaborative? In this fun-filled mystery, you’ll get a good dose of both!

In this activity, a famous actress is found murdered. So, you’ll need to put your problem-solving skills to the test as you share theories, collaborate, and think outside the box with your fellow investigators.

Together, you’ll review case files and evidence including police reports, coroners’ reports, photo evidence, tabloids, interrogations, and phone calls as you determine the motive, method, and murderer and bring justice for the victim.

Jeoparty Social

With Jeoparty Social, your team will get to step into their very own Jeopardy-style game show experience – equipped with a buzzer, a professional actor as your host, and an immersive game show platform. Between each round of Jeopardy, your team will participate in social mixer challenges.

Get ready to test your trivia knowledge, hit that buzzer as fast as you can, stack up points for your team before time runs out, and wager a little bit (or a lot) in a round of Final Jeoparty to wrap it all up.

Wild Goose Chase

In this scavenger hunt activity, your team can get out of the office and explore your city in a whole new way. Together, your team will need to think outside the box, bond as a group, and venture outside into the community in order to complete a series of fun and unique photo and video challenges.

You’ll need to tackle a list of challenges, including:

• Snap a photo of your team standing next to a large public clock that reads EXACTLY 22 minutes past the hour
• Search for a business that is open 24 hours 7 days a week and snap a photo of a team member with the sign showing the business’ hours
• Snap a photo of a teammate next to a vehicle that has an “antique” or “collectible” license plate
• Head to a nearby playground and take a photo of your entire team balanced on a seesaw. Here’s the catch: everyone’s feet must be off the ground while balanced!
• Find a hopscotch course or use a piece of chalk to create your own on a sidewalk. Record a 5-second video of a teammate hopping and completing it
• Stage a martial arts battle with another team in a nearby park. Record a 5-second video of both teams facing each other (with plenty of space between you) and doing the famous crane kick

The team with the most points when time runs out will be named the winners!

City Chase

Much like Wild Goose Chase, this scavenger hunt team building activity will have you embark on the ultimate urban adventure with your colleagues.

This entire activity is centered around city-themed challenges that will get you out and enjoying your neck of the woods from a whole new perspective. It’s also a great option for teams who are out of town for conferences, annual retreats, or multi-day meetings.

For even more ideas, check out our list of scavenger hunt team building activity ideas for workgroups.

Virtual Team Building Activities

Having a distributed team doesn’t mean you can’t all take part in a team building activity together. Here are some virtual and hybrid options you’ll like.

Virtual Trivia Time Machine

Step into the Outback Time Machine and take a trip through time, from the pre-pandemic 21st century through the decades all the way to the 60s.

This exciting, fast-paced virtual trivia game, packed with nostalgia and good vibes, is guaranteed to produce big laughs, friendly competition, and maybe even some chair-dancing.

Your virtual game show host will warm up guests with a couple of “tablehopper rounds” (breakout room mixers) and split you out into teams. Within minutes, your home office will be transformed into a game show stage with your very own game show buzzers!

And if you’re team is a bunch of trivia lovers, you might want to check out our list of the best virtual trivia games for work.

Virtual Team Pursuit

Help your remote team get re-energized by tackling fun virtual challenges with their colleagues. In groups, your remote employees will tackle a series of mental, physical, skill, and mystery challenges, earning points for each one successfully completed. Whichever has the most points when time runs out will be crowned the winners!  

And if this sounds like it’s up your alley, you’ll probably love these 31 incredible Zoom games to play with your colleagues.

Virtual Happy Hour Trivia

This is no ordinary happy hour trivia game. In this activity, you and your team will take a trip to Hamish McDuff’s virtual pub. This hilarious Scottish pub owner is the legendary host of a trivia game with more than 20 category options to choose from, including sports, food and drink, and even celebrity real estate. This virtual pub trivia game is guaranteed to produce plenty of laughs and lift team “spirits.” It might even include a few special surprises.

And if you want even more ways to make your virtual social get-together even more fun, take a cruise through these 35 unbeatable virtual happy hour games for work.

The Virtual Do-Good Games

This philanthropic virtual team building activity is all about building awareness around local and global challenges, raising funds for charity, and doing some good in the world with your colleagues.

With the Virtual Do-Good Games, teams will compete to complete challenges revolving around themes like Clean Water and Food Insecurity, Health and Wellness, Community Support, and Environmental Awareness.

For each challenge completed, teams will earn points that can be redeemed as donation dollars that they will donate to charity.

Virtual Friendly Feud Social

If you’ve ever wanted to take part in your own Family Feud-style competition, this is your chance! With Virtual Friendly Feud Social, you and your colleagues will break out into teams to compete through survey questions focused on culture and human nature.

And, as an added social element within the game, each round of questions will be followed by a guided social mixer where you’ll have the chance to take part in a group discussion and more deeply explore the survey questions from the previous round.

Virtual European Adventure

If you’ve got a team full of colleagues who love traveling and learning about new places, this is the perfect budget-friendly team building activity for your group. 

Virtual European Adventure is all about connecting with your colleagues, testing your wits together, socializing, and collaborating through high-energy rounds of European-themed trivia.  

In this activity, your group will break out into teams. Then, you’ll take part in a warm-up social mixer followed by three rounds of trivia, a Jeopardy-style lightning round using cellphone buzzers, and a European travel conversation to finish it all off. For each trivia challenge answered correctly, your team will earn points. The team with the most points at the end of the activity will be crowned the Virtual European Adventure Champions! 

Virtual Social Shuffle

Get to know your colleagues and build better connections with this ultra-social virtual team building activity for remote groups. Your group will learn fun facts about one another as you tackle a series of themed discussion topics together and engage in exploratory conversations. 

Do you want help planning a team building activity that isn’t corny? get in touch with our employee engagement consultants today.