Looking for creative and new ways to get to know your team, facilitate onboarding of new hires so they’ll love the workplace culture you have to offer, and continue to foster ongoing team building beyond when someone is new?
Many new hires will begin looking for another job in their first 45 days to 6 months, which is why onboarding well for an entire year and beyond is important. A major part of effective onboarding is getting to know the team well enough for people to know who they can rely on, who to ask questions to and who they’ll work with the best, so that you can foster a community of teamwork.
Here are some reasons why teamwork is important for teams (whether they’re in-house, remote or hybrid):
- Fosters collaboration – it spreads positive and motivational energy when people work together to achieve common goals;
- According to a study by the University of Florida, team building effectively improves business outcomes;
- Helps leaders emerge more strongly;
- Shows employees they’re appreciated;
- Creates employee relationships so your team can grow together, not to mention having people they look forward to working with.
Getting to know your team, from both new and existing employee standpoints, is an important aspect of both onboarding and ongoing workplace life.
Here are 15 creative ways to get to know your team and foster ongoing team building, plus tips and best practices for onboarding and more:
1. Create A “Get To Know Your Team” Employee Profile Book
Truly effective employee onboarding takes a year. While there are specific parts to onboarding that happen in the first week and months, having a year of onboarding is important for greater employee retention. Especially in today’s climate, which is full of hybrid and remote workers, plus people changing jobs due to work climate, making sure employees feel connected to your business and have opportunities for advancement is key to keeping them on your team.
So, how do you help new hires get to know their new team? The first part of your strategy is introductions. While intros are important, people can still forget names and info due to the overwhelming amount of information they’ll be getting starting the new job. They also don’t get all the information they need about their teammates in the short time you’ll have to introduce them.
The answer? Introduction “get-to-know-you” books from Newlywords. These give team members a reference to who people are at any given time, and helps them get to know the team better, as it can include more information and photos.
2. Ask Team Building Questions
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Here are some engaging and thought-provoking questions that encourage employees to share more about themselves and build stronger connections within the team:
Icebreaker Questions
- What’s your favorite book or movie, and why?
- If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
- What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
- What’s your dream travel destination, and why?
- What hobby or activity would you like to learn if you had the time?
Personal Background
- Where did you grow up, and what’s your favorite memory from your hometown?
- Do you have any pets? Tell us about them.
- What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
- What’s your favorite family tradition or holiday?
- What’s something you’re passionate about outside of work?
Work-Related Questions
- What motivated you to pursue your current career?
- What’s a project you’re particularly proud of?
- What skills or experiences do you think are your greatest strengths?
- What’s the most challenging part of your job?
- How do you stay organized and manage your workload?
Team Dynamics
- How do you prefer to receive feedback?
- What’s your favorite way to celebrate team success?
- How can the team better support you in your role?
- What do you think is the key to effective teamwork?
- What’s one thing you appreciate about each team member?
Fun and Creative Questions
- If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
- What’s your go-to karaoke song?
- If you were a character in a movie, which genre would it be and why?
- What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
- If you could switch jobs with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?
Future Aspirations
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- What’s one skill you’d like to develop or improve?
- If you could take a sabbatical for a year, what would you do?
- What’s a goal you’re currently working towards, personal or professional?
- How do you envision the future of our industry?
3. Facilitate & Participate In Team Building Activities & Games
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These shouldn’t be too cliche, and should involve everyone, regardless of external factors. Some ideas are:
- A Scavenger Hunt: Let employees work together to find things in the office, or online if it involves remote workers.
- Schedule a Virtual Team Building Event. Examples include a Race Around the World or International Food Tour.
- Foster Inter-Departmental Relationships and Collaboration: Let people work together who don’t always get to.
- Show Employee Appreciation: Give gifts, like products or experiences, that add value to the people who help your company run.
- Escape Room Challenges: Whether physical or virtual, escape rooms encourage problem-solving and teamwork under pressure.
