25 Fun Trust-Building Activities to Use at Work in 2025 | Leave a comment

Are you sometimes aware that your team is working side by side, but not truly together?

Have you seen that the best employees can struggle to work together in the absence of trust?

In this day and age, the real connections and trust that teams build is essential, but can also be harder to connect to each other than before.

When teammates don’t trust each other, the lines of communication can break down, creativity can stall, and stress can amplify. On a positive note, once you complete some trust building activities at work, you will find that you can turn these situations around and create an environment where everyone feels important, valued, and supported.

Why Are Trust Building Activities Important at Work?

Trust is the key ingredient in every high functioning team’s recipe for success. Without it, even the best strategies and brightest minds can’t go to work for them.

When you take responsibility for trust building activities, you are not just planning another team fun event, you are addressing real problems. For example, employees who trust one another are more likely to share ideas, reach out for help, and try new things. This can turn into more collaboration, stronger relationships, and higher morale.

By taking action with these trust games and connection exercises you can make trust, teamwork and a work environment where people look forward to coming to work.

If you are ready to strengthen relationships and create a more connected team, here are 25 fun and effective trust building activities for work in 2025.

1. Two Truths and a Lie

This classic icebreaker is a fun, lower stakes way for team members to get to know one another and builds trust.

Step-by-step:

• Gather your group in a circle (this can be in-person or virtually).
• Each individual will have to come up with two true things and one false thing about themself.
• One at a time, each individual says their three statements to the group.
• The rest of the group discusses and tries to guess which one is a lie.
• After everyone has a guess, the individual lets the group know the correct answer.

Example: Someone says, “I have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, I speak three languages, and I am allergic to chocolate.” Then the group votes, and the person reveals the truth.

Action item: At the end of the game, open up a discussion with your group about what surprised you or was interesting. You can use these new insights to catalyze discussion and buzzy ideas and help reduce barriers between your team members.

[More Ideas and Examples for Two Truths and One Lie]

2. Trust Fall

A trust game that is tried and true, the trust fall has one person fall backwards, trusting their peer to safely catch them.

Step-by-step:

• Have teammates pair off with one person behind the other, facing the same direction.
• The front person puts their arms across their chest and keeps their body straight.
• On the count of three, the front person falls backwards, trusting the person behind them to catch them securely.
• Switch roles so each person can take a turn.

Example: Jane stands in front of Mike, closes her eyes, and lets herself fall, trusting that Mike will catch her safely.

Action Item: Debrief after everyone has had a turn, and ask each person what it felt like to trust and to be trusted. Reflect on how this experience can be applied to our daily work experience, such as delegating responsibilities, or being honest with our colleagues in giving feedback.

3. Blindfold Obstacle Course

This activity helps team members learn to trust each other and improve their verbal communication skills.

Step-by-Step:

• Create an obstacle course using chairs, cones, or anything else in your office.
• Pair up participants. One person will be blindfolded, while the other becomes their “guide”.
• The guide must give verbal instructions to their correspondence only.
• Once the course is finished, the partners switch roles.

Example: Sarah is blindfolded and John guides her beside a chair, under a table, and through a series of cones, using only his voice.

Action Item: Debrief after the activity to discuss what made the instructions easy or difficult (or both) to follow. Discuss how this can relate to the workplace and how being specific and articulate, and having patience can determine whether others understand what is expected of them.

4. Human Knot

This icebreaker game provides bonding opportunities and is a good team builder. It’s helpful for collaboration and problem solving.

Step-by-Step:

• Have everyone stand in a circle.
• Each participant must reach across the circle with a different hand and grab another participant’s hand (they cannot grab the hand of the two participants sitting next to them).
• The group must then work together to untie themselves, and end up in a perfect circle, without letting go of each other’s hands.

Example: The group twists, turns, and steps over each other, while laughing and communicating, until the knot is untied!

Action Item: As a group, reflect on how you worked together. Did you all listen to each other? Did anyone emerge as a leader? Discuss how these social dynamics tend to happen in your everyday teamwork.

5. Office Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is a fun way to get employees moving, collaborating, and working toward a common goal.

Step-by-Step:

• Identify clues or hidden items around the office (or virtual).
• Separate the group into teams of 2-4 with participants from different departments if possible.
• Teams will race to solve all the clues and find the items in a pre-determined amount of time.
• The first team to complete all of the clues or find the most items wins.

Example: Find a stapler, a red pen, and something that represents our company values. Teams will have to come together and communicate with each other to win.

