Team Building Activities for Leadership


  1. Leadership is an important quality for an individual who seeks to be an important part of her team. This quality resides in those who become team captains or business managers. However, leadership is not an ability that comes naturally to everyone. Organizations may use leadership-based team-building activities to help identify potential group leaders. These games can also help you determine what roles other members of your team will fulfill.

All Aboard

  1. This team-building activity helps introduce team members to each other, and helps identify and develop qualities such as communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Create a makeshift boat using movable pieces of wood, tile or carpet. Have the entire team stand on the boat. Once the group has positioned itself, the activity leader then begins to remove sections. The team must adjust to keep everyone on the boat. As people fall off they are eliminated. The leader can also designate people to act out certain physical aliments such as blindness to challenge the group to assist that person. Continue to remove pieces until the team is eliminated. To end the program, the activity leader can hold a discussion period to talk about the ways the group was led and the ideas the members created.

Round Tables

  1. This is a group program that helps develop leadership and delegation skills. Set up four tables with a different task at each. These tasks must include steps that can be delegated to members, such as sorting cards or building a Popsicle stick bridge. Have the team select one person to act as team leader at each table. The team leader is not allowed to participate in the task; she can only communicate and delegate tasks. Time the group at each station. Once everyone has completed all the tables, take a moment to discuss how the leaders and team members felt under each individual's command. The leaders can get feedback on their leadership style. To add competition, time the group at each table.

The Ropes Course

  1. Typical ropes courses require the completion of physical and mental challenges. The course is constructed of obstacles that are made from rope combinations. For example, the group may have to scale a rope wall while supporting teammates the whole way. When faced with a challenge, the staff is given a chance to create a strategy, then make as many attempts as needed to complete the goal. After each obstacle is completed, the activity leader takes a moment to speak with the team about the ideas created and other ways to have handled the task. The ropes course helps develop leadership, communication skills, critical thinking and role-playing abilities.