30 Team Building Activities for Small Groups Everyone Loves!
When your team is small, every voice matters and every activity counts.
These team building activities for small groups are designed to slot seamlessly into tight schedules and tight-knit circles, whether you’ve got ten minutes or an afternoon to play.
You’ll find everything from gratitude shout-outs to creative problem-solving challenges that boost morale, sharpen communication, and uncover hidden strengths.
Each activity includes clear steps to get started today.
Choose your favourite, gather your team, and get ready to connect, collaborate, and have a whole lot of fun together!
Contents
Video on 5 Top Team Building Activities (With Explanations)
30 Fun Team Building Activities for Small Groups
- Harnessing Team Gratitude
- Two Truths and a Lie
- Team Goal Setting
- Team Wellness Challenges
- Human Knot
- Team Confidence Building
- Team Trivia
- Memory Lane
- Bucket List Sharing
- Team Speed Networking
- The Compliment Chain
- Tailored Wellbeing Workshop
- Office Scavenger Hunt
- Meaningful Show and Tell
- Team Wellbeing Bingo
- “If I were CEO” Vision Boarding
- The How Can I Help Circle
- Team Strengths Mapping
- Paper Airplane Contest
- One Word Story Chain
- Blind Drawing
- Egg Drop Survival
- Team Office Olympics
- Minefield
- A Penny for Your Thoughts
- Stop the Bus
- Team Shops
- What Do We Have in Common?
- Lost on a Desert Island
- The Marshmallow Tower Challenge
Why Team Building Matters for Small Groups
How to Measure the Success of Team Building Activities?
Video on 5 Top Team Building Activities (With Explanations)
30 Team Building Activities for Small Groups
These team building activities are prefect for small teams and will help your team grow, connect and have some fun!
1. Harnessing Team Gratitude
Teams that show gratitude to one another perform better and create an environment in which everyone feels comfortable working.
To get started, set aside a minimum of 15 minutes at the start of your next get-together and ask everyone to shout out one thing they are grateful for about their team.
It can be as simple as “I’m grateful that I have someone to go to lunch with” or as heartfelt as “your advice on that client call really helped me.”
Hearing genuine recognition warms people up fast and reminds everyone they’re noticed.
This is great for small groups as it provides a real opportunity for connection.
At Loving Life, we deliver a Harnessing Gratitude Workshop perfect for teams to learn and understand the power of gratitude, while also creating heartfelt moments that teams never forget.
But if you’re not a company with a budget, why not download our free gratitude template below!
2. Two Truths and a Lie
Two Truths and a Lie is a classic icebreaker where everyone shares three statements about themselves.
Two that are true and one that’s made up.
The rest of the group then tries to spot the lie.
To play, give each person 2–3 minutes to write down their three statements.
Then, go around the circle and have each teammate read theirs aloud.
The group discusses briefly and votes on which statement they think is the lie.
After the reveal, you’ll get plenty of laughs and surprising insights.
Did you know Alex once climbed Mount Kilimanjaro?
This game works especially well in small groups because everyone gets a turn to shine.
3. Team Goal Setting
Helping each other with personal goals can be an extremely valuable team building activity.
When colleagues support each other with their goals, it boosts connection, teamwork, and morale.
To implement this, allow 5 minutes for each team member to share their goal.
Then, as each person mentions their goal, have the team ask the questions and create a plan to ensure the goal is SMART.
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.
Teams can then meet fortnightly to check progress with these goals and ensure everyone is staying on track.
If you’d like us to deliver a goal-setting webinar or workshop for your team, then get in touch.
Alternatively, download our Free SMART goal-setting template below.
4. Team Wellness Challenges
Wellness challenges are a great way to bring teams together while working towards a common goal.
Wellness challenges not only help teams improve their health and wellbeing, but they also allow colleagues to connect while challenging themselves.
For wellness challenges to get started, check out our blog on 12 Fun & Free Wellbeing Challenges at work!
5. Human Knot
Human Knot is a hands-on problem-solving challenge where everyone stands in a circle, reaches across to grab two different people’s hands, and then works together, without letting go, to untangle into a circle again.
