6 Games to Create a More Connected and Fun Work Culture
6 Games to Create a More Connected
and Fun Work Culture
Imagine walking into work and feeling not just productive, but excited to connect with your team every day. Workplace culture doesn't have to be built around one-off events or formal team-building days. What if you could infuse your daily routine with playful activities that bring out the best in your team and celebrate each other’s contributions, every single day?
Gamifying the workplace provides a fun and dynamic way to do just that. By incorporating simple, engaging activities that encourage appreciation, collaboration, and creativity, you can build a stronger, more connected team while boosting morale and productivity. Below are 6 simple, engaging game ideas designed to build a stronger, more connected team while boosting morale and productivity.
1. The Appreciation Wheel
One of the most effective ways to foster a positive workplace culture is through regular expressions of appreciation. A fun way to integrate this is by introducing an Appreciation Wheel, which can be either physical or virtual.
How it works: The wheel is divided into segments, each with a prompt encouraging appreciation among team members. Prompts could include "Tell someone how they helped you this week," "Share a quality you admire in a teammate," or "Give a public shoutout in the group chat." Spin the wheel at the start of the day or during meetings, and employees earn points each time they complete a prompt.
Why it works: Appreciation is a powerful motivator. By embedding it into a game, it becomes part of the daily routine, fostering a culture where employees feel valued and recognized for their contributions.
2. Connection Dice
Create a dice game that’s all about building connections. The Connection Dice adds an element of surprise and spontaneity to team interactions.
How it works: Each side of the dice corresponds to a different connection task. For example:
1: Share a recent win with a coworker.
2: Ask someone what they love about their current project.
3: Learn something new about a colleague.
4: Offer to help someone with a task.
5: Share a creative idea for improving the workplace.
6: Engage in a quick brainstorming session with someone.
The dice can be rolled during breaks or at the start of the day. Employees earn points for completing tasks, and those points can contribute to individual or team rewards.
Why it works: This game fosters meaningful interactions that might not happen organically. By prompting employees to engage in deeper conversations, the Connection Dice strengthens relationships and encourages a more collaborative culture.
3. Daily Kudos Challenge
Start each day with a small but impactful challenge aimed at spreading positivity through your team with the Daily Kudos Challenge.
How it works: Each employee randomly selects a challenge at the start of the day. These challenges might include:
Compliment a coworker on their work.
Help someone solve a problem.
Give unexpected praise to someone you haven’t spoken to recently.
Employees have until the end of the day to complete their challenge, earning points for each one accomplished. Over time, these points can accumulate toward team rewards such as lunch outings or group activities.
Why it works: This game is a simple way to get employees into the habit of acknowledging each other’s efforts, creating a more supportive environment.
4. High-Five Frenzy
For an energy boost that encourages quick, fun interactions, introduce the High-Five Frenzy.
How it works: Set a five-minute window each day during which employees must give as many high-fives as possible. Each high-five should be accompanied by a positive comment, whether it’s work-related or simply something encouraging. The goal is to spread a burst of positivity in a short amount of time.
Why it works: High-fives may seem trivial, but they foster camaraderie, create energy, and encourage positive interactions. It’s a fun, quick way to build a sense of connection.
5. Twister Icebreaker
Turn an office classic, Twister, into an engaging icebreaker with a workplace twist.
How it works: Each colour on the Twister mat represents a different fun prompt related to work culture or personal interests. For example:
Red: Share a fun fact about yourself.
Green: Highlight a recent team achievement.
Blue: Share something you’ve learned this week.
Yellow: Ask someone for their perspective on a challenge you're facing.
This game works well as a meeting starter or during team-building sessions, offering a lighthearted way to break down barriers and get people talking.
Why it works: The physicality and fun of Twister combined with work-related prompts create a playful atmosphere where people can connect without feeling like they’re in a typical “team-building” exercise.
6. Secret Recognition
Building strong team connections often starts with acknowledging each other’s contributions. The Secret Recognition game adds an element of mystery to this process.
How it works: Employees are assigned a “secret buddy” for the week, and throughout the week, they perform small, anonymous acts of kindness or recognition. This could be leaving a thank-you note, grabbing a coffee for someone, or sending a kind message. At the end of the week, employees guess who their secret buddy was, adding a layer of intrigue to the game.
Why it works: Acts of kindness, when done consistently, can transform a workplace culture. This game encourages people to look out for one another and shows that recognition doesn’t have to be formal to be meaningful.
Incorporating playful elements like these into your workplace can have a profound impact on team dynamics and overall culture. By gamifying simple activities, you make connection and appreciation part of the daily routine. Whether it’s through high-fives, secret recognition, or a dice game that sparks meaningful conversations, these playful strategies offer an accessible way to enhance collaboration, engagement, and team spirit.
A culture of play doesn’t just make work more enjoyable—it makes teams more connected, motivated, and invested in each other’s success. So, go ahead and roll the dice, spin the wheel, and let the games begin!
Ready to take it further? Our Leadership Games Playbook is packed with even more ideas to supercharge communication, collaboration, and creativity at work. Download the full playbook here and get ready to play your way to a more innovative and connected culture!
If you’re thinking it’s time to create a more collaborative, innovative, and connected workplace, let’s chat! I’d love to show you how play can take your team to the next level. Book a call today to discuss how I can help you bring these tools into your workplace—and transform the way your team works together.