- Trivia Games: Host a trivia night (or day) with questions that can range from general knowledge to company-specific trivia.
- Office Olympics: Create fun, competitive events that can be done in the office or virtually, encouraging friendly competition.
- Cook-Offs or Bake-Offs: Organize cooking or baking competitions where employees can showcase their culinary skills.
- Book Clubs: Encourage team members to read the same book and then discuss it together, fostering intellectual discussions and bonding.
- Creative Workshops: Host workshops such as painting, pottery, or writing, allowing employees to explore their creative sides together.
- Fitness Challenges: Start a fitness challenge, such as step counting, and offer small rewards for participation and achievements.
- Mystery Lunches: Pair employees up randomly for lunch meetings, encouraging them to get to know someone new within the company.
- Virtual Coffee Breaks: Schedule informal video calls where team members can chat over coffee and get to know each other better.
- Game Nights: Host regular game nights with board games, video games, or online multiplayer games that everyone can participate in.
- Innovation Days: Allow employees to work on a project of their choice for a day, then present their ideas to the team.
- Talent Shows: Organize a talent show where employees can showcase their unique skills and hobbies.
4. Host Regular Team Lunches or Coffee Breaks
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Organizing regular team lunches or coffee breaks is an excellent way to foster casual interactions and build stronger relationships within your team. Here are some specific ideas to make these gatherings more engaging and enjoyable:
Themed Lunches
- Cultural Cuisine Days: Each lunch features a different culture’s cuisine, with team members sharing dishes from their own backgrounds or trying new foods together.
- Potluck Lunches: Encourage team members to bring a dish to share, creating a diverse and collaborative meal experience.
- Food Truck Fridays: Arrange for a food truck to visit the office on Fridays, offering a variety of options and a fun atmosphere.
- DIY Lunch Stations: Set up stations where team members can build their own sandwiches, salads, or tacos, allowing for customization and interaction.
- Seasonal Celebrations: Host lunches themed around holidays or seasons, such as a summer BBQ, Halloween costume lunch, or holiday potluck.
Happy Hours
- After-Work Happy Hour: Choose a local bar or restaurant for an informal gathering after work, providing a relaxed setting for team members to unwind and socialize.
- Virtual Happy Hours: For remote teams, organize a virtual happy hour where team members can join via video call with their favorite beverage and snacks.
- Themed Drink Nights: Have themed drink nights, such as a wine tasting, craft beer sampling, or cocktail-making class, to add a fun twist to the usual happy hour.
- Game Night Happy Hour: Combine happy hour with games like trivia, charades, or Pictionary to encourage interaction and laughter.
Coffee Breaks
- Coffee and Donuts Morning: Start the day with coffee and donuts, providing a sweet treat and a chance to catch up before the workday begins.
- Mid-Morning Coffee Chat: Schedule a regular mid-morning coffee break where team members can gather for a quick chat and caffeine boost.
- Café Crawl: Visit different local coffee shops each week, exploring new places and supporting local businesses.
- Virtual Coffee Breaks: For remote teams, set up virtual coffee breaks where team members can join a video call for a casual chat and coffee.
Interactive Activities During Breaks
- Discussion Topics Jar: Have a jar filled with fun and thought-provoking questions that team members can draw from to spark interesting conversations.
- Show and Tell: Encourage team members to bring in or share something meaningful to them, such as a hobby, a recent travel experience, or a favorite book.
- Mini-Workshops: Host short workshops during lunch or coffee breaks on topics like mindfulness, stress management, or productivity tips.
- Cooking or Baking Demonstrations: Invite team members to share their culinary skills by demonstrating a favorite recipe during a lunch break. You can also make a collaborative workplace recipe book!
5. Implement a Buddy System
Pair new employees with seasoned team members who can mentor them and help them acclimate to the company culture. This system not only provides new hires with a go-to person for questions and guidance but also fosters a sense of belonging and connection from the start. Additionally, this mentorship can lead to lasting professional relationships and a stronger overall team dynamic.