To play, have your group form a tight circle, close their eyes (optional), reach in and grab two other hands, then open their eyes and start untangling by stepping over or ducking under arms.
Remind everyone to communicate clearly (“Can you duck lower?” “Try stepping left”) and be patient, this usually takes 10–15 minutes.
It’s perfect for small teams because it forces you to strategize, adapt, and laugh together.
6. Team Confidence Building
Team members can lack confidence at times, but with a confidence team building exercise, colleagues can build confidence in the areas where they may be struggling.
Confidence building involves taking small steps toward the things individuals want to be more confident in.
To get started, discuss in a team the areas where individuals feel they could improve their confidence.
Then discuss things that individuals are already confident in.
How did they get confident in those areas, and what were the contributing factors?
If you’d like a facilitator to deliver a structured workshop on this for your team, check out our “Build Unstoppable Confidence Workshop.”
7. Team Trivia
Team Trivia is a fun quiz game where small groups compete to answer a series of questions, ranging from pop culture and general knowledge to company-specific facts.
To play, split groups into teams of 2–4.
Appoint a quizmaster to ask the questions.
Teams discuss and write down their answers, then reveal simultaneously, awarding points for correct answers, while keeping a running leader board.
This format keeps everyone engaged, sparks friendly rivalry, and highlights collective smarts in a relaxed setting.
We’ve got a wellbeing trivia which you can download below for free.
Try it with your team this week!
8. Memory Lane
Memory Lane is a reflective activity where teammates share a favourite moment or an inside-office anecdote, sparking nostalgia and reminding everyone of shared history.
To play, have each person spend a couple of minutes thinking of one standout memory, big or small.
Then go around and get team members to tell the story in 1–2 minutes, adding why it matters to them.
Encourage follow-up questions to deepen the conversation.
This works perfectly in small groups because you’ll uncover moments you may have forgotten, laugh at old office antics, and reinforce your collective identity.
9. Bucket List Sharing
Bucket list sharing is an aspirational exercise where each teammate reveals one dream or goal they’d love to accomplish in their lifetime.
Whether it’s big or small, the group offers ideas or resources to help make it happen.
To get started, give everyone a few minutes to write down a single bucket-list item, then have each person share theirs aloud.
After every share, the rest of the group suggests one practical tip, connection, or mini-step that could bring that dream closer.
This simple format sparks inspiration, deepens bonds, and shows your team that you genuinely care about each other’s ambitions.
10. Team Speed Networking
Team speed networking is a fast-paced meet-and-greet where teammates rotate through quick, two-minute one-on-one chats to discover shared interests, strengths, or fun facts about each other.
To run it, set a timer for two minutes per round, pair people up, and give them a simple prompt, like “What skill do you bring that no one here knows about?” or “What’s one challenge you’re battling with right now?”
When two minutes are up, switch partners and start into the next round.
In a short period, everyone’s had a chance to connect personally and professionally, which turbocharges collaboration in small teams.
11. The Compliment Chain
The compliment chain is a feel-good exercise where each person gives a genuine compliment to the teammate on their right (or left) and receives one from the person on their other side, creating a full circle of positivity.
To play, have everyone write down one strength or quality they admire in both people next to them.
Then go around and have each person read their compliments out loud.
It only takes about 5–10 minutes for small groups, but the impact lasts much longer as people feel truly seen and valued.
This works great for small teams because you can be specific and heartfelt without it dragging on.
Try our free workplace compliment generator below.
Workplace Compliment Generator
12. Tailored Wellbeing Workshop
A tailored wellbeing workshop is a custom session where you organise a workshop for your team based on the unique challenges within your organisation.
At Loving Life, we’ve helped a range of teams build connection and teamwork through our tailored workshops.
If you’d like support with this, get in touch to see how we can help your team!
13. Office Scavenger Hunt
An office scavenger hunt is a playful race where small teams dash around the workspace hunting for items or completing mini-tasks on a pre-crafted list.
To set it up, create 10–15 clues or prompts, like “find something blue that makes you smile,” “take a photo with the oldest coffee mug,” or “locate the emergency exit map” then split teams into pairs or trios, hand out the list, and give everyone a time limit to snap photos or gather objects.
