6 Best Motivational Training Games for Corporate Employees

The sound of clicking keyboards and meetings all day every day does not exactly scream motivation. Yet, we expect our teams to stay energised and motivated all day from 9 to 6. Obviously, it is not as easy as slapping on a smile and saying, “Be better!” You need to create that spark to make employees get up from their screens and start working with a sense of purpose. Unfortunately, traditional training often falls short of driving that long-lasting motivation that teams need to thrive. What if, instead of another mundane training, you could flip the script? In this blog, we have explained the 10 best training games to motivate corporate employees.

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1. Scavenger Hunt

Team scavenger hunts are an amazing training game to motivate employees and build connections. This activity will instantly lighten up the mood and motivate them to finish the game before other teams (bonus if you have awards too). This game encourages employees to work together to come up with strategies to solve mysteries/puzzles within a time limit. You can count it to be a great ice-breaker too as it is commonly included in college fresher programs. It is an excellent way to improve communication, build trust, and improve problem-solving skills within the team.

• First, explain to them how a scavenger hunt works and the benefits of this game for corporate teams. 
• The participants are all divided into teams with a good mix of personalities, skills, and expertise in each group.
• Lay out the time limit and rules for the scavenger hunt like designated space (whether physical or virtual), scoring methods, etc.
• Once the timer starts, the teams will start to hunt the items, solve puzzles, and complete tasks to reach the end goal.
• The employees are encouraged to brainstorm and divide their responsibilities strategically to improve their chances of winning.
• When the timer rings, you will calculate the scores of all the teams and announce the winning team’s name.

2. Balloon Questions

Balloon Questions is an interactive team-building and fun activity that motivates employees to bond through a series of lighthearted yet thought-provoking questions. With just a few simple materials (balloons, paper, and pen), this game sparks communication and adds an element of surprise to the team dynamics. This is a great icebreaker game for corporate employees that motivates them to build connections and strengthen interpersonal relationships within the team.

• Each employee will be given a pen and paper and asked to write down some fun or interesting questions.
• After this, you can have each of them place their paper inside a balloon and inflate it.
• Gather the balloons and distribute them randomly among the participants.
• Each member will take turns to pop a balloon and answer the question they find inside of it. It adds a playful twist to discussions and creates a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere for employees to connect.
• Encourage participants to share personal stories to make the workshop fun.

3. Goodie Bag Skits

Goodie Bag Skits is a large group activity to motivate employees to think creatively and also promotes team collaboration. Teams are given a skit title and must perform an impromptu skit, using creativity and quick thinking to entertain all others. It motivates employees to think on their feet. This game adds a playful twist to team-building. 

• Begin by dividing participants into teams of 4-8 members with a good mix of skills in each group.
• The facilitator will assign each team a skit title or scenario, leaving the interpretation to them to act it out.
• The teams will get a few minutes to brainstorm, plan, and rehearse their skit.
• Once ready, have each team perform their skit in front of the group, encouraging creativity, humor, and improvisation.
• To make it a bit more fun, you can also award a prize to the winning team with the most entertaining or creative performance.

To conduct these games effectively such that they benefit each participating employee, it is best to choose an expert-led corporate workshop from EducationNest, one of India’s leading corporate training providers with a proven track record of excellence.

4. Minute to Win It

Minute to Win It is an exciting, fast-paced game that offers a refreshing break from slow office days. This motivational corporate training game involves a series of quick challenges where teams compete to complete tasks in under a minute. It is a great quick-break game to freshen up. The most commonly seen in corporate training programs is the sticky wall variation. You could even pick one of its other fun variations like cup stacking or backward ABCs. 

• For the sticky wall game, you will first place double-sided tape on a door.
• All the employees will be divided into teams and each team will get some pom-poms (or really anything that is light-weight and can be thrown).
• Each team member will take turns throwing pom-poms, aiming to stick them onto the tape within 1 minute only.
• The team that successfully lands the most pom-poms within 1 minute wins the challenge.

5. Murder Mystery

Murder Mystery is a classic game that will sharpen your team’s problem-solving and decision-making skills. This immersive motivational training game for employees encourages employees to work together to analyze clues and piece together evidence to solve a fictional crime. With numerous crime templates available online, it is easy to recreate a thrilling crime scene for your corporate training workshop (and customize it too!).

• Begin by selecting a murder mystery template or script that suits your team’s size and interests.
• Each participant will be assigned a character within the mystery.
• The game begins with one person explaining the backstory of the crime. This will give the context along with the clues.
• As the game unfolds, teams must investigate the clues together, question suspects, and solve the mystery within a set timeframe.
• In the end, reveal the solution and announce the team that correctly identified the culprit or made the best case.

6. Don’t Drop the Ball

Don’t Drop the Ball is a dynamic team-building activity that teaches employees how important each of their contributions is to group success. This motivational corporate workshop game requires teamwork, coordination, and communication. Hence, it is even better for team-building.

• Start by dividing participants into two teams and provide each team with a large bedsheet.
• Opposing teams will stand on opposite sides holding the bedsheet taut.
• A moderator will throw a water balloon toward one team, which must then use the sheet to bounce the balloon across to the other team.
• The goal is to keep the balloon from bursting. The first team to let the balloon pop loses the round.
• Encourage teams to strategize how they move the sheet to aim and control the balloon movement.

Conclusion

Motivational games are an excellent way to shake things up, get people moving, and spark fresh energy in the workplace. These activities help break down barriers, build stronger connections, and push teams to think outside the box. When employees get a chance to bond, laugh, and tackle challenges together, they leave the office only to come back more motivated. They become more focused and ready to take on whatever comes next. 

If you are a corporate looking for effective corporate training workshops to motivate employees, EducationNest can help you. They are the leading corporate training providers in India with expert-led training workshops as well as subject-matter courses to help you build better teams.