12 Creative Ideas for Holiday Team Building During the holiday season, team morale can be boosted, relationships strengthened, and the year’s successes celebrated. Whether your team is working remotely or in person, holiday team-building activities can help...

During the holiday season, team morale can be boosted, relationships strengthened, and the year’s successes celebrated. Whether your team is working remotely or in person, holiday team-building activities can help build relationships, improve communication, and motivate your team for the new year.

To accommodate a variety of team sizes and settings, here are 12 fun and effective holiday team-building ideas.

1. Holiday-themed virtual escape room.

A holiday-themed virtual escape room can foster teamwork and problem-solving skills. Teams must “escape” by solving festive riddles and puzzles. Plenty of companies, like Escapely, offer themed adventure packages that incorporate holiday spirit, from Christmas mysteries to winter wonderland adventures.

This experience promotes collaboration and will leave you with fun memories and shared laughter.

2. DIY holiday ornament exchange.

A DIY ornament exchange can bring everyone’s creative side to the forefront. Interested team members can create or decorate ornaments at home and bring them to the office or mail them to a colleague. This activity encourages employees to share their own stories, creativity, and holiday traditions.

Also, the most creative or festive ornaments can even be voted on in a contest.

3. Holiday cooking or baking class.

Hosting a holiday cooking or baking class can be a great way to bond and create something delicious together. For example, bring in a chef to teach your team how to make holiday treats such as gingerbread cookies, eggnog, or holiday cocktails. What’s more, you can do this activity in person or virtually.

You can add a competitive aspect and offer a prize for the best baker or chef.

4. Secret Santa with a twist.

You can add a twist to the traditional Secret Santa by setting specific themes or spending limits. For example, you could do a “DIY Secret Santa” or a “Favorite Book Exchange” for people to share books they love. Alternatively, employees can purchase small digital gifts such as e-books, subscriptions, or gift cards from a “Virtual Secret Santa.”

This can also be an affordable way to spread holiday cheer.

5. Office decoration contest.

Divide your team into small groups and let them decorate their workspace (or virtual background if remote) with a holiday theme. Organize a judging panel and provide prizes for the most creative, festive, and wintery displays.

Besides brightening up the workspace, this lets everyone express their creativity.

6. Holiday game show.

With rounds like “Holiday Movie Trivia,” “Guess the Holiday Song,” or “Name That Holiday Tradition,” you can turn holiday trivia into a fun game show. This is an excellent way for your team to get in some friendly competition over the holidays. In addition, this allows everyone to display their knowledge of the holiday season.

7. Gratitude circle.

Holding a Gratitude Circle, where everyone can share something they appreciate about their colleagues, can encourage team bonding. This is a heartwarming way to acknowledge each other’s contributions, whether you meet in person or via video call.

Want to make it more festive? The messages can be written on decorative holiday cards or notes that the team members can keep.

8. Holiday potluck (or recipe swap for remote teams).

Organizing a holiday potluck is a great way to get people together and explore each other’s culinary traditions. Alternatively, if your team is remote, you can arrange a recipe swap. After the event, consider sending everyone an e-book of recipes.

This activity encourages sharing and discovering new cuisines and allows team members to learn more about each other — specifically everyone’s holiday traditions.

9. Year-in-review awards ceremony.

With a “Year-in-Review” awards ceremony, you can recognize your team’s accomplishments and bring humor to the holidays. A fun idea might be to create categories such as “Zoom Call Superstar,” “Most Likely to Send an Email Before 7 am,” or “Best Virtual Background.” However, let team members vote for winners and present awards. You can even have fun digital certificates or funny GIFs can work for your remote team members.

This is a fun way to recognize everyone’s contributions while avoiding any holiday party embarrassments.

10. Winter charity drive.

Do you and your team want to give back during the holiday season? If so, set up a winter charity drive. For example, you could organize a virtual fundraiser for a local charity or set up donation stations in the office. Alternatively, you could collect food for a food bank, sponsor a family, or raise funds for a cause your team is passionate about.

Volunteering and making a positive impact can be a rewarding experience and create a sense of purpose as a team.

11. Holiday-themed scavenger hunt.

Put a festive spin on a classic scavenger hunt by listing holiday items for team members to find. In case your team is remote, you can set up a virtual scavenger hunt where participants search their homes for holiday items. You can, for instance, put up red and green decorations, wear cozy socks, or gift a favorite holiday mug. If you’re in the office or nearby, scatter holiday clues around.

You can use this activity to promote teamwork and problem-solving.

12. Ugly sweater day & contest.

It’s no surprise that ugly sweater contests are a holiday favorite. It’s simple, funny, and always a crowd-pleaser. As such, encourage team members to wear their most amusing or outlandish holiday sweaters. You can even hold a mini fashion show and award prizes for the “ugliest sweater,” “most creative sweater,” and “most festive sweater.”

In the end, this activity is sure to break the ice and get everyone in the holiday spirit.

Conclusion

Ending the year on a positive note is easy with holiday team-building activities. In addition to strengthening team bonds, they can celebrate your team’s achievements.

So, whether hosting a virtual game night, a meaningful charity drive, or a friendly holiday competition, your goal should be to foster inclusivity, fun, and genuine connections. By doing so, your team will be ready to face the new year like those participating in a polar plunge.

FAQs

How do I choose the right activity for my team?

When choosing a project, consider your team’s interests, size, and budget. Activities can be virtual or in-person, such as cooking classes, escape rooms, games themed around the holiday season, or volunteering.

What can I do to make everyone feel included and engaged?

• Organize activities that cater to various interests and skill levels.
• Everyone should be encouraged to participate.
• Establish a welcoming and inclusive environment.
• Take cultural differences and sensitivities into consideration.

How much does holiday team building typically cost?

Holiday team-building costs can vary greatly depending on the type, number, and location of the activities. However, activities like virtual events or volunteer work can be very affordable.

Is it possible to plan a successful virtual team-building event for the holiday season?

• Choose a platform that is easy to use, like Zoom, Around, or Google Meet.
• Identify engaging activities that work well in a virtual environment, such as online trivia games or virtual scavenger hunts.
• Don’t wait until the last minute to test your technology.
• Participation and interaction should be encouraged.
• It might be a good idea to send out gifts or treats themed around the holidays.

What is the best time to schedule a holiday team-building activity?

Depending on the type of activity you choose and your team’s schedule, you should schedule a holiday team-building activity during the holiday season. However, avoiding scheduling activities during peak holiday seasons is generally best.

Image Credit: RDNE Stock project; Pexels

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