13 Team Building Ideas for Introverts

Here is our list of the best team building ideas for introverts.

Team building ideas for introverts are games and activities that teams can play with each other to build trust and connection. Examples include a cooking class, a guided tour, or a game of human Bingo. These activities aim to ensure that introverts are comfortable bonding with the group through the chosen activities.

These ideas are examples of team building games, team building exercises, and team bonding ideas.

This list includes:

• icebreaker games for introverts
• team building activities for introverts
• trust-building exercises for introverts
• team building events for introverts
• party games for introverts

Let’s get started!

List of team building ideas for introverts

When conducting team building activities, it is essential to consider the thoughts and feelings of  less-outspoken teammates. Introverts are likely to be more reserved and shy compared to colleagues. Here are some team building ideas for introverts.

1. Alphabet

Alphabet is a team building game that you can play with small and large groups. With each turn, players must start a sentence with the following letter of the alphabet. For example, the first player will start their sentence with the letter A, while the second player will start their line with the letter B.

For example:

• Player one: A rainy and dreary night, it all came crashing down.
• Player two: Benjamin, the trustworthy office secretary, had finally cracked.
• Player three: Could anyone have seen this coming?

There are no winners declared in the game of Alphabet. Instead, players simply laugh at the outlandish story that the team creates together.

Alphabet is a great game to get players to unleash their creativity while working together to tell an exciting and outlandish story. This activity is an ideal game for introverts because no players are in the spotlight. Instead, all participants must come up with one line that starts with a specific letter.

2. One Question Icebreaker

Instead of playing an icebreaker that can go on for hours, introverts often prefer games that have a shorter timeframe. In addition, many introverts would rather avoid being in the spotlight in front of a large group.

We recommend using the One Question Icebreaker at the beginning or end of small team meetings. This activity is one of the best icebreaker games for introverts and can be a great way to start or end meetings. This game is simple because all you need to do is come up with a question to ask your team before each meeting.

A few starter prompts:

• If you were not working in this industry, what would your dream job be?
• What was your first job?
• Can you share one fun fact that no one on the team knows about you?
• What was the worst job you ever had?

We suggest sending out a detailed agenda a few hours before the team meeting begins so that any introverts on your team have time to prepare mentally. By sending an agenda beforehand, you will allow your teammates to prepare their responses so no one feels put on the spot during the game.

Here is a list of icebreaker questions.

3. Two Truths and One Lie

If you are looking for classic icebreakers and trust-building exercises for introverts, then you should consider playing Two Truths and One Lie.

Two Truths and One Lie is a popular icebreaker game in which teammates can get to know each other by sharing facts about themselves. This icebreaker stands apart from others because players must share two factual statements about themselves and one lie.

For example, a player can share the following statements with the group:

• I have five brothers and sisters.
• I cannot ride a bike.
• I am afraid of spiders.

Then, it is up to the rest of the group to guess which statement is false. Two Truths and One Lie is a great game for introverts because players can create fun and untrue facts about themselves while watching the rest of the group struggle to figure out the truth.

Here are more icebreakers for small groups.

4. Human Bingo

To pay Human Bingo with your team, you should first create a grid with five rows and five columns. However, instead of creating a typical Bingo grid with letters and numbers, you should create a board that lists interesting traits, characteristics, and attributes throughout the grid.

Here are a few examples of phrases to include in your Human Bingo grid:

To begin your game of Human Bingo, distribute Bingo grids to participants. Next, give players a 15 to 20-minute timeframe to walk around the room and find coworkers who match the card’s descriptions. The first player to reach Bingo will be declared the winner of the game.

Human Bingo is a great choice for introverts because this game promotes one-on-one communication rather than speaking in front of a large group.

5. Caption the Picture

One of the best party games for introverts is Caption the Picture, an activity where players must write a description to add to the bottom of a picture. We recommend using stock imagery available on websites like Getty Images and Shutterstock.

To make this game extra fun, we recommend finding funny photos. For example, you can use a stock image of an employee in a corporate office setting who is sleeping in the break room.

To start the game, distribute printed-out versions of each stock image among your team. Next, you should give your team 10 to 15 minutes to brainstorm their funniest caption for each picture. Once the time has passed, your team can go around the room sharing captions with each other. You can close the game by voting on the funniest or most outrageous captions.

6. Guess the Baby

Guess the Baby can be a great trust-building exercise for introverts. This game requires less talking and more thinking, which the shy folks on your team may appreciate.

Here’s how to play:

1. Designate one teammate who can serve as the game’s moderator and ensure that the activity moves along smoothly.
2. Before beginning the game, the moderator should ask all team members to bring in baby pictures of themselves.
3. Once all team members have submitted their pictures, the moderator should create an answer key, which matches each employee with their baby picture.
4. Next, the moderator should shuffle all pictures and lay them out neatly on a flat surface.
5. Lastly, gather your team together and have each player guess which baby picture matches up with which teammate.

