How to Energize Your Group With Novel Team Building Games
Adults crave novelty and action, especially in workplace settings where routine tends to dominate. If you’re planning team building activities for adults, the goal isn’t just fun, it’s novelty, movement, and meaningful connection. Below, I’m sharing two of my favorite team building games for work that check all those boxes.
Let’s dive in.
Team Building Game #1: Divide & Conquer With We! Engage Cards
This first game uses We! Engage Cards a deck of cards with beautiful visuals on one side and thought-provoking quotes on the other. While you can use these cards in many ways (like asking people to choose an image that represents a strength they bring to the group), we’re going to get a little more creative today.
Set-Up Instructions:
- Before your group arrives, cut several cards into 3 or 4 pieces. These don’t need to be perfect puzzle pieces.
- As people walk into the room, hand them a random piece of a card and say,
“Hey, welcome! Grab a piece of a card and take a seat. See if you can figure out what the full image is.”
Let the Game Begin:
Once everyone’s in, give the first official instruction:
“Alright! Your first mission is to go find the other people who have pieces of your card. Rebuild it, flip it over, and see what the quote says on the back.”
This sparks a burst of energy – people start moving, talking, and collaborating instantly. And, because nobody chose their shard, you’ve instantly shuffled people into new small groups.
Create Connection Through Meaningful Sharing
Now that each small group has reassembled a full card, invite them to connect deeper:
“Now that you have your quote, share how it relates or doesn’t relate to your life right now.”
This is where we move from attendance to attention. It’s not just an icebreaker, it’s a conversation starter with emotional resonance.
Want to keep the momentum going? Try multiple rounds:
- Round 1: Connect to the quote.
- Round 2: New card, new group then share a memory or story the image reminds you of.
Each round builds more layers of connection.
What Makes a “Game” Anyway?
Some folks hear “game” and get excited (cue Settlers of Catan fans cheering). Others groan and wish they were just back at their desk. So here’s a helpful reframe:
A game is simply an objective with a set of constraints.
That means you can gamify anything. In this case:
- Objective: Rebuild your image or quote.
- Constraint: You only have one piece, now go find the rest!
You can even lightly introduce competition:
“First team to complete their image, please raise your hands and shout that you’re the absolute best in the room!”
Make it playful. The point isn’t to “win”, it’s to energize and engage the group.
Team Building Game #2: Connectiles Puzzle Challenge
The second game is fresh out of the innovation oven, created by my colleague and experiential learning expert, Mark Collard. It’s called Connectiles, and it’s the perfect icebreaker for conferences, large groups, or team meetings.
What Are Connectiles?
Think of them as multi-sided puzzle tiles—each with edges that match up with others in specific ways. The goal? Work as a team to connect the tiles and complete the puzzle.
How To Use It:
- Lay out a deck of Connectiles on a table.
- Invite attendees to gather and start puzzling together as an unofficial kickoff activity.
- Let the conversation and collaboration happen organically.
Each Connectile set even includes a QR code on the back with bonus group activities and instructions.
Why These Games Work
Both activities hit the sweet spot of what adults actually want from team building activities:
- Novelty (they’ve likely never done these before)
- Movement (up out of chairs, engaging physically and mentally)
- Connection (sharing stories, reflecting on life, forming new bonds)
Whether you’re hosting a team retreat, conference icebreaker, or leadership workshop, these tools are perfect for icebreakers for small groups, games and icebreakers for adults, or even icebreakers for large groups.
And yes, both are low-prep!
Ready To Facilitate More Meaningful Team Building?
Grab your own deck of We! Engage Cards, or explore our free tools packed with printable cards, excerpts from our bestselling books, and more.
When you prioritize connection before content, the results speak for themselves.
