Team building
Team building fitness challenges that bring people together.
The best team building happens when coworkers share a goal, cheer each other on and have something to talk about on Monday. A fitness challenge does all three for a few weeks at a time, for the whole organization at once.
Why fitness challenges work for team building
Most team building events last an afternoon. A fitness challenge runs for weeks and fits around everyone’s schedule, so the connection builds a little every day. Teammates compare notes on lunchtime walks, the quiet analyst turns out to be a hiker, and the sales team starts a rivalry with finance.
Research backs the social design. In the STEP UP randomized trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine, adults in a points-based competition increased their activity, and the competition group was the only one that kept its gains after the game ended.
Patel M.S. et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, 2019.
The design rule: compete between teams, cooperate within them. Each person works toward their own goal, and the team’s score depends on everyone showing up.
Eight team building challenge ideas
Each idea works for four to eight weeks and runs on the same setup: participants connect their phone or tracker once, and activity syncs automatically.
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Department rivalry
One group per department. Compare groups by average Activity Score in the organizer reports, so a team of five can beat a team of fifty.
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Walk to a destination
Pick a landmark or another office and add up the group’s miles to get there. Each participant also follows their own route on eFit’s Walking Journey map.
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Mixed-team shuffle
Build teams that deliberately mix departments, locations and seniority. Connection across silos is the point.
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Charity miles
Pledge a donation for every team that reaches the goal. The cause gives people a reason to join beyond fitness.
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Accountability pods
Groups of three or four set a weekly commitment and check in with each other. eFit pods make this built in.
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Weekend bonus rounds
Announce a short mini-goal for one weekend mid-challenge to lift energy when it usually dips.
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Leaders vs. everyone
A leadership team takes on the rest of the company. It signals that leaders mean it and gives everyone a fun target.
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New-hire welcome challenge
Run a short challenge for each onboarding cohort so new employees meet peers outside their team in their first month.
Make sure everyone can play
A team building event that leaves people out does the opposite of its job. Employees with injuries, disabilities, caregiving duties or desk-bound roles often feel singled out by step contests. Four choices keep the challenge welcoming:
- Active minutes count. Swimming, cycling, chair workouts and wheelchair activity earn credit.
- Personal goals. Each person is scored against a goal, with 70% of it counting as success.
- Optional leaderboard. People who prefer privacy still contribute to their team.
- Voluntary participation. An invitation with no pressure gets a warmer response than a mandate.
For the full planning checklist, see how to run a step challenge at work.
Frequently asked questions
Team building questions.
Have a different question? Tell us about your group and we will help map the right challenge.
Email support@efit.healthWhat makes a fitness challenge good for team building?
Shared goals and mixed teams. When each team needs every member’s progress, coworkers start encouraging each other, and people from different departments get to know one another.
How big should challenge teams be?
Four to eight people. Small enough that everyone matters to the result, large enough that one busy week does not sink the team.
How do we keep a team challenge from feeling competitive or exclusive?
Score each person against their own goal, count active minutes as well as steps, and let people choose whether to appear on the leaderboard.
Can remote and in-office staff be on the same team?
Yes. Activity syncs from each person’s phone or tracker wherever they are, so mixed teams across offices and home workers are easy to run.
Start the conversation
Build your team’s next shared goal.
Tell us how many people and teams you have in mind. We will help you pick a format and set it up.