Team Building Activities Focused on Leadership Skills

Team-building activities focused on leadership skills are a great way to develop and enhance leadership qualities within a group. These activities can help individuals learn to communicate effectively, make decisions, and motivate their team members. Working as a team, employees can learn from each other and develop new skills.

Here are some team-building activities that can be tailored to focus on leadership skills:

Survival Scenario:

Divide the team into smaller groups and present them with a survival scenario, such as being stranded on a desert island. Each group must rank a list of items in order of importance for survival and justify their choices. This exercise encourages decision-making and consensus-building.

What If..:

Arrange individual meetings with your employees in your office and introduce them to a challenging hypothetical scenario. Ask them how they would deal with this. For instance, you might pose the question, “Imagine if you were responsible for the loss of an important client, resulting in significant financial losses due to a failure to follow established procedures. What explanation would you give and what steps would you take to rectify the situation?”  This leadership exercise showcases qualities such as logical reasoning, analytical thought, accountability, and adept problem-solving skills among your team members.

 Icebreaker:

In this activity, each participant is tasked with suggesting five general “icebreaker” questions, such as “who has brown hair?” Once everyone has completed their questions, get them all to ask their questions individually. Count the number of raised hands in response to each question. The participant with most points at the end of the round emerges as the winner.This leadership exercise serves as an excellent method for easing tension, helping interpersonal communication and discussion, and building a sense of camaraderie among team members.

Role Reversal:

Have team members take on different leadership roles within the team for a day or during specific tasks. This allows everyone to experience leadership and understand the challenges and responsibilities involved.

Team Challenges:

Set up physical challenges or obstacle courses that require teamwork and effective leadership. The team must work together to complete the challenges, and leaders can emerge naturally during the process.

Problem-Solving Scenarios:

Present the team with complex problems or scenarios related to your organisation’s industry or challenges. Allow them to brainstorm and come up with solutions. This activity promotes critical thinking and decision-making skills.

Leadership Styles Workshop:

Organise a workshop where team members learn about different leadership styles, such as authoritarian, democratic, and transformational leadership. Have them discuss which style they prefer and why, and how they can adapt their style to different situations.

Leadership Storytelling:

Ask each team member to share a personal or professional leadership experience through storytelling. This can lead to discussions about effective leadership strategies and lessons learned.

Leadership Book Club:

Select a leadership-related book and have the team read it together. Schedule regular discussions to share insights, strategies, and how they can apply what they’ve learned to their roles.

Leadership Simulation Games:

Use leadership simulation games or software that mimic real-world leadership challenges. These games can provide a safe environment for practicing leadership skills.

Outdoor Leadership Retreat:

Plan an outdoor retreat that includes activities like hiking, camping, or team challenges. The natural setting can help team members bond and develop leadership skills in a relaxed environment.

Case Studies:

Present case studies of successful and unsuccessful leadership situations, either from within your organisation or from other companies. Analyse these cases together to draw lessons about effective leadership.

Role Play:

Create scenarios where team members take on different leadership roles and interact with team members who play various roles within the organisation. This can help in developing leadership and interpersonal skills.

Feedback and Reflection:

After completing various team-building activities, encourage team members to provide feedback on their peers’ leadership skills. This can be a valuable learning opportunity for everyone involved.

Debrief after each activity to discuss what was learned, what could be improved, and how the leadership skills demonstrated during the activity can be applied to real work situations. These team-building activities can be adapted to the specific needs and goals of your team and organisation.  If you would like some help in arranging some team building, contact us today.