Action item: After the scavenger hunt it is helpful to have everyone come back together and reflect on fun stories and discoveries. Make sure to celebrate all teams in the end to reinforce value in fun and teamwork.

6. Minefield

This trust-building activity builds trust and communication.

Step-by-Step:

• Scatter “mines” (such as cones, balls of paper, or some other object) around a room or large area.
• Each participant is in pairs; one participant is blindfolded and the other participant needs to verbally instruct them to avoid the mines.
• The participant who is instructing cannot touch the blindfolded participant or the mines.
• After each round the partners will switch.

Example: Tom did a great job listening and processing Maria’s verbal instructions to avoid obstacles he could not see to learn to trust her instructions.

Action item: After the activity, debrief around these themes—what strategies worked well; how to guide someone, how to listen to someone when they are guiding you, and how teams can work together to solve a problem or work through a challenge at work.

7. Show and Tell

This activity provides an opportunity for employees to share something significant and/or meaningful to them.

Step-by-Step:

• Ahead of time, ask team members to bring an item from their desk or home that has meaning for them.
• As everyone is sharing their item and meaning, allow for questions or comments after each person’s presentation.

Example: Lisa shares a picture of her dog and how he helps her escape and unwind, and destress after a long tough day at work.

Action Item: Use this as a regular meeting opener to continue to build connections over time, and also help team members to get to know one another as whole people not just simply co-workers.

8. Personality Assessments

Understanding other people’s work styles can be helpful to build better work relations, and minimize conflicts.

Step-By-Step:

• Choose a personality assessment to use (Myers-Briggs; DiSC; Strengths Finder).
• Each team member to complete the assessment and their results.
• Have a meeting where everyone can share their results and discuss what they learned about themselves and others.
• Discuss how different personalities work together for each other’s benefit.

Example: The team discovered they had a mix of introverts and extroverts which confirmed their styles of communication.

Action Item: Use what you learned about each others personal work styles to assign roles in projects that leverage personal strengths, and encourage a respect for each others personal work style preference.

9. Escape Room Challenge

An escape room can really be an intense trust exercise that relies on collaboration and creative problem solving.

Step-By-Step:

• Book an escape room (physical or virtual for remote teams).
• Split the team into small groups and review the rules, e.g. to “escape” you have to find and solve puzzles/riddles in a time limit.
• Encourage all members to be involved, and feel comfortable to be open.
• Debrief after the challenge to find out what strategies did work, who stepped up into leadership styles, and how the team was able to manage the stress.

Example: The team has to find the hidden clues and unlock a door before the timer runs out.

Action item: Discuss how those skills for team work and problem-solving can be used in their real work projects and installations.

10. Lunch Roulette

Change up the normal lunch activities and shake it up to develop new connections.

Step-by-Step:

• Use a scheduled application or way to randomly pair people to have lunch with one another face to face and virtually.
• Encourage participants to talk about other aspects of life that might interest them about the lunch mate, vacation, hobbies, or family.
• Keep switching lunch partners so every employee will have a chance to spend lunch with a different co-worker.

Example: Mark is the IT tech and Susan is the HR advisor, but while having lunch together they discover they both love to hike.

Action Item: After around four turns, ask participants to share with the group one new thing that they discovered about a co-worker. This will help breakdown any silos, and build trust across the team.

11. Compliment Circle

Try and create a positive space by getting the team to call out strengths in one another.

Step-by-Step:

• Ask the group to either sit or stand in a circle.
• Each employee gives a thoughtful compliment to the person on their right.
• Continue this process until each employee has complimented each other.
• You could use a different prompt, such as: “Share a time this person supported you at work.”

Example: “I appreciate how you always keep us organized and on point.”

Action Item: Make this ritual a monthly thing. This reinforces appreciation and will build trust. Perhaps you could also encourage employees to note the specific things that their teammates do to impact them in their daily work.

12. Problem Solving Workshops

Coming together as a team to collaborate to address real work challenges and issues.

Step-by-Step:

• Identify a problem or challenge you’re working on.
• Break into groups to brainstorm the problem and develop a possible solution.
• Bring all groups together to present to the whole group.
• Discuss in the group the ideas, vote on the best ideas, and together develop an action plan for implementation.

Example: The marketing team meets to brainstorm possible ways for the team to improve the social media engagement and they decide to combine the best ideas into a social media plan.

Action Item: Acknowledge the contribution of everyone, and to action the action plan and to follow up, and also acknowledgement of everyone’s contribution. This will demonstrate the value of everyone’s input, and demonstrate that employee input resulted in real change.

