There are a variety of fun games and activities that can help your team improve their communication skills. Some are simple, while others require more creativity and coordination.
In this game, participants draw a coin from a jar and share a memorable experience that happened to them that year. This is a great way to foster collaboration and cooperation!
The Mirror Game
The Mirror Game is one of the most popular communication games, and groups or individuals can play it. Pairs face each other, and one player acts as the leader. The leader moves their arms, legs, face, and head in a slow, steady pattern that the other player attempts to mirror precisely. It’s a fun way to work on focus and attention.
Other team communication games that can be used to develop chemistry and strengthen communication include Telephone. In this game, one player whispers a phrase to the next person in line. The last player then says the phrase out loud, and the first player reveals how close the result was to the beginning phrase.
Charades is another excellent communication game played in teams or as individuals. This game teaches players to act out words while the rest of the group guesses. The more accurate the guessed phrase, the more points the team receives. It’s also an excellent way to practice giving directions and encouraging transparent communication.
The Listening Game
This communication game emphasizes listening to instructions and following them correctly. The game can be played in small groups. The team leader gives a specific direction, such as “touch your toes” or “sit on the floor,” and then watches as each person follows the directions. Players who do not follow the directions lose the game. This activity encourages participants to take turns talking and listening to each other. It also helps them to understand that not everyone will agree with every opinion.
To play this game, have team members sit in a circle. One person begins by telling a story. The listeners then repeat the story, trying to reproduce it as accurately as possible.
This communication game can be fun for both kids and adults. It helps to develop the ability to listen to a specific piece of information. It is excellent for working in noisy environments and can be used to test how well team members can communicate over the noise of others. It is similar to the game Mad Gab, which encourages teams to think of synonyms and alternate ways to say common phrases.
The One-Syllable Game
Team members can improve their communication skills by playing fun and engaging games that involve listening and speaking. These games help teams practice and hone their abilities while also demonstrating how different interpretations can affect the outcome of a message.
For example, one of the best verbal communication games involves players trying to get their teammates to guess words and phrases using only single syllables. This game is excellent for identifying communication barriers such as slang, idioms, and filler words like “um, “like,” “you know,” and “okay.”
Another great verbal communication game involves players thinking of synonyms and alternate ways to say common phrases. The team with the most answers wins. Try using Mad Gab Flashcards as starter prompts.
Pair up team members and sit them side-by-side. Give each person a blank paper sheet and a pen, and give them an object or picture. Then ask the member to describe the item or image to their partner, who must draw it as accurately as possible. Then, when the timer is up, compare the drawings and see how close the results are to the original description.
The Drawing Game
Drawing games are perfect icebreakers because they promote play and create space for team members to get to know one another. Typically, one person receives a picture, and the other player gets paper and drawing materials. The person drawing will describe the image to their partner and attempt to draw it without identifying it. When finished, they swap roles and compare their results. This is a great way to test each other’s listening and instruction-giving abilities.
You can also play a version of this game with words. Have your team act out emotions using phrases that sound absurd when read at first but have an ordinary meaning. Examples include Mad Gab and Another Way to Say.
Communication is one of the most complex soft skills to master. It can be challenging to express thoughts clearly and understandably to teammates. These 33 communication games and activities can help strengthen teammates’ verbal and written skills and improve their listening comprehension and awareness. They can also encourage teammates to communicate in novel ways that benefit the workplace.
The Guessing Game
The Guessing Game is a high-energy team communication game that can improve interpersonal and listening skills. This game encourages participants to stay focused, listen carefully, and respond quickly.
To play, players sit in a circle. The player whose turn it is locks eyes with a teammate across the circle and whispers a phrase into their partner’s ear. Their teammate then whispers the phrase to their partner, and so on. The first player to have their message heard correctly wins the round.
This communication game can help employees build trust and work together. It also encourages employees to be creative and think outside the box when developing solutions.
The Guessing Game can be played with various topics, including movies, animals, and famous couples. It’s an ideal team communication game for employees in the same office or remotely. This game can also improve the efficiency of meetings by helping employees identify critical issues that may prevent a meeting from being productive. For example, if an employee feels frustrated during a meeting, this game can help them determine why they’re upset.
