Try this easy team building activity to get your team talking about being human

Can you think of a recent moment when you felt deeply connected at a human level? When you paused and saw another person—not as a role, title, or function—but as a fellow human being?

If you’ve been following David and me for a minute, you know we’re big on team building activities that go deeper than trust falls and marshmallow stacks, and get people talking about what matters. The best team building activities build deeper connections.

An Intentional Pause for Connection

This isn’t your typical team building exercise. There’s no checklist. No scripted activity. Instead, it’s about looking back at your year—scrolling through your photos, flipping through your mental snapshots—and finding a memory that made you feel profoundly connected.

A Simple, Meaningful Team Building Activity to Build Connection

Here’s how to make this exercise your next team building activity:

1. Gather your team

Whether in-person or virtual, create a safe space for sharing. Let them know this is a chance to reflect and connect—no wrong answers, no judgments.

2. Set the stage

Share the question:

“Think of a moment in the last year when you felt truly connected at a human level. It could be something big, or a simple gesture. What made that moment feel so real?”

3. Encourage storytelling

Ask team members to share their moments, a photo from their phone, or a snapshot they hold in their hearts. Encourage them to explain why that moment stands out.

4. Look for themes

As people share, listen for what connects these stories. Is it vulnerability? Generosity? Acts of kindness? Use these insights to spark a conversation about what your team values and how you can nurture more of those moments.

Why This Works

This team building activity taps into empathy and shared experience. That beneath the deadlines, meetings, and to-do lists, most of us yearn for deeper connection.

And isn’t that the essence of human-centered leadership?

One key dimension of collaboration is connection—moments where we see one another as people, not just coworkers. When we feel seen and heard, we show up more fully for one another. We collaborate better. We lead better.

So, as you plan your next team building session, try this simple activity. You might be surprised at the depth of conversation it unlocks.

Want to play together on LinkedIn?

Here’s the invitation I shared on LinkedIn (so many people shared their pics and stories– I’d love to have you join us). And if we’re not yet connected, let’s do it!

1. Scroll through your phone or your memory.
2. Find a moment that made you feel connected to someone at a deep, human level.
3. Share that moment—and why it mattered.

I’d love to hear from you. Let’s keep building this conversation—and our connections—as we step into 2025 together.

Because the first step in human-centered leadership is remembering what it means to be human.

Check out more easy-to-facilitate team-building activities:

Employee Development Activity: Focus Your Team in the New Year

Compassionate Conversation Starters: How to Help Your Team Connect More Deeply 

Year in Review: 7 Questions to Help Your Team Reflect on Success and Key Learnings

And if you’ve not checked out our SynergyStack™ Team Development System, we’d love to give you a demo!  You can contact me here. We can also explore the amazing ROI of a SynergySprint for your team.