15 Team-Building Activities for Communication Skills

Good team-building activities for communication skills can transform how your team works together. Today, we’re sharing 15 effective and fun activities to help you boost team communication.

What’s Coming Up

• Why Communication Is Important for Team Success
• 15 Team-Building Activities for Communication Skills
• Active Listening Exercises
• Clear Communication Exercises
• Non-Verbal Communication Exercises
• Adaptive Communication Exercises
• How Different Personalities Communicate in Teams
• Strong Teams Start with Strong Communication
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Further Reading

Why Communication Is Important for Team Success

When Google launched Project Aristotle – a study of 180 teams – their goal was to understand what makes some teams more effective than others. They considered factors like team composition, skills, and individual talent, but the findings pointed elsewhere.

The highest-performing teams weren’t necessarily the ones with the most skilled individuals, but those where members felt safe to speak up, share ideas, and acknowledge mistakes without fear of negative consequences.

This sense of psychological safety is built on clear, open, and respectful communication. When team members can share information, ask questions, and express concerns without hesitation, they’re more likely to collaborate effectively and solve problems quickly. Strong communication doesn’t just keep projects on track – it fosters trust, prevents misunderstandings, and ensures everyone feels heard, which is essential for long-term team success.

But even strong teams can run into roadblocks. Here are five common communication problems that hold teams back:

1. Information silos: When updates stay locked in certain departments or with specific people, teams face knowledge gaps and duplicated work.
2. Misinterpretation and assumptions: Unclear communication leads people to fill in the blanks – often incorrectly – causing misunderstandings, wasted effort, and frustration. This is especially common in emails and chat messages.
3. Feedback avoidance: Many people avoid giving or receiving constructive feedback. Without it, performance issues go unaddressed and team growth stalls.
4. Cross-functional barriers: Different departments use different jargon and styles. What’s obvious to marketing may be unclear to engineering, slowing collaboration.
5. Virtual vs. in-person differences: Remote and hybrid teams must navigate the unique challenges of digital communication. A 2023 study found that 50-minute video meetings cause more brain fatigue than in-person ones.

While these challenges are common, they’re not inevitable. With the right team-building activities, you can strengthen communication, build trust, and create a culture where information flows freely and misunderstandings are rare.

15 Team-Building Activities for Communication Skills

The following team-building activities for communication skills are designed to address different communication challenges. We’ve organized them into categories based on the skills they develop.

Each activity includes simple instructions, what you’ll need, and what your team will learn. You can choose activities that target your team’s specific needs or mix them to build well-rounded communication skills across your team.

Active Listening Exercises

Active listening is about fully concentrating on what someone is saying rather than just passively hearing their words. These exercises help team members become better listeners.

1. Detailed Storytelling

Materials needed: Timer, storytelling prompts

Instructions:

1. Divide the team into pairs.
2. One person in each pair receives a storytelling prompt about a work-related scenario (for example, “Tell about a time when a small miscommunication led to bigger problems”).
3. The storyteller speaks for two or three minutes, including as many specific details as possible.
4. The listener must pay close attention without taking notes.
5. After the story, the listener must retell the story with as many accurate details as possible.
6. The original storyteller provides feedback on what details were captured correctly and what was missed.
7. Partners switch roles with a new prompt.

Expected outcome: Team members practice focused attention and memory for details – key components of active listening. This activity also builds empathy as team members share personal experiences and feel what it’s like when someone truly listens to them.

2. Memory Circle

Materials needed: None

Instructions:

1. Have the team sit in a circle.
2. The first person makes a statement about themselves (for example, “I have two cats”).
3. The next person must repeat the previous statement and add their own (for example, “John has two cats, and I play the piano”).
4. Continue around the circle, with each person repeating all previous statements before adding their own.
5. If someone makes a mistake, the group helps them remember before continuing.

Expected outcome: This activity improves focus and memory while encouraging team members to listen carefully to each other. It also helps people learn personal details about their colleagues, building connections.

3. The Listening Trios

Materials needed: Timer, list of discussion topics

Instructions:

1. Divide the team into groups of three.
2. Assign roles: speaker, listener, and observer.
3. The speaker talks about a given topic for three minutes.
4. The listener must listen attentively and then summarize what they heard.
5. The observer provides feedback on the listener’s performance.
6. Rotate roles until everyone has played each part.

Expected outcome: Team members practice focused listening and receive direct feedback on their listening skills. They learn to concentrate on what others are saying without planning their response or interrupting.

Clear Communication Exercises

These activities focus on developing the ability to convey information clearly and concisely – a crucial skill in any workplace.

4. Jargon Jar

Materials needed: Jar or box, paper slips, pens

Instructions:

1. Set up a “Jargon Jar” in your workspace.
2. Whenever someone uses industry jargon or acronyms that might not be universally understood, they write the term on a slip of paper and put it in the jar. (Team members may also put a small amount of money in the jar, but this is optional.)
3. At team meetings, review the terms in the jar and create simple definitions that everyone understands.
4. If your team is collecting money in the jar, use it for a team event or charity.

