A [close-knit team](https://apolitical.co/solution-articles/en/empower-your team) is often the secret ingredient for amplifying impact. If you’re looking to foster team cohesion in the long run, the Apolitical community has you covered.

We’ve collected suggestions from our community on how they’ve successfully sparked ideas, vented frustration and grown together as a team.

If you’ve come across an activity that has worked well for your team, let us know!

1. Find new ways to know your team

Two truths and a lie — more than just a way to get people thinking creatively, it’s a great way to shine a light on interesting corners of your colleagues’ lives, and see what kind of topics people are comfortable sharing.

Human bingo — only child? Loves pizza? Has visited Rome? Human bingo is a low-touch way of learning about each other and setting everyone into listening and sharing mode. One contributor even suggested following up with inexpensive prizes.

Childhood photos — though beware: the quality of any photos you provide may give away your age.

Guess who — a variation on the classic board game, but with your colleagues as characters.

2. Get practical

Build bridges — pasta, sticks, marshmallows: whatever your medium (or desired construction), this is a great way for people to solve new problems together.

Blindfold navigation — are your team on the same wavelength? One test is to have people navigate a room blindfolded while a partner gives out instructions.

3. Work with new people

Change the host — selecting a new host for each meeting either randomly (see: wheel of names) or by rota creates the space for different people to add their voices and inject their personalities into group events.

Write a manifesto — whether you’re pulling together a new team or connecting groups with little overlap, it can be fruitful to set down and discuss the shared values and ambitions that direct your collective actions.

Lo-fi social network — use collaborative tools to map out shared memories, small-world moments and experience overlap between team members.

4. Make space for non-work topics

Idle chatter — never underestimate the importance of small talk. It’s especially valuable in remote and semi-remote working environments. Where possible, embed unofficial time for chatting about anything and everything.

Choreographed hip hop dance routine — if you want a case of workplace-envy, here’s what one contributor sent in: “Last year, eight of us went to a dance studio to learn a choreographed hip hop routine. Everyone had a part to play, and we left with a sense of camaraderie and good knowledge of who did and didn't have rhythm. We then went back to the office for a brainstorming session, and everyone was more inclined to be open-minded and respectful of each other’s ideas.”

Thanks to:

Participants on the Apolitical leading teams effectively in government course for sharing the creative ways they inject life into their team meetings.

We want to hear what you think about this article. Pitch an article to us or send your comments to discussion@apolitical.co

(Picture credit: Unsplash)