When time’s up, regroup, compare findings, and award extra points for creativity or speed.
It’s fast-paced, gets people moving, and sparks laughter as teammates discover hidden nooks and share stories about quirky desk treasures.
14. Meaningful Show and Tell
Meaningful show and tell is a storytelling exercise where each teammate brings or describes a personal object, photo, or memento that holds special significance and explains why it matters.
To get started, ask everyone ahead of time to choose one item (it could be a souvenir, family photo, or a quirky keepsake) and spend 2–3 minutes sharing its backstory and what they value about it.
After each story, encourage one or two quick questions to dig deeper.
In a short period, you’ll surface surprising insights, build empathy, and deepen connections as teammates reveal parts of themselves you wouldn’t hear in a regular meeting.
15. Team Wellbeing Bingo
Wellbeing Bingo is a light-hearted twist on traditional bingo where each square lists a simple self-care or wellness action.
To play, visit our blog on 10 fun Wellbeing games for work, and head to the section “Wellbeing bingo.”
It’s perfect for small groups and online teams because you can quickly load up the webpage and get started.
16. “If I were CEO” Vision Boarding
“If I Were CEO” vision boarding is a creative brainstorming activity where each teammate crafts a mini–vision board that reflects how they’d steer the company if they were in charge.
To get started, give everyone 10–15 minutes to put a vision board together that captures their top priorities as a CEO.
Answers could range from “boosting team wellbeing with workshops from Loving Life,” “innovating product features,” or “building a stronger brand voice”.
Give each person 1–2 minutes to present their board and explain their choices. This sparks lively conversation about shared aspirations and uncovers fresh perspectives on your company’s direction.
17. The How Can I Help Circle
The “How can I help circle” is a quick roundtable where everyone names one thing they’re stuck on or need help with.
Colleagues can then offer practical support or resources that may help.
To get started, form a circle and go around asking each person to finish the sentence, “Right now, I could use help with…”.
After someone shares, the group brainstorms ideas.
“I’ve got a template you can borrow,” “I know someone on that project,” or “Let me give you a quick walkthrough later on”, then move on to the next person.
This is a great team building exercise for small teams to support each other and bring them closer together.
18. Team Strengths Mapping
Strength mapping is an insightful exercise where everyone identifies their top talents and visually plots them to see how the team’s skills interlock.
To get started, ask each person to jot down 2–3 of their strengths on sticky notes or paper.
Then, as a group, cluster similar strengths into categories—like “creative problem-solving,” “detail orientation,” or “relationship building.”
Next, place those clusters on a simple grid (e.g., “high impact” vs “high enjoyment”) and discuss patterns.
Where do we have gaps?
Who can step up to lead tasks in each quadrant?
Finally, assign roles or “strength buddies” so every project leverages someone’s natural superpower.
In about 20 minutes, you’ll gain clarity on who does what best and how to collaborate more effectively.
19. Paper Airplane Contest
A paper airplane contest is a playful activity where teammates design, fold, and throw their paper planes to compete for distance, accuracy, or flight time.
To get started, give each person a sheet of paper and 5–7 minutes to craft and test their design, then mark a launch line and throw the paper planes.
Award points for farthest flight, closest to a target, or longest airtime, with two or three rounds to let everyone refine their planes.
This hands-on exercise sparks creativity, friendly competition, and quick problem-solving as teams tweak wing folds and launch angles.
In small groups, it’s easy to cheer each other on, swap folding tips, and celebrate improvised designs.
20. One Word Story Chain
One word story chain is a cooperative storytelling game where the group builds a quirky tale one word at a time.
Everyone sits in a circle, and you go around adding exactly one word each turn—“Once,” “upon,” “a,” “time,” “there,” “was,” “a,” “dragon,” “…” until you hit a natural ending or the set time goes off.
Team members need to listen and think fast because their word has to flow with what came before, leading to hilarious twists and turns.
This exercise sharpens active listening, quick thinking, and creative collaboration, and it’s perfect for small teams because every voice directly shapes the story.