Expected outcome: Team members become more aware of specialized language that might exclude others. The team develops a shared vocabulary that everyone understands, improving cross-functional communication.

5. Instruction Relay

Materials needed: Simple task instructions (like building a paper airplane), materials for the task

Instructions:

1. Divide your team into groups of four or five people.
2. Give the first person in each group the full instructions for completing a simple task.
3. That person must verbally explain the task and give the full instructions step by step to the second person without showing them the written notes. Make sure that the rest of the group cannot hear these instructions. (Hint: You can increase the difficulty by not sharing the goal of the task.)
4. When the second person completes the first step of the instructions, they turn to the next person to repeat step 3. The information passes through the entire group this way.
5. The last person must complete the task based on the instructions they received.
6. Compare the final result with what was intended.

Expected outcome: Team members see how information can become distorted as it passes through multiple people. They learn the importance of clear communication and checking for understanding.

6. Word Association Chain

Materials needed: Timer

Instructions:

1. Have everyone on your team sit in a circle.
2. The first person says a word related to work or business (for example, “project”).
3. The next person must quickly say a word that they associate with the previous word (for example, “deadline”).
4. Continue around the circle with each person adding a word associated with the one before it.
5. If someone takes more than five seconds or repeats a word, they’re out.
6. Continue until only one person remains or for a set amount of time.
7. Afterward, discuss how the chain evolved and what patterns emerged.

Expected outcome: This activity improves quick thinking and verbal agility while revealing how differently team members might associate or interpret the same words. It highlights how our individual backgrounds and experiences shape our communication patterns.

7. Appreciation Cards

Materials needed: Notecards, pens

Instructions:

1. Give each team member several notecards – one for each member of the team.
2. Ask everyone to write a specific, genuine appreciation for each team member (for example, “I appreciate how you helped me troubleshoot that technical issue last week”). Be sure to write the name of the team member they’re appreciating on the card.
3. Collect and distribute the cards to their recipients.
4. Allow time for reading and reflection.
5. Optional: Have volunteers share appreciations they received that particularly resonated with them.

Expected outcome: Team members practice giving positive feedback and experience receiving recognition for their contributions. This creates a more positive culture around feedback exchange.

8. Feedback Speed Dating

Materials needed: Timer, feedback prompts

Instructions:

1. Arrange chairs in two rows facing each other.
2. Team members sit across from one another.
3. For two minutes, partners exchange feedback based on a prompt (for example, “One thing I admire about your work style is…” or “One suggestion that might help you be more effective is…”).
4. When time is up, one row shifts so everyone has a new partner.
5. Repeat with new prompts for each round.

Expected outcome: Team members get practice giving and receiving brief, focused feedback in a structured environment. The activity normalizes feedback as a regular part of team interaction.

9. Start-Stop-Continue

Materials needed: Paper, pens

Instructions:

1. Each person reflects on their teammates’ behaviors and writes down something each person should start doing, stop doing, and continue doing.
2. Team members take turns sharing their feedback with each individual.
3. Recipients listen without defending or explaining.
4. After everyone has received feedback, open the floor for questions and discussion.

Expected outcome: Team members learn to give balanced, actionable feedback that includes both strengths and areas for improvement. Recipients practice receiving feedback without becoming defensive.

Non-Verbal Communication Exercises

Much of our communication happens non-verbally through body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. These activities highlight the importance of non-verbal cues.

10. Silent Line-Up

Materials needed: None

Instructions:

1. Challenge the team to line up in order according to a specific criterion (birthdate, height, alphabetical by first name, etc.). The catch: They must do this without speaking.
2. Encourage creative non-verbal communication methods (for example using your fingers for birth months or dates, or miming actions related to your name).
3. Once they believe they’re correctly lined up, check their order.
4. Discuss strategies they used to communicate.

Expected outcome: Team members become more aware of non-verbal communication methods and develop creative ways to convey information without words. This is particularly valuable for international teams or those who work remotely part of the time.

11. Emotion Charades

Materials needed: Cards with emotions written on them

Instructions:

1. Prepare cards with various emotions (frustrated, excited, confused, etc.).
2. Team members take turns drawing a card and acting out the emotion without words.
3. Others guess what emotion is being portrayed.
4. After guessing, discuss how the emotion was conveyed and how it might appear in workplace situations.

Expected outcome: Team members improve their ability to recognize emotional cues in others. This builds empathy and helps prevent misunderstandings based on misinterpreted emotional states.

12. Mirror Movement

Materials needed: None

Instructions:

1. Pair team members up.
2. One person is designated as the leader, the other as the follower.
3. The leader makes slow movements with their hands and body.
4. The follower tries to mirror these movements exactly, as if they were a reflection.
5. After two or three minutes, partners switch roles.
6. Discuss the experience and challenges afterward.

Expected outcome: This activity builds non-verbal awareness and synchronization between team members. It also teaches the importance of clear signaling and paying close attention to others’ movements and cues.

