In today's fast-paced work environment, teams are under constant pressure to perform, meet deadlines, and achieve targets. With the hectic pace of work, it's easy for teams to feel burnt out, stressed, and disconnected from one another. That's where energizer activities come in. These short, fun exercises can help teams to refocus, recharge, and reconnect with one another.
By incorporating these energizer activities into your workplace and/or coaching sessions, you can help groups build stronger bonds, improved communication skills, and enhanced overall productivity. These activities can also serve as a fun and engaging way to break up the monotony of work, injecting a sense of playfulness and creativity into professional settings.
Two truths and a lie
How to facilitate
Each team member shares two things about themselves that are true, and one thing that is not true. The rest of the team tries to guess which one is the lie.
Activity benefits
Icebreaking: two truths and a lie serves as an excellent icebreaker for teams, allowing team members to learn interesting facts about each other and create a more relaxed and comfortable environment.
Communication: the game improves team members' communication skills, including their ability to listen actively, ask questions effectively, and convey information clearly.
Team building: two truths and a lie encourages collaboration and teamwork, as participants work together to identify the lie. It also provides an opportunity for team members to connect with each other on a personal level, which can help to build trust and strengthen relationships.
Pass the clap
How to facilitate
Team members form a circle and clap a rhythm. The first person starts the rhythm, and then claps their hands on their lap. The next person repeats the rhythm and adds their own clap, and so on around the circle.
Activity benefits
Energizing: the fast-paced nature of the game can help to energize participants and break up the monotony of a long workday. This can help to improve participants' focus and concentration, and can also help to boost morale and productivity.
Stress reduction: the fast-paced, rhythmic nature of pass the clap can help to reduce stress and tension in the workplace. By taking a few minutes to engage in the activity, participants can release built-up tension and refocus their energy, which can help to improve their overall well-being and performance.
Active listening: pass the clap requires participants to listen carefully to the rhythm of the game in order to pass the clap at the right time. This can help to improve participants' listening skills and their ability to pay attention to details.
Paper tower
How to facilitate
Team members are given a set of materials, such as paper, scissors, and tape, and have to work together to build the tallest tower possible in a set amount of time.
Activity benefits
Time management: paper tower is a timed activity, which means that participants must work efficiently and effectively to build the tower within a specific timeframe. This can help to improve participants' time management skills and their ability to work under pressure.
Innovation: this activity can be customized to include different variations or challenges to keep the game interesting and engaging. Participants can be encouraged to come up with innovative ways to build the tower using only the materials provided. This can help to stimulate participants' innovation and encourage them to come up with creative solutions to problems.
Risk taking: paper tower requires participants to take calculated risks in order to build a successful tower. Participants must be willing to try new ideas, experiment with different techniques, and take risks in order to achieve the desired outcome. This can help to develop participants' risk-taking skills and their ability to take initiative in the workplace.
Marshmallow challenge
How to facilitate
Team members are given a set of materials, such as marshmallows, spaghetti, and string, and have to work together to build the tallest structure possible in a set amount of time.
Activity benefits
Collaboration: the marshmallow challenge requires participants to work together in teams to build the tallest tower possible using only spaghetti, tape, and string. This activity can help to build collaboration within the team, as participants work together to achieve a common goal.
Leadership: the marshmallow challenge can help to develop participants' leadership skills as they take on different roles within their team. Participants may need to delegate tasks, motivate team members, and make decisions in order to build a successful tower.
Attention to detail: this activity requires participants to pay close attention to the details of their tower design in order to build a stable and tall tower. This can help to improve participants' attention to detail and their ability to focus on the task at hand.
Human knot
How to facilitate
Team members stand in a circle and hold hands with two people across from them. They then have to untangle themselves without letting go of anyone's hands.
Activity benefits
Problem solving: the human knot is a challenging problem-solving activity that requires creative thinking and strategic planning to solve. Participants must work together to figure out the best way to untangle the knot, which can help to develop critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Fun: the human knot is a fun and engaging activity that can break up the monotony of work and inject a sense of playfulness into the workplace. This can help to boost morale and create a more positive work environment.
Adaptability: the human knot activity requires participants to adapt to changing circumstances as the puzzle unfolds. As the knot becomes more complex, participants must be willing to adjust their strategies and work collaboratively to find a solution. This can help to develop participants' adaptability and flexibility in the face of challenging situations.