21. Blind Drawing
Blind drawing is a fun trust-and-communication exercise where teammates pair up and take turns describing a simple image.
It could be a house, a tree, or a shape.
While the drawer’s eyes are closed or covered, they try to sketch based purely on verbal instructions from their colleagues.
To get started, split into pairs, give each pair the same reference image, and set a 3-minute timer.
One partner describes what they see, while the other draws without looking.
After time’s up, compare sketches and swap roles.
You’ll laugh at the unexpected results, learn how precise your instructions really are, and practice active listening under pressure.
It’s perfect for small groups since everyone gets hands-on practice and feedback.
22. Egg Drop Survival
Egg drop survival is a challenge where small teams design a protective contraption to keep a raw egg intact when dropped from a height.
To get started, give each group a raw egg, some basic office supplies.
E.g., straws, tape, paper, rubber bands, etc,
Then give teams 15–20 minutes to brainstorm and build their “egg shield.”
Once time’s up, designate a dropping spot (a chair, balcony, or ladder) and let each team take turns releasing their egg package.
Cheer as you uncover which designs hold up and which ones splatter.
Debrief by asking what materials or design tweaks made the biggest difference and how rapid prototyping applies to your daily work.
23. Team Office Olympics
Office Olympics is a mini–tournament where small groups compete in a series of office-themed “sports”.
Chair races, dustbin basketball, etc.
To play, pick 4–5 simple games, split into teams of 2–4, and set up each station with clear rules and a timer (e.g., three paper balls per player for the basketball shootout).
Rotate teams through stations in timed heats, tally points on a whiteboard, and celebrate the winners with goofy medals or an “Olympic torch” made from a rolled-up poster.
It’s a brilliant way to break up the workday, get everyone moving, and spark friendly rivalry without breaking the bank.
24. Minefield
Minefield is a trust-and-communication challenge where one teammate is blindfolded and guided through an “obstacle course” of “mines” by a partner’s verbal directions (cups, cones, or taped-off areas).
To get started, set up 10–15 obstacles in an open space, pair people up, blindfold one person, and give the guide 3–5 minutes to lead their partner from start to finish without stepping on a mine.
Swap roles and compare times.
You’ll quickly see how clear instructions and active listening make all the difference.
Plus, shared laughter when someone steps on a rogue cone will bring joy to the team.
Great for small groups as everyone gets a turn to guide and be guided, which boosts empathy and patience.
25. A Penny for Your Thoughts
A penny for your thoughts is a storytelling exercise where each teammate picks up a penny, notes the year stamped on it, and then shares a personal story or memorable event from that same year.
To get started, pass around a small dish of pennies and have everyone select one at random.
Spend 1–2 minutes thinking of a moment from that year.
It could be a personal milestone, a big news event, or a random memory.
Then go around the group telling your story.
It’s a simple way to reminisce, laugh, and make unexpected connections as you discover the little historical snapshots that shaped each other’s lives.
In small groups, everyone gets airtime, and you end up learning surprising things about colleagues.
26. Stop the Bus
Stop the Bus is a fast-paced word game where everyone races to fill in categories like “animal,” “city,” “shop,” and “food,” all starting with the same letter.
To play, pick five categories.
Then, to begin each round, have someone pick a letter.
As soon as that letter is said, everyone fills in their category with something beginning with that letter.
As soon as someone completes their list, they shout “Stop the Bus!” and everyone puts pencils down.
Everyone gets 5 points for a correct answer, but if team members have the same answer, they get 0 points.
Tally the scores, choose a new letter, and repeat for 3–5 rounds.
It’s perfect for small teams because the quick rounds keep energy high and everyone gets multiple turns to get involved.
27. Team Shops
Shops is a fast-paced card game where each player “runs” their own mini-shop and uses a standard deck to spark quick-thinking shout‑outs.
To play, deal all the cards evenly among your group, then take turns laying one card face‑up in front of each player.
If two people play cards that match, the first to shout out something the other person would “sell” in their shop, like “fresh‑baked cookies” for a baker or “paracetamol” for a pharmacy.
