Team building activities for work that include the whole team
The best team building activity is not the most creative one. It is the one every person on the team can actually join, whether they are in the office, at home, or on a shift. Here are ideas that work across all three, and why a team step challenge keeps building bonds long after a 30-minute icebreaker ends.
Get StartedQuick team building activities (5 to 30 minutes)
- Two truths and a walk. Pairs walk for ten minutes and come back with one surprising fact about each other.
- Show your commute. Each person shares one photo from their walk to work or around their neighbourhood.
- Stand-up step check. Open the weekly meeting with team step totals. It takes a minute and always starts a conversation.
- Gratitude round. Everyone thanks one teammate for something specific from the past week.
Remote and virtual team building activities
Most virtual team games are another video call on a calendar already full of video calls. The remote activities that land are the ones people can do away from the screen and then talk about together:
- A team walking challenge. Everyone walks on their own schedule and time zone, and progress rolls up to one shared team total. Read more about walking challenges for remote and hybrid teams.
- Virtual destination walks. The team "travels" a real route together, with progress updates as you pass each landmark.
- Async photo challenges. A weekly prompt shared in a team channel.
- Remote lunch-and-learn. One teammate teaches a 15-minute skill.
Hybrid team building: bridging office days and home days
Hybrid teams split into two groups without meaning to: the people who are in on Tuesdays and everyone else. Pick activities that happen across both. A step challenge counts the steps of the person walking to the office and the person walking the dog at home the same way, so nobody is a second-class participant. Add one in-person walking meeting per office day and you have a ritual that belongs to both groups.
Team bonding activities that last longer than an afternoon
Team bonding comes from shared effort over time, not from a single event. That is why a multi-week challenge works where an escape room does not: teammates check in on each other, cover for a slow week, and celebrate a milestone together. Keep it inclusive by rewarding participation as well as results, as described in every step counts, so the teammate recovering from an injury is still part of the win.
How to run a team step challenge for team building
- Make teams of 5 to 8 and mix departments on purpose.
- Set a team goal, not only an individual ranking.
- Run it for two to four weeks with a mid-point milestone.
- Let the app send nudges so the organiser is not chasing people.
- Close with a short team celebration and rewards for effort and results.
Movemint runs all of this from one admin dashboard, with team and department leaderboards, motivational push notifications and rewards. The launch guide walks through the setup, and the cost calculator shows the price at your headcount.
Team building activities for large groups
With 200 or 2,000 people, facilitated games stop scaling. Structure the challenge in layers: individuals belong to teams, teams belong to departments, and the whole company works toward one shared milestone. Everyone has a small group to belong to and a big goal to be part of.
Run your first challenge this month
Movemint runs company step challenges with team and department leaderboards, motivational push notifications and gift-card rewards, on iOS, Android and the web, in English and French. $1.50 USD per employee per month, billed monthly.
Get StartedRelated guides: Employee engagement activities · A unique employee benefit
Movemint is a new product, so this page describes capabilities and practical advice, not customer results. We do not show logos or testimonials we have not earned.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between team building and team bonding?
Team building usually means structured activities designed to improve how a team works together. Team bonding is the relationship that forms from shared experiences. A multi-week team challenge does both: it has structure, and it creates many small shared moments.
What are good team building activities for remote employees?
Activities people can do away from the screen and then share: a team walking challenge, async photo prompts and virtual destination walks. They respect time zones and do not add another video call.
How do you make team building inclusive?
Choose an activity with no skill barrier, reward participation and improvement as well as top results, and make sure shift, remote and part-time staff can take part on their own schedule.
How many people do you need for a team step challenge?
It works from a few teams of five upward. For groups under 30, a shared company goal usually works better than competing teams.
What does Movemint cost for team building?
A flat $1.50 USD per employee per month, billed monthly, covering the app, leaderboards, nudges and the admin dashboard.