Do you want to boost your employees’ work performance? Try team building Activities for building trust. Trust is a crucial building block that encourages people to open up and rely on each other.

Depending on your company’s goals, there are plenty of ways to help your employees build trust. In this guide, we’ll explore ten effective team building activities for building trust that any team can try. 

Let’s first understand the role that trust plays in organizations.

1. How Can Team-building Activities For Building Trust Play a Vital Role in an Organization?

1.1. Builds Resilience

Trust creates a healthy environment for employees to take measured risks and adapt to changing industry needs. They feel empowered to experiment more and learn from their mistakes to improve their workflows and keep up with the competition.

1.2. Increases Employee Engagement

Studies show that employees who trust their colleagues experience less stress and can devote more energy to productivity. Because of this, they are happier with what they do and remain very engaged at the workplace and even in their personal lives. This level of satisfaction pushes them to perform better and devote their energy to what they do.

1.3. Reduces Workspace Conflicts

Employees are more likely to respect the decisions of colleagues they can trust. This also makes it easier for them to help each other out. Along with improved communication, these significantly reduce workplace conflicts.

1.4. Fosters Team Bonding

Employees who trust each other feel comfortable relying on each other and collaborating on complex projects. They don’t fear approaching colleagues for help, and they develop a bond and a sense of belonging with the team.

1.5. Promotes Open Communication

When employees trust each other, it positively affects the overall work environment. This encourages employees to provide honest input and ask more questions at work, further improving their work performance.

2. Top Team Building Activities For Building Trust

2.1. Trust Falls

Trust Falls involve teammates catching each other before they hit the ground—quite literally. To conduct a trust fall Activity, start by splitting up into groups of 5 or 8. Then, assign one person in each group to wear a blindfold while the rest of their teammates form a circle around them. When everyone is ready, the person wearing the blindfold must fall on their back, and their teammates’ task is to catch them.

Trust falls are classic for a reason—they are some of the best team building activities for building trust. The person falling must be confident that their teammates will catch them, which is a very effective, even moving, display of faith. It can form a starting point for employees to be more at ease with their coworkers. 

This activity doesn’t involve much prep work or additional equipment, which means it is very easy to arrange. The best part is that it works for teams of any size.

2.2. Escape Room Challenges

Escape room challenges involve forming groups of four or more to solve puzzles and uncover clues to get out of where you are trapped. These challenges are timed and must be completed within 30 or 60 minutes, depending on their design. They are also themed, with popular escape rooms built around prison break and museum heist concepts. You don’t have to do much for logistics except to book a venue and transport your team on the day. In case you bave distributed teams, virtual escape rooms are a great idea as well.

Escape rooms allow for a lot of close interaction and require teams to work together to succeed. They’re great for bringing out the leadership skills in people, too. It requires players to take initiative, which is something they can also bring to the workplace. It also encourages teamwork and communication as players improve their analytical and problem-solving skills.

2.3. Two Truths and a Lie

Two Truths and a Lie is a fantastic icebreaker activity, allowing team members to share personal information in a fun and non-threatening way. This can help break down initial barriers and create a more comfortable atmosphere. Each member of your team takes turns stating three statements, two of which are true, while the third one is a lie. The rest of the team has to guess which one is the lie. Of course, there must be a set time limit given to those guessing.

By participating in the game, individuals are willingly making themselves a bit vulnerable. This can encourage others to reciprocate and build trust by sharing their own truths and lies.

2.4. Human Knot Challenge

The Human Knot challenge is a team-building activity that can significantly enhance trust within groups. In this game, participants form a tight-knit circle, interlocking their arms with one another, and then work together to untangle themselves without letting go. To do this, start by dividing your team into groups of at least six individuals. Ask each group to form a circle and stand close together. Each person must link their hands with two others in the circle, except those immediately to their right or left. Once everyone has linked hands, ask each group to unravel the circle without letting go of each other’s hands.

Success in the game depends on effective communication as team members must work together to find a solution. This encourages open dialogue and active listening, key components of trust-building.