The person who shouts out a correct answer first wins the pile and adds those cards to their hand.
Keep going until one player collects the entire deck.
This activity gets everyone thinking, sharpens reaction time, and keeps energy high in small groups.
28. What Do We Have in Common?
What do we have in common is a discovery game where small teams uncover shared interests or experiences.
Perfect for breaking down silos and finding unexpected connections.
To play, split into pairs or trios and give each group a 5-minute timer.
Teams list as many things they all share as possible (“we all love hiking,” “we’ve each worked here over two years,” “we can’t start the day without coffee”).
After time’s up, reconvene and have each group share their top 5 commonalities. The team with the longest list or the most unique overlaps wins.
This exercise sparks laughter, surprises, and real “aha” moments about how much you already have in common.
29. Lost on a Desert Island
Lost on a Desert Island is a survival scenario exercise where your small group imagines they’re stranded and must collaborate to choose which 5–7 items you’d want with you, and explain why.
To play, present everyone with a list of 15–20 common objects (e.g., a mirror, fishing line, flare gun, solar blanket), give the team 5 minutes to individually pick their top items, then reconvene to debate and agree on a final group list, discussing trade-offs, prioritising needs, and building consensus.
This sparks strategic thinking, reveals decision-making styles, and highlights how you negotiate under pressure.
In small groups, you get lively back-and-forth as each voice influences the outcome.
30. The Marshmallow Tower Challenge
The marshmallow tower challenge is an interactive team building exercise where teams compete to build the tallest free-standing structure using only dry spaghetti, tape, string, and one marshmallow (which must sit on top).
To play, split into small teams of 2–4, give each group 15–20 minutes and their materials, and let them plan, prototype, and construct, testing as they go to ensure the marshmallow stays put.
When time’s up, measure each tower.
The tallest one that still holds the marshmallow wins.
This hands-on team building activity sparks creativity, rapid prototyping, and collaboration under a deadline.
Plus, there’s always plenty of laughs when structures wobble spectacularly.
Why Team Building Matters for Small Groups
In a small team, every person carries extra weight.
One person’s mood, communication style, or energy level can impact the whole group.
That makes rapport and trust absolutely critical.
When colleagues feel comfortable sharing ideas, collaboration happens naturally and obstacles get tackled faster.
A half-hour activity can turn polite nods into genuine high-fives, smoothing out miscommunications before they grow into real obstacles.
Small groups also benefit from playing to their unique strengths.
Team building helps teams surface hidden talents, like who’s the resident spreadsheet whiz or who brings unexpected creative flair.
This allows colleagues to lean on each other more strategically.
Team building provides the opportunity to spot who thrives under pressure, who’s great at brainstorming versus implementing, and how to balance the workload so nobody burns out.
Finally, infusing a little fun into your routine breaks the “just another meeting” monotony and reignites everyone’s sense of purpose.
Whether it’s a quick game or a team workshop, these shared experiences create memories and inside jokes that glue teams together.
At Loving Life, we’ve seen teams go from “we barely know each other” to “that was epic” in one afternoon, proving that a few well-designed activities can kickstart more open communication, stronger bonds, and better results.
How to Measure the Success of Team Building Activities?
Measuring the impact of your team building activities doesn’t have to be guesswork, it’s all about combining quick feedback, real-world observations, and meaningful metrics.
Start with a simple before-and-after pulse check.
Ask your team to rate how comfortable they feel sharing ideas, solving problems together, or giving feedback, then compare those scores post-activity.
Watch for behavioural shifts too.
Are people pairing up more often on projects, jumping into discussions with fresh energy, or reaching out across departments?
Tie your sessions back to concrete goals.
Did customer response times improve after your communication drill?
Has the project hand-off become smoother?
After your activity, follow up with a short “what worked/what would you tweak” a week later.
By blending survey data, on-the-ground insights, and business-relevant KPIs, you’ll see not just smiles and high-fives, but real, lasting change in how your small team performs and connects.
At Loving Life, we deliver a range of workshops perfect for small groups and teams.
If you’d like to find out more, get in touch!
Tyler Lowe – Workshop Facilitator