6. Celebrate Personal Milestones
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Acknowledge and celebrate team members’ birthdays, work anniversaries, retirements and personal achievements to create a sense of community and appreciation. These can be paired with the lunch/coffee/happy hour ideas from above as well!
Check out retirement gift ideas for bosses and coworkers for more ideas!
7. Encourage Knowledge Sharing Sessions
Have team members present on topics they are passionate about or on their areas of expertise. This helps everyone learn something new and understand each other’s strengths, plus let team members know they’re valued for their skills!
8. Organize Team Retreats
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Planning annual or bi-annual retreats where the team can spend time together outside of the office environment can significantly enhance team cohesion and morale. Here are some ideas for organizing memorable and impactful team retreats:
Workshops and Skill-Building
- Professional Development Workshops: Include sessions on leadership, communication, and other relevant skills led by expert facilitators.
- Creative Workshops: Organize workshops on painting, pottery, or cooking to foster creativity and collaboration.
- Tech-Free Days: Encourage unplugging from technology with mindfulness and team-building exercises to enhance focus and connection.
Wellness and Relaxation
- Wellness Retreats: Focus on health and wellness with activities like yoga, meditation, and spa treatments.
- Fitness Challenges: Include group fitness activities such as hiking, biking, or boot camps to promote physical well-being.
- Mindfulness Sessions: Incorporate mindfulness and stress-reduction practices to help team members recharge.
Fun and Recreational Activities
- Cooking Competitions: Plan a cooking challenge where teams prepare dishes and compete for the best meal.
- Game Nights: Include board games, trivia, and other interactive games to encourage bonding and laughter.
- Team Sports Tournaments: Organize friendly competitions in sports like soccer, basketball, or softball.
Cultural and Educational Experiences
- City Tours: Explore a new city together with guided tours, museum visits, and local culinary experiences.
- Historical Sites: Visit historical landmarks and learn about the local history and culture as a team.
- Cultural Festivals: Plan the retreat around a local festival or event to experience new cultural activities together.
Adventure and Outdoor Activities
- Camping Trips: Spend a few days camping in nature, with activities like hiking, fishing, and campfire storytelling.
- Outdoor Adventure Parks: Visit an adventure park for zip-lining, rock climbing, and team-building obstacle courses.
- Beach Retreat: Plan a beach getaway with activities like beach volleyball, paddleboarding, and bonfires.
Strategic Planning and Brainstorming
- Vision and Goal-Setting Sessions: Use the retreat for strategic planning, setting company goals, and brainstorming new ideas.
- Innovation Workshops: Conduct sessions focused on innovation and problem-solving to generate fresh ideas for the company.
- Team Reflection: Allocate time for team members to reflect on achievements, challenges, and future aspirations.
9. Start a Recognition Program
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Regularly recognize and reward team members for their hard work and contributions. This can be done through shout-outs in meetings, monthly awards, or a points-based system for redeeming rewards. Like with the personal milestones, this one can also be combined with the happy hours or lunches, giving the team a celebration they can enjoy during or after the workday.
10. Create a Collaborative Project
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Work on a non-work-related project together, such as volunteering for a community service, creating a team mural, or participating in a charity event. This helps build teamwork and camaraderie.
11. Use Collaborative Tools
Utilize platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams to create channels for non-work-related discussions, hobbies, and interests, allowing team members to connect on a personal level.
12. Personality Assessments and Workshops
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Conduct personality assessments (e.g., Myers-Briggs, DISC) and follow up with workshops to help team members understand each other’s working styles and improve collaboration.
13. Host Cultural Exchange Events
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Encourage team members to share their cultural backgrounds, traditions, and cuisines in a cultural exchange event. This can be especially enriching for diverse teams.
14. Organize Team Fitness Activities
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Participate in fitness challenges, group yoga sessions, or lunchtime walks to promote health and build team spirit.