2.5. Pinball

In this activity, participants form a circle and guide one person through its center. This will require you to form groups of at least ten individuals. Each team will randomly choose one individual and blindfold them.

The activity begins with the blindfolded member being nudged into the middle of the circle. The game continues as the blindfolded member walks around the circle. When they reach the opposite end, the person nearest them spins them around and nudges them in another direction. Everyone can take turns to be blindfolded, and there’s no set time limit.

Pinball allows participants to face the fear of losing sight and relying on everyone around them to provide guidance. When employees help each other navigate the circle successfully, it builds trust.

2.6. Board Games

Games like Twister, Apples to Apples, Scattergories, and Codenames are perfect team building activities for building trust. Simply bring a variety of options for a fun evening with all of your employees—that’s all the prep needed. 

Board games are much less tiring than physical activities, but they still allow all players to work on a wide range of skills. They are very fun and engaging, providing exciting opportunities for employees to interact in a casual environment. The more relaxed the employees feel, the more likely they are to open up. 

Giving rewards to winners can make game night more exciting. Additionally, it is best to provide enough snacks and drinks to keep everyone fueled for hours of play.

2.7. Flip Over

Flip Over involves dividing your employees into smaller groups and making them stand on a tarp or a sheet of plastic. The groups must proceed to flip the tarp or plastic without setting their foot off the material.

The complicated nature of Flip Over makes it one of the best team building activities for building trust. The activity requires a lot of coordination and cannot be completed without the participants cooperating, communicating, and listening to each other. It makes good practice for healthy communication in the workplace.

2.8. Touch the Can

Touch the Can is a simple activity that doesn’t require many props, preparation, or space. You only need eight participants and a can. You can begin the activity by forming groups and asking the members to place the can at the center of the circle. Then, ask everyone to touch the can with one finger. One by one, ask each participant to touch the can with another part of their body. Keep the game going until everyone in the circle is touching the can differently.

Similar to Flip Over, Touch the Can requires the participants to be creative with their solutions. They must also communicate with each other and be comfortable with communicating, even when it’s about something silly. Employees can also learn more about each other’s communication styles, which will improve camaraderie.

2.9. Blind Trail

The Blind Trail is like a blindfolded obstacle course. It takes place on an open field with various large objects as the obstacles. A rope is tied from one end of the course to the other. Once the field is set up, divide participants into groups of four or five and blindfold everyone. Arrange all team members in a line while holding onto the rope.

Each team must navigate the obstacle course with just the rope as their guide. Verbal communication and cooperation are absolutely crucial as they need to start and end the obstacle course in the same order that they began. They must also keep holding onto the rope.

The Blind Trail is a huge challenge that tests their verbal and non-verbal communication abilities. The activity provides an opportunity for teams to build healthy relationships and improve workplace dynamics.

2.10. Frostbite

The Frostbite activity involves blindfolded groups pitching a tent with the help of verbal instructions from one member who can see but not move. For this, you need to separate your employees into teams of five or six. Then, supply each group with newspapers, string, and tape dispensers. Groups must choose one member to be their guide. They cannot move at any point, as they are the ones with the frostbite. The rest of the group will be blindfolded.

When given the signal, the blindfolded members must start pitching a makeshift tent using the given items. They must do their best to follow the instructions of the non-moving “frostbit” member to win the game.

With an activity like Frostbite, your team gets first-hand experience of what it’s like to coordinate in a difficult situation. It engages listening and communication skills while developing leadership abilities.

3. FAQs

3.1. How Do You Build Trust in Your Team Activities?

To build trust in your team-building activities, make sure to give your employees a heads-up about it. Openly communicate the details of the activity and choose something that everyone will find enjoyable. Arrange food and drinks to help your employees relax as they participate in the activities.

3.2. Which Team-Building Game Is Played to Build Trust?

Some of the best team-building games for building trust are Two Truths and a Lie, Trust Falls, Pinball, Human Knot, and Frostbite.

3.3. How Do You Build Trust and Rapport in a Team?

To build trust and rapport in your team, show genuine interest in each member. Listen to your team, spend time together, and communicate freely and frequently. Create opportunities for building relationships with the help of team building activities for building trust .