3 Steps to Choose the Best Corporate Team Building Event
When people hear the phrase “corporate team building event”, they usually think of outdated or awkward activities. Maybe it’s trust falls, a pizza party, or that cringeworthy moment when everyone shares “something interesting about themselves.” In other words, not exactly exciting.
But team building doesn’t have to be cheesy. It can be fun. It can be powerful. And most importantly, it can make a real difference in how your team members work together.
At The Leaders Institute®, we’ve helped thousands of organizations design corporate team building experiences that actually work. Whether you lead small groups, larger groups, or remote teams across time zones, we can help you identify the best event to fit your goals, time, and group size.
Choosing the right event is easier than you might think. You just need to follow a simple, three-step framework.
Step 1: Before Choosing a Corporate Team Activity, Identify the Result You Want.
That question changes everything. A team building event without a purpose is just a break from work. But when you know your goal, the right event becomes a tool to strengthen company culture and boost morale.
So, what are you hoping to accomplish?
- Do you want to improve communication skills and build trust?
- Are you trying to reward your team for hitting a big milestone?
- Are you planning a kickoff meeting and want to energize the entire group?
Each scenario requires a different approach. For instance, if your team is having communication challenges or trust issues the wrong team activity might worsen the issue even more. In that case, an interactive workshop that focuses on specific communication or team skills will get you a much better result.
Or, if your goal is employee engagement, you could pick a fun team building game like Build-a-Bike®. This activity is hands-on, charitable, and energizing. It gives individual members a great opportunity to bond while working toward a common goal. If you already have a great team, a fun shared experience like this can strengthen those team bonds and grow camaraderie.
The point is, if you just pick a random team activity because it sounds fun you may end up with a different outcome then you were expecting. So start by identifying a specific result that you want the team activity to deliver before choosing the activity itself.
Use Corporate Team Building as a Strategic Tool to Reinforce Prior Learning or Meeting Theme.
While a corporate team building event can absolutely act as perfect rewards for a well running team, it’s whenever they’re used as reinforcement tools that they really get the best value. Don’t get me wrong—fun is great. But when you link a team-building event directly to your training or meeting content, you don’t just entertain your team—you solidify the learning. That’s when the real magic happens.
Let me give you an example. If a client of ours had just wrapped a leadership development workshop focused on communication skills. Instead of ending the day with a typical wrap-up, they brought in Rescue Bear®. It’s a team-building game that challenges participants to solve complex problems under a strict time limit. To succeed, teams have to communicate clearly, think creatively, and execute quickly—just like in real life. The result? Their takeaways from the morning session didn’t just stick—they came to life.
Whether your meeting is about strategic planning, on-boarding new hires, or improving collaboration between departments, there’s a team-building exercise that can extend that message in a hands-on way. If your training session emphasized leadership skills, try an activity where team members rotate the role of team leader. Or if your workshop covered trust-building, go for a challenge like the Camaraderie Quest, where small groups must rely on one another to hit the finish line.
Corporate team building isn’t just about play—it’s about purposeful play. When you align your activity with a specific topic, your team doesn’t just learn—they internalize. And better yet, they bond. That’s the kind of impact that builds high-performing teams.
Step 2: Consider the Size of Your Group.
Choosing the right corporate team building event isn’t just about what sounds fun—it’s about what actually works for your team. And one of the biggest factors that determines success? Group size.
It might sound simple, but it’s easy to overlook.
A game that energizes 12 people can quickly turn into chaos with 50. And what works perfectly for a big, buzzing ballroom might feel awkward or forced in a smaller, quiet team meeting. The experience has to fit—otherwise, the value gets lost.
When the activity matches the group size, three important things happen:
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Everyone participates. Smaller groups give every team member a chance to contribute. Larger groups need structure to ensure people aren’t left on the sidelines.
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The energy feels right. A high-energy event for a large group can feel overwhelming in a smaller setting, while a subtle, discussion-based activity might fall flat in a big room.
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The message sticks. When a team-building activity is scaled correctly, your team walks away with a shared experience—and a clear takeaway that applies back at work.
If your group is too large for the activity, people check out. Too small? The challenge might feel pointless. That’s why it’s so important to optimize the format, group dynamics, and structure based on your headcount.
