Get-to-know-you games are invaluable tools that foster connection and collaboration in today’s diverse workplaces. They help remote, hybrid, and in-person teams strengthen their connections and learn more about each other, which is a must for productivity and collaboration.
“The most convincing benefit of icebreakers for a company is connection, without a doubt. Breaking down silos and creating a springboard of communication is crucial for successful companies,” explained Benjamin Rotundo, an Event Facilitator at TeamBonding.
When team members get to know each other with fun activities instead of boring daily tasks, they move beyond job titles. This helps create authentic bonds and even friendships, which creates a happier, more engaging work environment.
This guide features a wide range of get-to-know-you games for work. You’ll find icebreakers for new team members as well as getting-to-know-you team building activities for teams who are more familiar with each other.
Get To Know Each Other as People, Not Just Professionals
People are so much more than their job titles. Our interests shape our career paths and success, while our unique preferences, quirks, and humor make us who we are.
Once we know these things about each other, we tend to feel closer and have an easier time communicating, which has obvious benefits for the workplace. But you have to actually get to know your team for this to work!
Work rarely provides opportunities for colleagues to connect beyond their job duties, which leads to a limited sense of connection.
The solution to this issue? Get-to-know-you games!
“Team building is an opportunity to have a shared experience with your coworkers and get to see them in a different environment,” explains Paul Giroux, Director of Facilitator Training at TeamBonding. “After the experience, if we have done our job correctly each participant in their own time will look back and find what they needed from that experience.”
What Are the Benefits of Get-To-Know-You Games?
Team building icebreaker activities can help you and your team bond and get to know each other as more than just co-workers. These get-to-know-you games create a positive, productive, and enjoyable environment where all members feel valued and supported.
We all have stories that connect us, and get-to-know-you team building activities make it easier to find those things in each other. They’ll help your team learn and share these stories, whether they’re together in person or working remotely.
“Sometimes it could be just a laugh, a mental break, a new memory, and other times it can be even more impactful like seeing coworkers from a different perspective, experiencing shy coworkers take control or be competitive, finding your voice within the team,” adds Paul. “Anything can happen if you allow yourself to be a willing and engaging participant.”
Before we get into our favorite get-to-know-you games, here’s a closer look at three benefits of getting to know each other at work:
Enhanced Communication
Get-to-know-you team activities and icebreakers can help foster open and improved communication. Their purpose is to help colleagues get to know each other on a deeper and more personal level.
Team members may find they have a lot more in common than they once thought! Plus, it helps alleviate any awkwardness that may exist.
Better Trust
When you get to know someone, you can understand what drives them, which can help break down barriers. Maybe a specific experience made them who they are.
Think of people as having layers, like onions. By understanding one another better, we uncover deeper levels of trust. Just remember, it’s also important not to push your coworkers to share if they aren’t comfortable.
Boosted Morale and Teamwork
Engaging in fun and interactive get-to-know-you team building activities can help your team work better together. They help to create a more relaxed and motivated work environment where creativity and collaboration are encouraged.
Higher Energy
Paul notes that how you present the icebreaker and how quickly you build rapport with the participants are more important than the icebreaker you choose. He has even begun calling icebreakers “energizers” because people hear icebreakers and immediately assume they’re a yawn. But these games are all about energizing and connecting everyone in the room!
5 In-Person Icebreakers for New Team Members
Team building can be both comfortable and cost-effective. You can create a more comfortable atmosphere if you plan a day that’s full of get-to-know-you party games and treat it like a celebration, complete with snacks and music. From there, just pick some games that don’t require many supplies to keep the day cost-effective.
We asked our amazing TeamBonding facilitators their favorite get-to-know-you team building activities, and here’s what they said:
1. Icebreaker Thumballs
Icebreaker thumballs are an easy way to stimulate fun and learning by playing catch. Each section of the thumball has a different conversation starter, question, or topic. When you catch the ball, wherever your thumb lands is the question you will answer.
