Can a puzzle be a very effective and original team building idea?

Hi everyone,

You probably once participated or even organized a team building event. The problem: they are all the same and soon people forget about the feeling of participating!

Normally team building is an activity that every component of the team joins. The idea behind is, that by doing this the team members get to know each other better and experience success which they can (and should) reproduce in their work environment.

A couple of years ago I was responsible for the success of a big and important event for our company. The team counted 30+ people in size. After the event was over I held a follow-up meeting. I started it by letting every member put their hands in a black box: ”Grab inside and take one piece out.” I said. What they were actually doing, was to take out one single piece of a big puzzle.

Can a puzzle be a very effective and original team building idea?

I continued explaining, that everyone should have taken one piece and conserved it like a little treasure. We than started to make the puzzle in our spare time and were successful!

The puzzle is hanging since then in my office room but the missing pieces are still in the pockets of my colleagues. Every time they take out their wallets they see the puzzle piece and remember of both, the successful event and the fun puzzle team building experience.

As you see in the picture, some pieces are missing - they are in the wallets of the team members!

I can tell you, it worked for me and my team and it will work for yours as well!
And you will have a wonderful picture hanging in your meeting room, too!
Take care,
Marco