Some baby pictures may be easy to identify, especially if some folks on your team have not changed much. Other baby pictures may be tougher to guess, especially if teammates have dyed their hair or changed their appearance.

Regardless, Guess the Baby is a game that is sure to have your team laughing, thinking, and reminiscing, all while getting to know each other better.

Check out more get to know you games.

7. Pick a Question

If you are looking for the best icebreaker games for introverts, then Pick a Question could be a great choice. Pick a Question is a game in which players must choose a question from a jar and then provide an answer in front of the group.

Here are the steps:

1. Write down at least 15 to 20 questions on separate pieces of paper.
2. Throw all your question into a jar.
3. Go around the room and have each teammate pick out a question.
4. Once all participants have picked out a question, you should give the group five to ten minutes to brainstorm their responses.
5. Lastly, the team can go around the room and have each player share the question they picked out and their answer.

If you are unsure what types of questions can work well in this game, here are a few suggestions you can add to your shuffle:

• What is one skill you have always wanted to learn?
• If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
• If you could have dinner with one famous person, alive or deceased, who would it be and why?

The questions you ask in this game do not necessarily have to be work-related. In fact, it is better if your questions touch on other lifestyle topics because then your team can engage in a lively discussion while getting to know each other better.

Here is a random question generator to help.

8. Marshmallow Tower Challenge

Marshmallow Tower Challenge is one the best party games for introverts because it promotes teamwork, team bonding, and problem-solving.

You will need the following items to play this game:

• Uncooked spaghetti
• Marshmallows
• String
• Tape
• Scissors

First, distribute the supplies among the teams. Next, set a timer on your phone, and give players about 12 to 15 minutes to construct a tower from the items you provide. The team that builds the tallest tower wins this game.

After each team completes the challenge, we recommend taking a few minutes to debrief with participants on their experience. You can ask players about their thoughts on why they did or did not like this activity and which parts of the game were the easiest or most difficult.

9. Movie Night

One of the best team building activities for introverts is a movie night. Movies are perfect activities for shy team members because not much communication or social interaction is needed.

A tip to a successful movie night is to choose a genre that the entire team will enjoy. If there is flexibility regarding the movie night’s location, then we suggest hosting an outdoor event with a movie projected on a big screen.

Here is a list of team-themed movies.

10. Guided Tour

One of the most exciting team building events for introverts is a guided tour. Guided tours are a great way to get the team out of the office to explore new places.

These activities are ideal for small- to medium-sized groups. If you are in a city, then you can plan a guided sightseeing excursion through the city. You can choose a guided tour on a farm or other local landmarks if you are in a rural area.

Guided tours are a fun and engaging group activity for all teammates, even the introverts on your team.

11. Team Cooking Class

Cooking classes are great team building events for introverts because this activity gets all team members involved and working together toward one goal.

If you are hosting a team cooking class in the office, then perhaps invite a guest chef to walk your team through the exercise. From appetizers and entrees to soups and desserts, there are so many options that your team can cook together.

Before beginning this activity, we recommend confirming any food allergies among your group. If anyone on your team is allergic, then you should choose a meal that does not contain any of those ingredients.

The best part about this team building activity is that your team can enjoy a hand-cooked meal together at the end of the cooking class.

Here is a list of online cooking classes.

12. Book Club

If you are looking for team building activities for introverts, then a book club could be a great option. Reading can help encourage team bonding while participants immerse themselves in a good book and learn new things.

To successfully host a book club, the entire team should vote on a book to read together each month. Then, you should set bi-monthly meetings where the group can get together and discuss the book. You should remember to set assigned pages and reading goals to ensure that all participants follow along. It is important that no one knows how the story ends before all members can read the book.

If you have any introverts and bookworms on your team, then forming a book club is a great idea to get folks to bond over a good book. We suggest getting feedback from your group so you can pick a book and genre that is loved by all.

13. Virtual Team Building Activities

Even if your team is in-person, virtual team building activities can be a great solution for shier team members. These events and activities allow introverts to join the gathering from the comfort of their own homes and participate as much or as little as they desire. You can use breakout rooms to create small-group dynamics sans awkward introductions, and introverts can mute their mics and shut off webcams when they need a break.

Here is a list of virtual team building activities.

Conclusion

Team building activities for introverts are a great way to get all members of your organization, even the shy folks, engaged in a group activity. From Human Bingo to cooking classes, there are many team building ideas that your entire team will surely enjoy. Team building activities are ideal if you want your team to bond and become more unified.

Next, check out fun group activities and community building ideas.