CSTE LEAD 2022

Team building exercises

We're having our first in-person meeting for our team in a month, and I'd like to brainstorm some fun team-building type games that people who really only ever hear each other's voices might like to do together. I want it to be low key enough that I can pull it off without a lot of advanced preparation and low key enough that introverted staff won't feel terribly uncomfortable about participating. I thought this group might have some ideas to share! Thanks in advance!

Comments & Events

Leann Liu, Manager of Surveillance and Epidemiology Unit, Harris County Public Health
Hi Elizabeth,
In addition to the birthplace map and guessing baby pictures that I mentioned to you, we also did a show & tell of pets that was easy and popular, as well as Enneagram in the past (took some preparation though). We plan to include DEI and are exploring activities.
Kelly Walblay, Senior Epidemiologist - Healthcare Program LOVE enneagram!
Elizabeth Russo
Enneagram -- was there a specific link that you used? Was it free? I just did the DISC test for this program, and it seemed to charge $14 for the full results.
Leann Liu, Manager of Surveillance and Epidemiology Unit, Harris County Public Health
Oh, our HR has the access and facilitated it:)
Elizabeth Russo Thanks!
Dora Dumont
As a childless, petless introvert, I think the birthplace map is a neat idea that just about everyone would be able to participate in and be interested in! 
Elizabeth Russo Thanks!
Lisa McHugh, Assistant Bureau Director, Bureau of Epidemiology
On our team calls, I randomly select 2 individuals each week and ask that they share one of the following: 
  • Something personal about them - could be a hobby, upcoming trip, or something else about them or their family. 
  • A work topic that they are struggling with that they'd like team advice on.
I have a few in my group who are very private and so I've added the second bullet to still allow them to share on our team's call but allow them to keep their personal business out of it should they choose. 

This is really simple and I've gotten positive feedback from the team on it. 
Elizabeth Russo Obliged!
Nicole Stone, Senor Enteric Epidemiologist I love this!
Megan Wigginton, Program Associate at CSTE
Hi all! Elizabeth Russo Elizabeth , I was unable to find a work around for getting the full description of the results of the DISC test for free but here is a website that explains each trait better! https://www.discprofile.com/what-is-disc/disc-styles 
Sujata Joshi, IDEA-NW Project Director
It's exciting to hear about your in-person meeting! I'm hoping our team will be able to get together in person soon-ish, and I appreciate this post for the ideas.

I'm not sure how much time you have for your meeting. In the past when I've planned team retreats, I've used some of the following for team building:
-work style preferences/strengths/"personality" quizzes (like the DISC assessment)
-icebreakers like the ones mentioned
-quick and easy games (a few rounds of Telephone Pictionary have always gone over well)
-Reflection questions (What are you most proud of? What brings you joy in your work? What are things we should aspire to in the coming year?)
Elizabeth Russo Thanks for this!
Lena Swander, Chronic Disease Prevention Epidemiologist
We've used the birthplace map for in person and virtual meeting ice breakers, and it's worked great. 

For virtual facilitation: I was on a recent CDC call where they asked folks to turn their cameras on (if they're able and willing) to share their favorite mug or something near by that they prize/cherish, followed by furry friend(s) if they were in the room. This resulted in more people leaving their cameras on for the majority of the call.
Laura Fox, Environmental Public Health Tracking Epidemiologist
There are some great suggestions here already! For some in person team meetings we've held in the past, we've played a rendition of family feud themed to whichever holiday or observance was occurring, fishbowl, hand turkey drawing contest (Thanksgiving time), lotería, and scattergories (https://swellgarfo.com/scattergories/). 
Elizabeth Russo
I *love* this thread! THANK you!
Leann Liu, Manager of Surveillance and Epidemiology Unit, Harris County Public Health
These are all great ideas that we could borrow. Thanks for sharing everyone! Our birthplace game was done through menti.com, so people could pin their birthplace on a map that could be printed later. It worked very well. Our DEI training was also very engaging, people loved it and shared their own experiences after watching this video https://youtu.be/b1nJqpqgzR0 and a few prompt questions.