How to Fix Bad Team Building Activities

Several years ago, I set up a Google alert for the phrase “team-building activities. ” A couple of times a week, I get an email filled with articles, blog posts, and headlines about the latest trends in team-building. Normally, I skim through them, looking for anything interesting to share on social media or for a possible podcast topic. But recently, something caught my attention.

Instead of the usual articles about creative or effective team-building ideas, my Google alerts were filled with articles about how bad team-building is. Some headlines stood out:

• “Many workers do not like team building activities, finds report.”
• “Team building tops the list of most disliked workplace social activities.”
• “Team building sucks, so you should stop doing it.”

Yikes. Clearly, the algorithm was having a bad day, or maybe there are just a lot of disgruntled employees out there. But as I read through these articles, I realized they weren’t wrong. Many traditional team-building activities are awkward and forced and fail to create meaningful change.

So why does team building have such a bad reputation? And, more importantly, how can we make it better?

Why Team Building Has a Bad Reputation

People Think It’s a Waste of Time

Many employees feel they have real work to do, so why waste time on pointless activities? Bad team building—like silly games or awkward icebreakers that don’t connect to real work—feels like a distraction. However, good team building strengthens relationships and improves collaboration. In fact, 63% of leaders have observed better communication after effective team building.

Most Team Building Doesn’t Impact Real Work

Some leaders believe team building is just about “soft skills” and doesn’t contribute to tangible business outcomes. However, research shows that departments with strong team bonds see 20-25% higher productivity and 30% greater profitability. The key is designing team-building experiences that address actual work challenges.

It’s Often Awkward and Embarrassing

One of the biggest complaints about team-building is forced vulnerability. No one wants to do karaoke, improv skits, or share personal stories in a circle if they’re uncomfortable. Team-building should respect different personalities and offer multiple ways to engage, such as small group discussions, role-based problem-solving, or structured collaboration exercises.

It’s Expensive and Time-Consuming

Many assume team building requires expensive offsites or elaborate retreats. Small, consistent interactions—like a 10-minute check-in—can build stronger teams over time. Even half-day investments a couple of times a year can be affordable and effective.

It’s Seen as a Quick Fix

Some organizations treat team building as a one-time solution for deeper problems like low trust, poor leadership, or unclear goals. But team building isn’t a cure-all; it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Like physical therapy, the benefits come from consistent effort over time.

What Actually Works?

If traditional team building is often done poorly, what does effective team building look like? Research suggests that regardless of the activity, successful team-building experiences share these key elements:

Create Psychological Safety

Psychological safety—the ability to speak up without fear—is the number one predictor of high-performing teams. Ensure team-building activities encourage open dialogue, multiple avenues for feedback, and a sense of inclusion. Simple activities like a “Wins and Wisdom” check-in, where team members share recent successes and lessons learned, can build trust over time.

Make It Relevant to Work

Instead of an escape room, try a structured problem-solving exercise that mirrors actual work dynamics. Or, if you do an escape room, make sure to debrief the experience and connect it to work-related collaboration and strategy.

Allow Different Ways to Participate

Not everyone thrives in high-energy activities. Include a mix of hands-on challenges, social bonding experiences, and discussion-based exercises so everyone can engage in ways that suit them.

Prioritize Small, Consistent Efforts

You don’t need a big retreat to build a strong team. Regular interactions, like quick coffee chats or quarterly 90-minute team sessions, can be as impactful as a one-off offsite.

Follow Up and Make It Ongoing

One-time activities won’t transform team culture. Real team building happens over time through regular check-ins, shared experiences, and structured discussions.

How to Plan Team Building That Actually Works

Follow these steps to design a team-building event that actually works:

1. Set a Clear Goal – Ask yourself: Why are we doing this? If the goal is to improve communication, choose an activity that requires collaboration and problem-solving.
2. Make It Voluntary or Offer Choices—People disengage when they feel forced into something. To keep engagement high, allow team members to choose their level of participation.
3. Tie It to Real Work – Even fun activities should connect back to key themes like trust, communication, or problem-solving. Always ask: What did we learn? How can we apply this to work?
4. Keep It Inclusive – Consider different personalities, abilities, and preferences. Avoid activities that exclude certain team members, such as those that are highly physical or alcohol-focused.
5. Follow Up and Keep It Ongoing – Build ongoing opportunities for connection, whether through structured discussions, shared experiences, or regular team check-ins.

The Bottom Line

Team building isn’t inherently bad. Bad team building is bad. But when done right, it strengthens trust, improves communication, and boosts collaboration.

Challenge: Try one meaningful team-building activity in the next month.

It can be as simple as a discussion-based exercise, a structured problem-solving challenge, or a social gathering with a purpose. The best teams don’t just work together—they grow together. Let’s move beyond trust falls and create team-building experiences that actually build teams up.