13. Volunteer Together

Volunteering together as a team is a great way to enhance your relationships and build cohesiveness.

Step-by-Step:

• Survey the team on a issue or cause they are passionate about.
• Organize a volunteer day/event possibly serving meals at a food bank, or cleaning up a local park, or perhaps organizing a charity drive at work.
• Make sure that everyone participated in the event, and to spend time working alongside each other.

Example: The team spends an afternoon planting trees in a local park, and they also got to enjoy a bonding experience, which had more purpose.

Action Item: Once the team is finished volunteering, reflect on the experience, and how working together as a team outside of the office helped to develop trust and stronger relationships.

14. Listening Sessions

Encouraging people to share their stories creates empathy and makes stronger connections.

Step-by-Step:

• Ask everyone in the team to prepare a very short story about a time they overcame a challenge, feeling proud, or learning something at work.
• In a meeting, let every person share their story.
• Allow for people to practice active listening while stories are shared—no phones, no side conversations.
• After each story, take comments and/or questions of support.

Example: Emily stated she overcame fear of public speaking. At the end, you may find others will be encouraged to be brave in their own challenges.

Action Item: Begin using storytelling as a regular agenda item, and continuing to develop trust and understanding. Consider rotating themes to keep the practice interesting.

[11 Active Listening Exercises to Become A Better Listener]

15. Group Goal Setting

Aligning a team together on a common goal can be a significant activity for building trust.

Step-by-Step:

• Get your team gather together and have them work together to develop some possible big picture, quarterly, or annual goals.
• Work together to develop a group goal that everyone on the team is excited to work toward.
• Work together again to chunk out the smaller elements of each quarter that lead with the group goal and assign it together.
• Have regular check-ins about progress, and talk about how the team might celebrate milestones along the way.

Example: A sales team developing a group goal to grow the revenue by 20% and planning for it through chunking out specific actions and shared responsibilities.

Action Item: Put that group goal in a communal space that every staff can see, as well as celebrating the milestones along the way so that everyone can reflect on the collective accomplishment.

16. Trivia

Hosting a fun trivia game in the office is a quick and easy way to build morale and team continuity.

Step-by-Step:

• Develop some trivia questions about the company, about the industry, or even about fun facts related to your team members.

• Split the team into pairs or small groups and see which team can answer the most trivia questions correctly.
• Consider offering a small prize to the winning team.
• As a bonus, let team members submit trivia questions about themselves for an extra personal touch.

Example: “Who started working here in 2012?” or “Which team member has completed a marathon?”

Action Item: Use trivia as a recurring team-building activity to keep things fresh and fun. This helps employees learn more about each other and creates a lighter, more connected atmosphere.

17. Team Wellness Challenge

Exercise can increase morale and build trust.

Step-by-Step:

• Choose a fitness option that everyone can participate in, such as a step challenge, yoga session, or group walk.
• Create a team goal (e.g., total steps in a month) and track the progress in a visible way (like a chart in a break room or a shared digital tracker).
• Encourage fun, friendly competition and support among team members.

Example: The team splits into groups and competes to see which group can log the most steps in a week. As they log their steps, they cheer each other on in a group chat or text thread.

Action Item: Be inclusive of all ability levels when it comes to fitness and celebrate participation rather than just results. Keep motivation high by acknowledging milestones and encouraging everyone to join in.

18. Feedback Swap

Giving and receiving feedback is essential for building trust, but it can be challenging.

Step-by-Step:

• Pair team members and have them swap feedback on a recent project, team interaction, or work exchange.
• Provide a simple feedback structure, such as: “Start, Stop, Continue.” This keeps feedback focused and actionable.
• Allow time for each partner to discuss and listen actively.
• Emphasize that the feedback is meant for growth and support, not criticism.

Example: “I think it’s awesome that you consistently meet deadlines (Continue). I would like to see you share your ideas in meetings (Start). Perhaps we both need to quit multitasking while on calls (Stop).”

Action Item: Follow up after the feedback session to check in and see how the feedback is being implemented, while also reinforcing a culture of quality and open communication.

19. Creative Collaboration

Spark creativity from your team through a collaborative activity!

Steps to create a collaborative project:

• Decide on a collaborative project, such as a mural, vision board, or digital collage that represents your team’s values, mission, or goals.
• Mobilize who is going to do what (if applicable) and invite everyone to express their ideas and use their unique skills.
• Collaborate through a few sessions so that creativity and teamwork can flourish.
• Showcase the results in a shared space or digitally.

