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When people think of team building, the first thing that comes to mind is likely icebreakers or virtual office trivia. But some of the best team building games for work are immersive, hands-on challenges that bring out collaboration, creativity, and a little friendly competition.
Switch your team building activities in San Francisco to ones that turn team bonding into something they’ll actually look forward to. Host cocktail making shake-ups, terrarium building competitions, playful bake-offs, and more with creative workshops for your team. These classes and team building challenges are fueled with positive energy and creativity, so they will only bring out the best in your team.
Team building games for adults at work don’t need to mean awkward icebreakers or pointless trivia. With these games, your team members will put aside their individual roles and work together or alongside one another on the same creative project. Showing support for your coworkers outside of the office makes it easier to bring the same attitude back into your workplace. Your team will get to know each other’s strengths a little better, which will make them more invested in the company's overall success! Plus, these social work games and activities will lend themselves to easy conversation and engaging entertainment.
What makes a good team building game for adults?
When choosing workplace team building games, you want to make sure they are collaborative, engaging, accessible, and authentic. First, pick something low-pressure, so everyone can feel comfortable participating. We offer workshops that are designed for beginners and require no experience, so don’t worry if you’re not an artist, cook, or DIY-er; everyone will leave with something that will make them feel proud.
Adding a little competition to the mix will keep your team engaged and excited. Imagine taste-testing each member's pizza slices, admiring a gallery of unique fluid-art paintings, seeing whose terrarium lives the longest, or watching a steaming pot of dumplings to see which ones burst or who perfected the fold.
A shared experience offers a natural opportunity for people to bond by giving them the time and encouragement to collaborate and connect. There’s no need for forced conversation topics when they can talk about the activity right in front of them. Creative activities will invite your team to swap ideas, share a bit about themselves through their project, and support each other as they learn new skills.
After these team building games for work, you’ll leave feeling like you actually learned something new about your team through the experience, which is much more fulfilling than a fun fact or unrelated trivia game. Plus, they’ll leave with memories to look back on and spark future conversations.
1. Spice up the competition with team building cooking challenges
Turn your next workplace team challenge into an episode of your favorite cooking show. Cooking classes provide a wonderful opportunity for playful competition. From Thai cooking and Indian cuisine to making pasta from scratch and sushi making, there are many cooking classes to choose from to suit everyone on your team and make fun team building games for adults. Try a pizza making class and go head-to-head over the ideal pizza toppings. Discuss whether or not pineapple should go on pizza over a glass of wine while you wait for the moment of truth when the oven door swings open.
You can even split up into teams and work together to create a delicious meal. In this format, your team members will be able to practice skills that will translate to the workplace, such as teamwork, leadership, open-mindedness, communication, and more! With a low-stakes competition, such as cooking, your team can practice their skills and learn more about their strengths and weaknesses. By the end of the night, you’ll want to challenge the other team to a rematch regardless of whether you won or lost! And don’t forget, you’ll get to enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal to smooth over the rivalry and have new recipes to take home with you!
2. Host a bake-off challenge
If you’re hoping for something a little sweeter, get your bake-off on with baking classes in the Bay Area. Learn basic cake decorating skills with Olesia Cake in SoMa. This class comes with snacks and mimosas to give more of a light-hearted and social vibe.
For the technical challenge, see if you can make a batch of adorable macarons. With Meowvelous Bakes in SoMa, you’ll learn how to pipe macarons in different character shapes. See who can make the cutest or most professional-looking batch. These baking classes will include creative team building games with an especially sweet reward.
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3. Turn happy hour into competitive team building games
You want your team building activities to stand out over regular after-work drinks. Instead of just meeting up at the local bar, learn how to make cocktails with these team building games for adults. Start with a cocktail-making class in the Bay Area – it’s a natural ice breaker. By the time you sit down for drinks, you’ll already have some conversation starters. This is a fun spin on a work happy hour, as you get to share a unique experience with your coworkers and learn something new. Once you have your cocktails, make some room and play a few rounds of charades. You can’t go wrong with this party classic. And with a handcrafted drink in hand, there’s no doubt your team will have a good time!
Cocktail making can be a creative competition in itself; you can find out who’s the best bartender in the bunch. You’ll have expert guidance from a local bartender who will make sure everyone is sipping on something delicious. A mixology class with Manhattan Zodiac in Nob Hill is the perfect place to start. Then, learn how to pair liquor with your favorite flavors and learn unique cocktail recipes you can then modify to make your own delicious concoctions. Pour samples for each team member and vote on the best version. The winning recipe can be your team’s signature cocktail for future happy hours and team events! While these team challenge ideas start a little competitive, you’ll end with something to share and be proud of.
4. DIY terrariums for casual team building games
Looking for team building games for coworkers that are a little more peaceful? Try terrarium building! This is a no-skills-necessary DIY craft, so you and your coworkers will all start at the same skill level. With terrariums, you can let your creativity stand out. You’re the architect of your miniature garden!
In terrarium classes with Luludi Living Art, you will choose the plants, decor, and design to make your terrarium unique. Add some prizes to the mix to make it more interesting. Award the most colorful, the most zen, the one with the funkiest plants, and more! This is a fun way to acknowledge your teammates and have some competitive fun. Everyone is a winner in this contest, but they’ll appreciate the recognition of their individual personality.
Terrarium building is also a relaxing craft. So while you’re adding character to your plantscape, you’re taking care of your team’s mental well-being. This is especially important to practice in the workplace, where burnout can be common. While you want to create a positive environment where your team can bond, you also want to allow them to recharge. A DIY terrarium class is an ideal opportunity to do both!
If you’re looking for more team building activities to boost workplace well-being, read on!
5. Fluid art class for unique team games
Fluid art is one of the most accessible art forms we offer. Your team can learn to mix, layer, and pour paint to create abstract designs! Turn this art into fun team building games for work with a competitive twist. Each person will customize their painting with colors and designs.
Make a gallery of your artwork in the office and have other teams in your office vote on their favorite. You can even turn it into a little art show with small plates and cocktails when you announce the results. Make it even more interactive and competitive by bidding on each other’s art with coffee vouchers or silly office favors. It’s a fun way to keep the bonding going long after the game ends.
Ready to get competitive (outside the office) with your team? It’s not about winning, it’s about learning new things about your co-workers, connecting in a new way, teaming up for low-pressure tasks, and having fun! Plus, with a creative twist like a game, your team will stay much more engaged and excited. With just a few clicks you can plan the best team building day you’ll have all year. Browse through our workshops to find something that will suit the vibe of your team. And get ready to have fun!
