5-Minute Team-Building Exercises Your Team Will Actually Enjoy

We understand that team-building can often take a backseat when things get busy. When everyone’s chasing the next big AI breakthrough, building faster than ever, and automating anything that moves, it’s easy to overlook the human side of work.

But even in high-speed, product-focused environments, the need to stay connected as a team doesn’t go away. If anything, those quick moments of bonding become more critical. You might not have time for an offsite or a deep workshop, and that’s fine. Sometimes, five minutes is all you’ve got and that’s still enough to bring a little energy into the room, check in with each other, and feel like you’re in it together. 

We’ve put together this list of 5-minute team-building exercises and while they’re not a substitute for long-term culture work, they do help you stay grounded when you’re short on time. We’ve used many of these ourselves and borrowed a few from teams we trust. They’re quick, easy and actually enjoyable.

Our Go-To Quick Team Building Activities (No Prep Needed)

1. One-word check-in

This is probably one of the easiest ways to do a quick vibe check before diving into the day’s agenda. Go around the team and ask everyone to share one word that sums up how they’re feeling – whether about their past week, the day so far, or just in that moment. It’s straightforward, low-pressure, and gives a quick snapshot of where everyone’s head is at.

We usually use this exercise when it’s been a while since our last catch-up. It helps us gauge energy levels and spot if anyone might need extra support. If you have a bit more time, you can invite people to add one highlight and one lowlight from their week. That extra layer often sparks empathy and understanding without taking too long.

2. 2 truths, 1 lie

Admittedly, this one only fits into five minutes if you’ve got a small team but we still included it because it’s a classic and always delivers. As it always goes, each person shares three statements about themselves: two truths and one lie. The rest of the team guesses which one’s the lie. It’s light, a little playful, and surprisingly good at surfacing fun or unexpected facts about your teammates.

We’ve seen it work so well as the team often goes beyond surface-level facts and may dive into childhood stories, strange skills, or unexpected hobbies. If you're tight on time, just do one or two people per session and rotate through the team across the week. It’s a small but solid way to build curiosity and familiarity.

3. Would you rather

This one might need a little prep, but then again, it also takes two minutes to Google a list of “Would You Rather” questions and pick ones that actually fit your team’s personality. Skip the generic ones and go for prompts that are fun, mildly work-adjacent, or a bit absurd in the best way. Think: “Would you rather never use Slack again or never attend a meeting again?”

We usually drop in 3–5 questions and rotate who asks them. It’s a simple way to show a bit of personality without putting anyone on the spot. 

💡Pro tip: You can tailor the questions to current team moods, recent launches, or just inside jokes. It keeps things relevant and fun without derailing the day.

4. The shoutout chain

This is one of the best team-bonding exercises when you’ve been working together long enough to know each other well. A shoutout chain is basically where one person gives a quick, genuine shoutout to a teammate, and then that person passes it on to someone else. We’ve found this one works especially well when the team might be feeling down. Often, these words of appreciation land differently when they come from your teammates rather than your manager.

At GrowthBuddy, we’ve always tried to build a culture where appreciation is second nature, even for the small wins. When energy dips or things feel heavy, five minutes of positive reinforcement can be just the lift people need. It’s quick, human, and a reminder that everyone’s effort counts.

5. One-minute gratitude round 

This is a quick activity where you give each team member one minute to share something they’re grateful for, whether work-related or personal. It gives everyone a quick moment to pause, reflect, and hear a bit more about what’s going on in each other’s lives beyond the usual work updates. If you’re looking for variations, you can switch it up by asking what they’re looking forward to in the coming year or something they’ve learned in the past year. 

We do this often at GrowthBuddy. At our first team catch-up this year, we asked everyone to share something they were looking forward to achieving in 2025. As a small gesture, we turned it into something a little more meaningful and shared personalised gifts with the team, each printed with a single word that reflected their individual goals. It was a small gesture, but we hoped it showed a little appreciation and encouragement as everyone stepped into the new year.

Conclusion 

So there you have it - quick team-building activities that fit into even the busiest schedules and still help your team connect. These simple exercises bring your team closer without needing hours of time. Sometimes the easiest way to strengthen bonds is to make space for small, genuine moments.

And hey, if you’re ever looking to grow your team and add more faces to these bonding moments, we can help. At GrowthBuddy, we focus on finding remote talent that not only has the skills but will seamlessly blend into your team and its unique dynamic. We'd love to chat if you’d like to explore how we can help bring the right people into your team!