15 surprisingly fun ways to build stronger connections at work

Building connections at work doesn’t have to feel forced or awkward. These creative ideas will help you spark relationships no matter where your team is — at their desks, on Zoom or somewhere in between.

1. Host a "bring your talent" showcase

Give your team the stage to share their hidden talents and build camaraderie through creativity.

• Objective: Celebrate individuality and uncover shared interests.
• How to do it: Organize a monthly virtual or in-person session where employees can sing, paint, do magic tricks or showcase unique hobbies.
• How to know if it’s working: People talk about each other’s talents beyond the event and seek out connections based on common interests.

2. Create a "no work talk" coffee roulette

Pair people for casual, 15-minute chats where work is off the table.

• Objective: Build trust through personal connections.
• How to do it: Pair teammates randomly weekly or bi-weekly. Share prompts like "What’s your favorite childhood memory?"
• How to know if it’s working: Employees engage more openly in meetings and reference personal conversations in follow-ups.

3. Start a "team mixtape" tradition

Music brings people together, so why not make music a workplace bonding tool?

• Objective: Create a shared culture through music.
• How to do it: Create a collaborative playlist for the team where everyone can add their favorite songs. You can theme it for seasons, moods or big projects.
• How to know if it’s working: Employees use the playlist as a conversation starter ("Who added that awesome track?"), and it becomes the team's go-to soundtrack.

4. Hold a virtual scavenger hunt

Turn everyday life into a game that sparks connection and laughter.

• Objective: Break the monotony of meetings and encourage collaboration.
• How to do it: Create a list of items or challenges, like "find something that reminds you of your favorite vacation," and have people share in a group call.
• How to know if it’s working: Teams laugh together, share personal stories and actively request more creative activities like this.

5. Launch a "snack exchange" program

Discover your coworkers’ favorite snacks while trying something new.

• Objective: Have fun and foster curiosity about each other’s preferences.
• How to do it: Pair people up to mail (or drop off) their favorite snacks to each other. Create a Slack channel for reviews and reactions.
• How to know if it’s working: People rave about their snack deliveries and ask for recommendations outside the exchange.

6. Set up a "mystery teammate Q&A"

Get to know your colleagues better with a game of intrigue.

• Objective: Encourage curiosity and meaningful conversations.
• How to do it: Share fun facts about one mystery team member each week and have the team guess who it is. End with a live Q&A session with the mystery teammate.
• How to know if it’s working: The Q&A sparks ongoing conversations and leads to more collaboration across teams.

7. Organize "swap-your-skill" workshops

Let your team teach and learn from each other in relaxed settings.

• Objective: Build respect and appreciation for teammates’ diverse skills.
• How to do it: Ask employees to volunteer to teach skills, such as baking, coding or meditation. Hold the workshops during lunch or virtual happy hours.
• How to know if it’s working: Employees look forward to these sessions and reference what they’ve learned during regular work conversations.

8. Celebrate "micro wins" with a twist

Ditch the generic shoutouts and personalize celebrations to make celebrations meaningful.

• Objective: Recognize achievements in a way that feels genuine.
• How to do it: Have teammates share quirky facts about themselves, like their favorite candy or a dream they’ve always had. Use these tidbits to plan small, personalized celebrations.
• How to know if it’s working: When recognized, team members visibly light up and reciprocate by celebrating others.

9. Host a "pet parade" for remote workers

Nothing brings smiles like animals showing off their charm on camera.

• Objective: Add joy and personal connection to virtual meetings.
• How to do it: Dedicate a meeting or happy hour to showcasing everyone’s pets. No pet? Share a favorite stuffed animal or a funny photo of an animal you love.
• How to know if it’s working: In follow-ups, people mention coworkers’ pets and share more about their lives.

10. Build a team "bucket list"

Dream big together and create connections over shared aspirations.

• Objective: Inspire collaboration and personal goal-setting.
• How to do it: Have everyone contribute one bucket list item to a shared list. Then, as a team, work toward helping each other achieve your goals.
• How to know if it’s working: Employees actively support each other’s goals and share progress updates.

11. Design a "team gratitude wall"

Turn appreciation into a visible, ongoing activity.

• Objective: Encourage positivity and acknowledgment.
• How to do it: Use tools like Miro for virtual teams or a physical board for in-office teams. Let people write notes of gratitude or shoutouts for others to see.
• How to know if it’s working: The wall fills up quickly, and employees check it regularly for new notes.

12. Launch a "story swap" series

Connect through storytelling that’s both fun and vulnerable.

• Objective: Build empathy and stronger bonds.
• How to do it: Assign themes like “your most embarrassing moment” or “a life-changing decision.” Have volunteers share their stories during meetings.
• How to know if it’s working: Participants engage with the stories and reflect on them in future conversations.

13. Play “the emoji challenge” in Slack

Turn emoji use into a quick, team-building game.

• Objective: Break the ice and boost Slack engagement.
• How to do it: Post a random emoji each week and challenge employees to share photos or stories related to it. For example, 🍕 could spark pizza memories or recipes.
• How to know if it’s working: The channel stays active, and coworkers joke about each other’s emoji-inspired posts.

14. Create a "team recipe book"

Share culture and community through food.

• Objective: Build connections through shared meals and traditions.
• How to do it: Ask employees to submit their favorite recipes. Compile them into a PDF or physical book and share it with the team.
• How to know if it’s working: Employees try each other’s recipes and bond over food stories.

15. Learn together

Group learning sessions create shared knowledge and build a common language across the team.

• Objective: Encourage collaboration and build deeper connections.
• How to do it: Host a series of live learning events like workshops, webinars or book clubs where the team explores a topic together. 
• How to know if it’s working: Employees reference what they learned in conversations, align better during projects and use the same frameworks or phrases from the sessions.

Building connections takes creativity, but it pays off with stronger teams and better work. Start with one idea, and watch the relationships grow.

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