Make The Connection: Creative Team Building Games

Team-building games that foster creative thinking skills and creative connections are a great way to spur innovation and collaboration.

The “make the connection between two things” game pushes teams to find links between seemingly unrelated concepts, strengthening out-of-the-box thinking.

Background on Training Games for Teams

Training games apply game elements like scoring, competition, and rewards to teach skills and behaviors. They make learning interactive and engaging.

For teams, games build trust, communication, creative thinking in the workplace, and problem-solving skills.

Popular examples are scavenger hunts, improv exercises, concept maps, digital games, and design challenges. Well-designed games combine learning new capabilities with fun social interactions.

Rationale for the “Make the Connection Between Two Things” Game

This game flexes creative thinking muscles in a social team setting.

By identifying connections between random concepts, teams practice lateral thinking and metaphorical association. We hear this from customers that have ordered our full set of courses.

This builds the ability to innovate solutions and see situations from new angles.

The unpredictable interactions stretch teams beyond normal thought patterns.

Finding similarities between disparate ideas also fosters listening, communication, and finding common ground.

Exercise: How creative are you?

Features and Benefits of the Game

Features:

  • Pairs random concepts
  • Encourages “out of the box” thinking
  • Short, interactive rounds
  • Works for all team sizes and environments
  • Requires no special materials

Benefits:

  • Boosts creativity and innovation thinking
  • Builds critical thinking and problem solving
  • Develops communication and listening
  • Promotes finding similarities and connections
  • Energizes and engages teams

Step-by-Step Instructions

Set Up

  • Gather team members together. For large teams, break into smaller groups.
  • Explain the goal is to identify connections between two random concepts.
  • Establish ground rules like listening generously and no judgment of ideas.
  • Designate someone to facilitate if needed.

Game Play

  • The facilitator or a volunteer provides two random concepts, like “pineapple” and “airplane.”
  • Going around the circle, each person shares how the two concepts could be related or connected. There are no wrong answers.
  • Examples for pineapple/airplane: Both have prickly exteriors. Pineapples are flown on airplanes for export. Airplanes serve pineapple juice.
  • After everyone shares an idea, the facilitator introduces two new concepts.
  • Continue rounds until time runs out.

Wrap Up

  • At the end, debrief insights, observations, and reactions as a group.
  • Discuss what connections stood out as clever or creative.
  • Talk about what new perspectives were gained about collaborating.

Resources Needed

  • A meeting room or video call platform
  • 10-30 minutes of meeting time
  • A facilitator or volunteer to introduce concept pairs
  • Engaged team members

30 Examples of Concept Pairs

  1. Skyscraper / Pancake
  2. Telephone / Alligator
  3. Flower / Robot
  4. Race car / Turtle
  5. Cloud / Cell phone
  6. Ice cream / Rocket
  7. Light bulb / Penguin
  8. Television / Donut
  9. Tree / Skyscraper
  10. Computer / Yo-yo
  11. Marshmallow / Monster truck
  12. Basketball / Peanut butter
  13. Paper clip / Elephant
  14. Scissors / Rainbow
  15. Watch / Tomato
  16. Crayon / Pillow
  17. Keyboard / Seashell
  18. Headphones / Butterfly
  19. Camera / Banana
  20. Paint brush / Football
  21. Kite / Ice cube
  22. Spoon / Moon
  23. Sock / Police car
  24. Chair / Starfish
  25. Clock / Snake
  26. Flashlight / Pizza
  27. Balloon / Submarine
  28. Stapler / Birdhouse
  29. Paper airplane / Fish
  30. Glue stick / Guitar

You May Also Like