Adaptive Communication Exercises

These activities simulate challenging communication situations that teams might encounter in their work, providing practice in navigating complex interactions. The exercises below help team members adjust their approach based on the situation or the people they’re working with.

13. Crisis Communication Simulation

Materials needed: Scenario descriptions, role cards

Instructions:

1. Create a fictional work crisis scenario (for example, a product failure, PR issue, or a major customer complaint).
2. Assign team members different roles with specific information only they know.
3. Set a time limit (20-30 minutes) to resolve the crisis.
4. Observe how information is shared and decisions are made.
5. After the simulation, debrief on what went well and what could be improved in the team’s communication.

Expected outcome: Team members practice communicating under pressure and learn to coordinate information effectively. The activity highlights the importance of clear communication during high-stress situations.

14. Lost at Sea

Materials needed: Lost at Sea scenario and item lists

Instructions:

1. Present the scenario: The team is lost at sea with a damaged lifeboat and limited supplies.
2. Give each person a copy of the list of 15 items that might help with survival.
3. First, individuals rank the items in order of importance by themselves.
4. Then, the team must come to a consensus on the rankings.
5. Compare the team’s answers to expert rankings and discuss.

Expected outcome: This activity reveals how different communication styles, problem-solving skills, and persuasion techniques affect group decision-making. It also demonstrates the value of considering multiple perspectives when encountering challenges.

15. Cross-Cultural Communication Game

Materials needed: Culture profile cards

Instructions:

1. Create fictional “culture profile” cards that describe communication norms for imaginary cultures (for example, “In your culture, direct eye contact is considered rude” or “Your culture values lengthy greetings before any business discussion”).
2. Assign each team member a different cultural profile to role-play.
3. Give the group a task to complete together while everyone acts according to their assigned cultural norms (for example, plan a team dinner, solve a workplace scenario, or build a simple structure with limited materials).
4. Don’t tell participants what’s on others’ cards.
5. After the activity, reveal all the cultural profiles and discuss the challenges they experienced.

Expected outcome: Team members gain awareness of how cultural differences affect communication and develop strategies for bridging these differences. This is especially valuable for diverse or international teams.

How Different Personalities Communicate in Teams

As you guide your team through these communication activities, you’ll notice something interesting. The same exercise brings out very different responses from different people. Some team members love group discussions. Others need quiet time to think. Some want every detail explained. Others jump straight to the big picture.

These aren’t random differences. They’re clues to understanding how your team communicates.

Watch how people share ideas. Some think carefully before speaking. Others figure out what they think by talking it through. Both ways work! Activities like Detailed Storytelling can work for everyone. They give Introverts time to prepare while letting Extraverts talk things out.

You’ll also notice how people focus on different things. Some teammates love talking about future possibilities and big ideas. Others prefer real examples and concrete details. This mix actually helps teams. In activities like Lost at Sea, Intuitive personalities come up with creative solutions while more detail-focused Observant team members make sure those ideas will work.

People also differ in how direct they are. Some get straight to the point using facts and logic – they have the Thinking personality trait. Others consider feelings first and try to keep everyone happy – they have the Feeling personality trait. Feedback Speed Dating helps both types. Direct communicators learn to be gentler. Gentle communicators learn to be clearer.

Even confidence affects communication. Some teammates seem sure of themselves and bounce back quickly from mistakes. Others are more careful and notice small things that confident speakers might miss.

These differences in communication styles come from deep-rooted personality traits that affect how people think, decide, and work with others. When you understand these personality differences, you improve more than just communication. You help your team work better together in every part of their jobs.

Strong Teams Start with Strong Communication

Good communication turns a group of individuals into a true team. But those communication skills don’t develop overnight. They require consistent practice and a willingness to adapt to different situations and team members.

The team-building activities for communication skills outlined in this article provide a starting point for developing these crucial abilities. By investing time in these exercises, teams can:

• Break down barriers between team members
• Develop a shared understanding of communication preferences
• Build trust through improved listening and feedback
• Enhance their ability to navigate complex or challenging situations

The time and effort invested in improving team communication pays off many times over. When teams consistently engage in purposeful communication activities, they not only address current issues but also proactively prevent future ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should you do team-building activities for communication skills?

For best results, incorporate communication exercises into your regular team routine – perhaps one activity per month, with shorter exercises integrated into weekly meetings. Consistent practice is more effective than occasional intensive sessions.

How do I choose the right communication activities for my team?

When choosing communication activities, consider your team’s specific challenges and goals. If active listening is a weakness, start with those exercises. Also consider your team’s personality makeup – some activities will work better for certain types than others.

How do I measure improvement in team communication?

To measure improvement in team communication, look for indicators such as fewer misunderstandings, more efficient meetings, better documentation, increased participation from quieter team members, and improved project outcomes. You might also conduct periodic surveys to gauge team members’ perceptions of communication quality.

Further Reading

• 25 Essential Team-Building Activities for Work
• 15 Team-Building Activities for Small Groups
• 12 Proven Team-Building Activities for Large Groups