If one asks a group of people what makes an effective leader and you’re likely to get all different answers. But run leadership team building activities and you’ll be able to see right away who has the skills necessary to step into that position and what you need to do to improve that potential. Leadership development activities can help to strengthen the abilities of your team and take them to the next level.
What is leadership team building activities
Experienced managers know that there’s much more involved than simply possessing the qualities and capacities necessary to lead. A successful leader will exercise those qualities and practice to improve.
Leadership activities provide that opportunity to practice. Leadership skills training program are individual or team exercises that allow you to test and improve your abilities along with the abilities of your team in a controlled situation.
These leadership skill development activities are very much like the drills that most sports teams run to simulate an actual competition. By running these leadership activities, you and your team can be well prepared for any situation that comes your way.
Leadership activities examples
Survival
One leadership development training activity is by making two teams and present them with a survival situation. Then present them with a list of items that might be useful in that situation.
Challenge the groups to choose five items that will help them survive. After the teams finish picking their items, ask them to justify their selections and how they would use those things to overcome their given circumstance.
This leadership development activity stimulates critical, creative, and strategic thinking as well as problem-solving skills that can be useful in your business.
All Aboard
In this leadership team building activities, divide your team into two groups and then challenge them to build a “boat” out of scrap materials you provide. Once done with construction, instruct all to stand on some part of their creation. Then remove pieces one at a time while the individuals try to “stay on the boat” as best they can.
This activity encourages communication, teamwork, problem solving, and critical thinking.
What if
One more leadership development training activity is by calling one team member at a time and presenting a difficult hypothetical situation. Ask them to come up with a solution to the problem.
This leadership activity demonstrates rationality, analytical thinking, accountability, and problem solving.
Minefield
Divide in two teams and blindfold one member of the duo and task the other member to guide the “blind” person through the minefield of obstacles using only the words right, left, forward, and backward. As an alternative, hold this activity at a park or playground for a nice out-of-office experience.
This leadership activity promotes communication, listening, and trust.
Leaders you admire
Divide teams in groups and position them in different parts of the office. Task them with discussing leaders they admire and choosing one to be the representative of their group.
This leadership activity improves teamwork and engagement and reveals traits and qualities everyone can emulate.
Icebreaker
In this task, each participant must come up with five general “icebreaker” questions. Once everyone is finished, go around the group and have each individual ask their questions. Count how many people raise their hand. The person with the highest number of points at the end of the round wins.
This leadership activity is ideal for relieving tension, developing interpersonal communication, encouraging discussion, and creating a sense of connection between team members.
30 Seconds
For this activity give your team members a few minutes to think about the best moment of their lives. Anything goes, but let them know that they will be sharing with the rest of the group.
When everyone has their moment in mind, ask them to narrow it down to the best 30 seconds. Then go around the room and ask each person to describe the moment.
This leadership activity helps your team get to know one another and encourages bonding as a group.
Creative leadership activities
With a bit of imagination, you can even create your own leadership activities for a truly tailored experience. Isolate a leadership trait that you want to encourage and then design a game or task that allows participants to exercise that trait.
To really encourage leadership in your team, conduct these activities at least once per month as time permits.
Scheduling for leadership activities
In this fast-paced business world, finding time to run these leadership activities can be difficult. Scheduling time to develop your skills and of team is essential for succeeding.