TeamBonding offers all different types of thumbballs designed to open the lines of communication and generate creativity. Your possibilities to simulate conversation, fun, and learning are endless.
2. Gotcha!
In this game, participants must be focused and engaged. First, gather everyone into a circle and have them overlap hands. As the facilitator or leader tells a story, all the participants will listen for a secret word they’ve been given.
When the word is heard, participants must act fast and try to grab their neighbor’s finger with their left hand, all while keeping their right hand still so they don’t grab their neighbor on the right. “This is my favorite activity to get everyone laughing and up on their feet,” says Rich, one of our lead facilitators.
Switch It Up!
Expert facilitator Paul mentions that if you want to take it a step further, have them stay in the circle after the game. Then, ask one person to go to the center of the circle and share something about themself.
Anyone who agrees with/has done/can do this must run to the opposite side of the circle as quickly (and safely) as possible. The last person to run to the opposite side takes the middle spot and shares something about themselves next!
3. Categories
This icebreaker game named “Categories” is an all-time favorite of facilitators CJ and Jenelle. Categories is a high-energy game that forces participants to communicate under the pressure of time to physically group into common categories. The catch? No talking!
This game is a way to learn things about each other without it feeling like an icebreaker. It’s also an excellent gateway for people who are shy and want to participate but want to warm up first. Some of their favorite categories to use are:
- The type of toothpaste you use
- Birth month
- Favorite color
- Favorite high school subject
- How many bikes you’ve owned in your life
- Number of siblings you have (Without fail, someone will have a large family, and everyone will go nuts!)
4. Would You Rather
Would You Rather is a super simple get-to-know-your-team activity that’s easy to set up and execute. Simply come up with a list of would-you-rather questions, and you’re on your way!
TeamBonding facilitator Monica often divides the room and gives them alternatives corresponding to the sides to spice it up. And if you want to get crazy, play it as four corners!
5. Rock, Paper, Scissors
This one’s a childhood favorite, but adults love it too! This version of Rock, Paper, Scissors is a fantastic way to create a room full of energy with a simple game. To start, everyone gets to play against someone, and the winner moves on in the game with the “loser” as their personal cheerleader.
This continues as duos play duos, and then groups play against groups, with winners moving on with more cheerleaders each time. In the finale, half the room cheers for one player, and the other half cheers for another.
Switch It Up!
Want to give your mass Rock, Paper, Scissors game a twist? Have one person announce criteria (like being born in the same month) and encourage people to find partners based on that for this first round.
They’ll start by answering a question. For example: “What’s your favorite food?” Finally, they play Rock, Paper, Scissors, and the winners find a winner to play round two against. The defeated become supporters and find a supporter from the challenged group to pair up with. Rinse and repeat until it’s just two people!
If you’d like a visual system, give everyone a tag with a lanyard—when you beat someone, you take their tag so that it’s easy to see who the supporters and players are. Eight rounds should do it!
5 Virtual Icebreaker Games
If you want to get to know your team virtually, don’t worry! There are plenty of fun icebreaker ideas that you can play virtually with the same benefits.
Here are some fun getting-to-know-your-team activities designed to break the ice and barriers between remote team members.
1. The Unknown Fact Game or Team Trivia
This get-to-know-your-team game is simple. Assign a coordinator and ask everyone on your team to submit one “unknown fact” about themselves to their coordinator.
The coordinator is responsible for auditing facts based on pre-set criteria. For example, you may ask team members to submit facts about their hometowns. They then must create a randomized list of facts and a separate randomized list of participant names.
Everyone has a set amount of time (e.g., complete by the end of the day) to match as many facts to participants as accurately as possible. If you have a small team, you can also have each person explain the reasoning behind each match they guessed while reading individual answers aloud.