We often break large groups into small teams of 4–7 people. This keeps everyone engaged while still allowing for friendly competition and collaborative problem-solving.
Whether you’re planning for 10 people or 1,000, picking the right structure isn’t just a logistical decision—it’s a strategic one. It’s the difference between an event that’s remembered for a long time… and one that’s forgotten by Monday.
Small Groups (Under 20 People)
When you’re working with a smaller group—say 20 people or fewer—you’ve got a great opportunity to go deep. With fewer faces in the room, it’s easier to spark genuine conversation, build trust, and give everyone a meaningful role. These types of events are ideal for new hires, tight-knit departments, or leadership teams trying to elevate their team spirit.
Smaller groups allow for flexibility. You don’t need a massive venue or complicated setup. In fact, many of the best corporate team building events for small groups can be done right in the conference room, using everyday items and a little creativity.
Most importantly, each team member gets to contribute, lead, and engage without feeling lost in the crowd. These intimate formats naturally foster stronger connections and encourage quick wins that boost confidence and morale.
Each of these keeps the energy high while giving individual members a moment to shine. Just add a short time limit and a little friendly competition, and you’ve got a powerful experience that doesn’t require a big production.
Medium to Large Groups (20–200)
Once your group size hits 20 or more, the stakes change. With more people in the room, you’ll need more structure and a clearer plan. The key here is balance—keep it engaging, but make sure every person still feels like a vital part of the experience.
This is where professional facilitation becomes a game-changer. A well-run event for a mid-sized group blends strategy, interaction, and a bit of showmanship to keep the energy flowing. You’ll also want to use breakout formats—small groups of 4–7 people work best—to maximize participation and communication.
At this size, a corporate team building event becomes more than just fun—it becomes a shared story that spreads across teams and departments. People remember who they built with, competed against, and celebrated alongside. That’s where real team cohesion starts to form.
Each activity scales well and creates fun ways for people to connect, solve problems, and show off creative thinking—without anyone feeling lost in the crowd.
Groups of 200+
If you’ve got more than 200 people, you’re planning a corporate event—not just a team activity. And that means two things: you need scale, and you need strategy. But don’t worry—large groups can still have powerful, engaging experiences. You just need the right format.
First, break the entire group into smaller teams. This prevents drift and ensures that everyone has a role. Second, choose activities that are easy to manage logistically but still high-impact. Events that run like a jigsaw puzzle—where each team works on part of a bigger solution—can build massive energy and a strong sense of shared success.
These events are ideal for big-picture initiatives: annual meetings, product launches, or culture-building sessions. Done right, they’re not just memorable—they’re transformational.
With large groups, the goal is alignment. You want the common goal to be clear and the execution to feel seamless. When you get it right, you’ll see teams cheering each other on, boosting morale, and walking away with an experience that brings your whole company one step closer together.
When done well, these are not just fun games—they’re building blocks for a better company culture.
Step 3: Pick the Right Event for Your Team.
Once you’ve defined your purpose and considered your group size, the final step is to choose the right corporate team building event—one that matches your team’s current needs, culture, and energy level.
This part is crucial. Why? Because not every team needs the same thing. Some are already clicking and just need a fun challenge to stay sharp. Others might be struggling with communication or adapting to change. Picking the wrong activity can leave your team disengaged—or worse, reinforce the problems you’re trying to solve.
When choosing the right event, ask yourself:
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What’s our goal—fun, trust, leadership, collaboration, or creativity?
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Are our team dynamics strong, or do they need work?
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Do we want a shared experience that strengthens bonds or one that reveals skill gaps we can grow from?
Once you have those answers, pick a format that aligns with your team’s reality—not just what looks good on paper.
For Smaller Groups
With smaller groups, you have the benefit of intimacy. These teams—often under 20 people—can dive deeper into conversations, build trust more quickly, and make room for every voice to be heard.
In this setting, the key is engagement through interaction. You don’t need a huge production or elaborate setup. In fact, over complicating things can sometimes distract from the real value: connection. The smaller the group, the more important the quality of the interaction becomes.
It’s also helpful to consider the personality of your team. Is this a group of introverts who need a gentle warm-up, or a lively team that thrives on humor and energy? You can tailor the activity tone accordingly.
