7 Team-Building Activities for Remote and In-Person Teams

Choose a team-building activity around the time you have, who wants to take part, and whether people can join together. These seven ideas include activities for a short meeting, an asynchronous Slack channel, or a longer team session.

The times and group sizes below are suggested starting points. Keep participation optional and adjust the activity for accessibility, time zones, and your team's preferences.

Seven activities at a glance

1. Group storytelling

Start with a sentence such as “The team's new office had one unexpected feature.” Each person adds one or two sentences, then passes the story along.

For a live session, give everyone one turn and read the finished story. In Slack, use a thread and an agreed order, with a longer response window so people in different time zones can join.

Preparation: One opening sentence and a clear end point. Let people pass if they would rather listen.

2. Escape-room puzzles

Use a set of puzzles with one shared objective. Divide a larger team into small groups so everyone has room to contribute. Choose a format the group can access without a complicated setup.

Agree how long to spend on each puzzle and when hints become available. Leave a few minutes at the end to discuss which approaches helped the group.

Preparation: A puzzle set or provider, any required booking, and a check of accessibility and device requirements. Follow the provider's actual duration rather than assuming every escape room fits a short meeting.

3. A short guided pause

Invite willing participants to take five minutes away from their usual work. Offer a simple pause, stretch, or quiet reflection, with the option to keep cameras off or step away.

Keep it optional and avoid presenting the activity as a treatment or a test of participation. It works best as a break within a longer session.

Preparation: Explain the format in advance and provide a comfortable alternative for anyone who does not want to join.

4. Group puzzle

Choose a word puzzle, visual puzzle, or short set of clues. Give the group a shared place to work and enough time for everyone to suggest an approach.

In Slack, post the puzzle and keep guesses in a thread. Reveal the answer after a stated response window rather than rewarding only the first person online.

Preparation: Check the answer and any permissions needed to share the puzzle. Choose a format that does not depend on specialist knowledge unless that is the point of the session.

5. Team mini-games

Run two or three short rounds, such as an emoji riddle, a caption challenge, and a trivia question. Explain the rules before each round and use simple scoring if the group wants competition.

For hybrid teams, choose activities remote colleagues can participate in equally. Avoid a physical activity in the office becoming a spectator event for everyone on a call.

Preparation: A few prompts, a facilitator, and a clear time limit. A 30-minute session could use three five-minute rounds with time for introductions and discussion.

6. Virtual museum discussion

Choose an online collection people can browse. Ask each participant to find one object or image and explain what caught their attention.

A prompt such as “Find something you would put in our team room” gives people a starting point. For an asynchronous version, share links and short explanations in a Slack thread over a day or two.

Preparation: An accessible collection, a prompt, and permission for people to contribute in writing rather than speaking.

7. Icebreakers and trivia

Post one question in an opt-in channel. Use an icebreaker when you want conversation and trivia when the group enjoys a quiz. Give people enough time to answer around their work.

A useful icebreaker might be “What is one small tool or habit that makes your work easier?” For trivia, choose topics that vary across rounds so the same knowledge area does not dominate.

Preparation: A channel, a question, and someone responsible for the schedule. Our Slack games list includes more formats you can try.

How to choose and repeat an activity

Start with one activity and ask participants whether they would do it again. Keep the format that people enjoy and change anything that makes participation difficult.

Give recurring activities an owner and a manageable cadence. Look at participation and feedback, without treating attendance as proof of stronger collaboration or better performance.

For new hires, activities can provide an introduction to colleagues alongside a structured onboarding program. They work best when the new hire also has clear responsibilities, useful resources, and someone to ask for help.