15. Start a Team Newsletter
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Create a monthly or quarterly newsletter featuring team member spotlights, personal stories, and updates on team activities and achievements.
Tips For Team Building In The Workplace & Best Practices
Team Building Practices for New Recruits
What are the best team building practices that HR managers should follow? Here’s a list of best practices and ideas:
Make the activities convenient and enjoyable for employees
Make team-building events as easy for employees to join and enjoy as possible. When planning team-building, you’ll want to:
- Make it during work hours so everyone can attend;
- Make it collaborative so people work together;
- Make sure every team member can participate: it must be accessible to everyone. This means considering remote workers, as well as, for instance, not making it about sports unless your team is entirely sports-oriented and fit;
- If you’re going to do something together and out-of-office, make sure you cover costs and transportation for employees;
- Make sure to clearly communicate the goals and purpose of what you’re doing with all employees;
- Ask employees for their opinions and feedback before and after the event.
Use the opportunity to create an improved day-to-day work environment
This isn’t meant to be a one-time thing to half-heartedly make a show of change, but then not to actually change. Don’t do something you can’t deliver on in the longer-term. Make this about implementation of permanent work environment changes.
This doesn’t need to be complicated. Make sure you have a clear focus – like on teamwork and relationship-building – and make sure you:
- Do activities that generate teamwork with a common goal;
- Reward teams, as opposed to individuals to drive home the idea;
- Make sure employees feel like members of a team rather than slaves or people working for a taskmaster – give them some skin in the game, and/or change the way you do things in meetings, for instance;
- Make sure people are communicating any issues, places for improvement, etc. so you know how to improve.
Facilitate Team Building Straight Away
Any company knows that its most valuable resource is its employees. Finding, and then retaining, talented and motivated people can make or break a company’s successes and failures.
How does a company conduct effective team building today, when many workers are remote, people are changing jobs all over the place, and 31% of employees aren’t into “team-building activities”?
The key is to look at your intention before you plan your strategy and possible activities. If you’re going to foster a positive and collaborative work environment, the leadership has to be first, and it has to be part of your company culture. Many people want more flexibility and purpose in their jobs, so if you want to keep these intelligent, self-assured workers, you need to think about how to shift the way things are done and be open-minded to change.
Here are a few ways to begin generating company culture change so you can effectively implement team-building practices for new hires:
- Get clear on what kind of environment you want to promote and make sure you’re modeling and facilitating it yourself – in other words, be the example your employees can follow.
- Survey your current employees. Ask them about their experience, how they view the collaborative spirit, and how you’re doing at leading. Ask how their onboarding experience was and how it can be improved.
- Also ask employees what they want from you in terms of today’s shift in employee expectations. Get honest feedback, then make changes to what you’re offering new hires. With this, you’ll want to make sure you have systems in place to ensure you reach your goals.
Remember: Smooth Onboarding Sets The Pace and Vibe
Did you know that employees that are engaged with the company are 87% less likely to leave? Also, 1 in 10 employees left new jobs due to poor onboarding experiences, not to mention that in 2018, companies lost a total of $617 million from job turnover.
Smooth onboarding is the key to employee retention and company success. Onboarding does many things for your business, including:
- Making sure new employees have the resources they need;
- Letting employees get to know your company;
- Helping team members get to know one another;
- Giving career advancement opportunities;
- Increasing productivity by 54%;
- Saving the company money;
- Helping your business run its best.
Even though a Kronos study concluded that onboarding programs that last longer result in better companies and better employees, 22% don’t even have an onboarding program – which means there’s no better time to prioritize this for your business!
Bottom Line
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Every organization needs proper onboarding and team building for the company to run smoothly, but many aren’t doing anything at all! Implementing regular team building and focusing on intentional onboarding helps dramatically increase employee retention, which helps your company in the long run.
A great first step to improving employee onboarding and helping people get to know their team members is giving them a book to help them get to know everyone, that has photos, team memories and company information to help them feel welcome – because your employees are your ticket to a successful business!