Here are a few great options:
- Improv Training – A fun way to boost listening skills and creativity.
- In It to Win It – A series of fun, fast-paced challenges that build collaboration.
- Self-Facilitated Build-a-Bike® – Perfect for smaller groups with tight schedules.
For Medium to Large Groups
Once your team grows beyond 20, group dynamics change. You now need structure, flow, and careful facilitation to ensure everyone participates without the event feeling chaotic. At this level, you’re designing for energy, clarity, and organized interaction.
A common mistake with this group size is going too generic or too complex. Instead, find the balance between fun and functionality. Keep activities simple to follow, but rich in collaboration. You’ll also want to factor in group roles—not everyone wants to lead, and not everyone wants to sit back. Giving different types of personalities space to contribute is key.
The goals of your event should guide your decision here. Are you reinforcing leadership development? Kicking off a major project? Celebrating a company win? That context helps shape whether your activity should be more analytical, physical, emotional, or creative.
Recommended activities for this group size include:
- Build-a-Bike® – The best team building activity for blending purpose with teamwork.
- Ace Race® – Teams collaborate to build and play a mini-golf course.
- aMAZEing Builders® – A creative way to test design thinking under pressure.
- Rescue Bear® – Great for building trust and teaching attention to detail.
- Camaraderie Quest – Like a corporate scavenger hunt, but smarter.
For Very Large Groups
If you’re working with 200 people or more, you’re not just planning a team event—you’re designing an experience. At this scale, everything must be intentional: how you divide teams, how you manage flow, and how you keep energy consistent from start to finish.
The success of a large-group event often comes down to one thing: clarity of purpose. Without it, the event becomes noise. But when the event is tied to a unifying goal—whether that’s launching a new product, celebrating company growth, or realigning the culture—you can create something truly memorable.
These events must be scalable but still personalized. That’s a tricky balance. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t cut it here. You need flexible team formats, a clear communication plan, and activities that build team cohesion without overwhelming logistics.
You also need to account for industry context and team personality. A nationwide sales team might love a high-energy, competitive event. Meanwhile, a group of software engineers may prefer something more strategy-focused and low-pressure.
Here’s what works best for large-scale events:
- Build-a-Bike® – Scalable to over 1,000 participants and still maintains impact.
- Ace Race® – Excellent for hotel ballrooms, convention centers, or even a break room.
- aMAZEing Builders® – Tight on space? No problem. High impact, low footprint.
Addressing Real Team Challenges
Team building isn’t just for teams in trouble. And it’s not just for teams that are already clicking, either.
One of the biggest misconceptions about team building is that it’s only needed when something’s wrong—when morale is low, people aren’t getting along, or communication has completely broken down. But the truth is, team building works because it meets teams exactly where they are.
The final step of choosing the right team building event for you is recognizing where your team is at and what challenges you have.
If your team is thriving, a well-structured event strengthens that momentum. It creates shared wins, reinforces trust, and encourages collaboration that carries back into the workplace. On the flip side, if your team is facing challenges—missed expectations, low engagement, or growing tension—a thoughtfully designed activity can be the reset button you didn’t know you needed.
Why? Because team building provides a low-risk space to practice high-stakes skills. It encourages open dialogue, shared problem-solving, and positive interaction outside of daily roles and routines. That’s a powerful combination—especially when things aren’t running smoothly.
The key is to choose an event that’s aligned with your current reality. For a high-performing group, that might mean a fast-paced challenge that stretches creative thinking. For a team in flux, it could be something more reflective—an activity that emphasizes communication, empathy, and trust.
It meets your people where they are—and helps them move forward, together.
Final Thoughts: Make Team Building Work for You
Team building isn’t fluff. It’s foundational. It teaches leadership skills, strengthens team spirit, and reinforces your company’s values.
The best team building events:
- Fit your team’s size and dynamics
- Encourage participation from all group members
- Reinforce your message and goals
- Create stronger connections between departments
- Leave your team energized and motivated
Whether you’re looking for a classic game to kick off your retreat or planning a full day of team-building activities with event coordinators, the goal is the same: help your people grow together.
You don’t need a new set of buzzwords. You need real connection, practical activities, and a plan that works.
Let us help you find the best team-building solution for your team—so you can build something that lasts a long time.
About Doug Staneart