2. Quickfire Olympics
Energize your team with the Quickfire Olympics virtual icebreaker game. This Olympic-themed game tests your team with mental, physical, and creative challenges to win the gold medal. It’s ideal for energizing meetings, enhancing engagement, and fostering communication.
3. Virtual Wellness Challenges
Break the ice with your remote team by participating in one of our Virtual Wellness Challenges. This week-long competition encourages your team to support and cheer each other on as they participate in challenges to rack up the most points. It’s a virtual get-to-know-you game that can be modified to include company-specific challenges and trivia.
4. Virtual Team Happy Hour
There is no better way to get to know each other than with a virtual team happy hour! Each team member will receive a cocktail kit in the mail, learn how to craft their cocktail, and then enjoy it as a team. Our virtual happy hour can be a one-off event, a series of events, or paired with another virtual icebreaker game.
5. AI Takeover Challenge
This AI team building activity is all about navigating a maze of puzzles and challenges, relying on each other’s strengths to outwit the AI and recover your secrets. This get-to-know-you game is a fantastic pick for teams that love gaming and those that might prefer something they can all focus on together instead of directly focusing on each other.
A rogue AI bot has stolen vital corporate secrets, and it’s up to your group to outsmart it using the power of teamwork. Your company’s future rests on your team’s ability to conquer this AI game!
5 More Games To Continue Getting To Know Your Team
Icebreakers and energizers are considered the best onboarding activities and fantastic ways to get to know your team. Getting-to-know-you activities can continue to help after you’ve already broken the ice, though.
Each person has an incredibly complex personality and history, and the more your team understands one another in this way, the more likely they are to form bonds. So, once you’ve broken the ice, consider a more in-depth get-to-know-you activity.
Here are some get-to-know-you games that have become TeamBonding favorites. We’ve seen these bring teams closer time and time again, and they’re all tons of fun!
1. The Mystery Bus
Take your team on an adventure to get to know each other. Not knowing where you’re going is half the fun. Traveling on the Mystery Bus, your group will visit three to four locations selected to fit your interests, timeframe, and budget. Every city has its mysterious destinations—here’s a chance to experience the thrill of discovering them together as a team.
2. Survey Says
This is an all-time favorite get-to-know-you game based on Family Feud. Available virtually or in person, Survey Says is a fun way to see how well you and your co-workers know each other, your company, and its culture. We can supply all survey questions or customize them around the topics you provide.
3. Team Synergy
Want to help different generations connect? Give your team a nostalgic 80s feel with 8-bit music and unique minigame-style challenges. Team Synergy is a one-of-a-kind collaborative team building experience where players cannot play alone and must rely on their team to move forward.
That said, Team Synergy also provides teams with helpful feedback regarding their strengths and weaknesses in problem-solving and teamwork.
4. Squad Game
Put your squad to the test with our new get-to-know-you game experience inspired by the hit Netflix show. In Squad Game, your team will navigate a series of five immersive challenges that will get you thinking outside the box. The winning team will be the one that can best leverage each teammate’s individual strengths.
5. Amazing Race
This high-tech scavenger hunt turns any area into an amazing race full of interaction and adventure! The Amazing Race Scavenger Hunt is built specifically for your team, meaning trails can be set up at any destination and terrain. Our team will work with you to design a trail with challenges that match your desired learning and team building outcomes. How’s that for amazing?
It’s Always a Good Time To Build Meaningful Connections
Remember, it’s never too late to start building good relationships between team members. You can benefit from team members strengthening their bonds and learning about each other with these get-to-know-you games at any time.
Whether onboarding new employees, managing hybrid teams, or simply strengthening workplace relationships, these games offer lasting benefits. You can build community and improve team dynamics with any of our team building activities or do it yourself with our office icebreakers.
Are you ready to invest in your team? Do you want to see the benefits of collaboration, morale, productivity, and (most importantly) friendship blossom before your eyes?
Contact us today and ask about customized get-to-know-you games for your team.