Example: The team puts together a vision board for the year using pictures and words to depict the visions, hopes, and desires of the team.

Action Item: Use the project in collaborative sessions (like stand-up meetings) to help the team stay connected to their mission and remind everyone of the power of working together.

20. Appreciations Board

A visual representation of appreciation can be powerful for building trust.

Steps to create an appreciation board:

• Set up a space (either a whiteboard in the office or a digital board) where team members can post notes of appreciation and recognition for each other.
• Encourage everyone to recognize each other for help on projects, good attitudes, or any positive actions.

Example: Someone writes, “Thanks to Alex for jumping in last minute to help create the client presentation!” or “Shout out to Priya for always carrying the team with positivity and motivation!”

Action Item: Read a few notes from the appreciation board at the beginning of team meetings or in a group chat. Rotate the responsibility to promote participation and keep the energy up. Make this a consistent practice to build trust and gratitude.

21. Mystery Problem

Turn up the excitement and put your team’s problem-solving skills to the test!

Step-by-Step:

• Introduce either a real or imaginary problem to the group, but keep the details vague at first.
• Split into small groups and provide each with a set of resources or limitations.
• Set a time limit (15-30 minutes) for each group to create a creative solution and present it to the group.
• Vote on the most creative or effective idea.

Example: “You are stranded on a desert island. All you have to signal for help is a rope, a mirror, and a box of matches. How do you sustain yourself and signal for help?”

Action Item: Discuss the different approaches taken and share what each team learned about collaboration and creative thinking. Relate this back to how teams can tackle unexpected challenges at work.

22. Role Reversal

Stepping into someone else’s shoes fosters empathy and understanding.

Step-by-Step:

• Form pairs and have each member switch jobs or tasks for a set time (an hour, half a day, or a specific project).
• Each person shadows their partner, learning about their daily responsibilities and challenges.
• Afterward, each person reports back about their experience and any changes in perspective.

Example: A marketing specialist shadows a customer service rep to better understand client needs, while the rep gains insight into campaign planning.

Action Item: In a group discussion, share what was surprising or difficult about the activity. Use these insights to improve collaboration and appreciation within the team.

23. Group Meditation or Mindfulness Experience

Mindfulness practices are shown to reduce stress and create group cohesion.

Step-by-Step:

• Schedule a short (5-10 minute) guided meditation or mindfulness activity at the beginning or end of a meeting.
• Use a mindfulness app, a YouTube video, or invite a local instructor to lead the session.
• Encourage everyone to participate, but make it optional for those who are new to mindfulness.

Example: The team closes their eyes and focuses on their breath, letting go of distractions and preparing for the day ahead.

Action Item: Ask team members to share how they feel afterward. Consider using mindfulness sessions as regular check-ins for emotional wellness, friendship, and trust.

24. Team Book Club

Learning together helps build new friendships and conversations.

Step-by-Step:

• Select a book for the team to read—something on personal development, leadership, or your industry—and create a reading schedule.
• Schedule regular meetings (monthly, biweekly) to discuss key takeaways and how they connect to your work.
• Rotate who chooses the book and leads the discussion so everyone is involved.

Example: The team reads “The Culture Code” and discusses how its lessons could create a more sustainable workplace.

Action Item: Encourage everyone to share their honest perspectives and apply takeaways to real team challenges. At the end of each book, select the next one together.

25. Build Something Together

Collaborative, hands-on projects can generate goodwill and lasting trust.

Step-by-Step:

• Find a project everyone can participate in—such as assembling office furniture, creating a community garden, or completing a large puzzle.
• Assign roles based on interests or rotate tasks so everyone gets a chance to contribute.
• Set a timeline and goal, and work together to complete the project.

Example: The team builds a bookshelf for the break room, with each member responsible for a specific step (measuring, building, painting, etc.).

Action Item: Celebrate the completed project with a team picture and display it proudly. Reflect on how working together on a physical task helped build trust and camaraderie.

Final Thoughts on Team Building Activities at Work

Trust does not happen overnight; however, it can be built on a daily basis if you consciously create opportunities and activities to enable it. Focusing on trust-building activities in the workplace will help foster a culture of trust, enhance teamwork, and create a safe space for people to share their brightest work potential.

Remember, the best teams are not made of the most skilled or experienced people, but of those who genuinely support and trust each other. Try just one or two of the trust-building activities you read about in the workplace this week and see how your team’s connection and performance increase!

Take action this week: Choose one activity for your team, invite them to participate, and start laying the foundation of trust that you can take into 2025 and beyond.