Trust fall
How to facilitate
Team members stand in a circle and take turns falling backwards, trusting that their teammates will catch them.
Activity benefits
Trust: the trust fall requires participants to trust their team members to catch them as they fall backwards. This activity can help to build trust and confidence within the team, as participants learn to rely on one another and develop a sense of mutual support.
Support: the trust fall encourages participants to provide emotional and physical support to their team members. By catching their teammates and offering words of encouragement, participants can develop a sense of mutual support and camaraderie within the team.
Vulnerability: this activity requires participants to be vulnerable by falling backwards and trusting their team members to catch them. This can help to create a sense of openness and honesty within the team, as participants learn to be vulnerable and rely on one another for support.
Picture puzzles
How to facilitate
Team members are given a set of pictures or images and have to work together to put them in the correct order or arrangement.
Activity benefits
Collaboration: picture puzzles require participants to work together in teams to solve a picture puzzle. This activity can help to build collaboration within the team, as participants work together to achieve a common goal.
Patience: this activity requires participants to have patience as they work through the puzzle and try different solutions. This can help to develop participants' patience and their ability to remain calm and focused in the face of challenges.
Perseverance: picture puzzles require participants to persevere through difficult challenges and not give up until the puzzle is solved. This can help to develop participants' perseverance and their ability to push through challenges in the workplace.
Picture brainstorm
How to facilitate
Team members are given a set of pictures or images and have to come up with as many creative ideas or uses for them as possible.
Activity benefits
Brainstorming techniques: picture brainstorm encourages participants to use brainstorming techniques to generate new ideas. Participants might learn different methods of brainstorming, such as mind mapping, free association, and group ideation.
Visual thinking: picture brainstorm involves using visual stimuli, such as pictures or photographs, to stimulate creative thinking and idea generation. Participants might learn to use visual thinking to generate new ideas, make connections, and identify patterns.
Innovation: this activity can help to stimulate participants' creativity and foster innovative thinking in the workplace. Participants might learn to approach problems with an open mind, think outside the box, and generate novel ideas.
Human bingo
How to facilitate
Team members are given a bingo card with a grid of squares, each containing a different trait or characteristic. They have to walk around and find someone who fits each square, and get them to sign their name in the square.
Activity benefits
Networking: human bingo can help participants get to know their colleagues better and build professional relationships. This can help to improve networking skills and create opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the workplace.
Icebreaking: human bingo can be used as an icebreaker activity to break down barriers and create a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere in the workplace. This can help to boost morale and create a more positive work environment.
Diversity and inclusion: this activity can help to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace by encouraging participants to find people who have different experiences and characteristics. This can help to create a more inclusive and welcoming work environment.
Scavenger hunt
Description
Team members are given a list of items or tasks to find or complete, and have to work together to find or accomplish as many of them as possible in a set amount of time.
Benefits
Motivation: scavenger hunts can be a motivating activity that encourages participants to work together to achieve a common goal. This can help to boost morale and create a sense of excitement and enthusiasm within the team.
Leadership: scavenger hunts can help develop participants' leadership skills as they take on different roles within their team. Participants may need to delegate tasks, motivate team members, and make decisions in order to complete the game successfully.
Creativity: Scavenger Hunt can be customized to include different variations or challenges to keep the game interesting and engaging. Participants may need to think creatively to complete tasks or find items successfully.
The main takeaway
As an executive coach, you know the importance of developing high-performing teams that can adapt to change, communicate effectively, and solve complex problems. Energizer activities can be an effective way to achieve these goals, while also providing valuable learning opportunities for employees. From the problem-solving challenges of the Marshmallow Challenge to the creativity and collaboration of Picture Brainstorm, energizer activities can help teams build important skills and improve their overall productivity. By incorporating energizer activities into your coaching sessions, you can help your executives and their teams break down barriers, build trust, and foster a more positive work environment. So why not give some of these activities a try and see how they can benefit your clients and their teams?
In this article, we delve into the “10 energizer activities to engage and re-energize teams” chapter found in Next 10: Coach Wisdom for Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, and CEOs Wondering What Moves to Make Next, a book written by the Host and Curator of Arete Coach Podcast, Severin Sorensen, with contributions from Amelia Chatterley.
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