Turning Reluctance into Engagement

I’m going to take a wild guess – you’re here because you’re worried about facing resistance at your next team bonding or team building event.

I get it.

It’s not unusual to have a few people who aren’t exactly fans of group activities.

But here’s the good news: I’m going to share three brilliant team bonding activities that, in my experience, even reluctant people enjoy.

Why? Because they focus on one simple truth – the stronger the connections you create in your group, the easier it is to amplify whatever outcome you’re aiming for.

Whether you’re leading a program, running a retreat, or just trying to build stronger team spirit, these activities help people interact, share, and trust.

And that’s when the magic really happens.

Keep reading, or click play below to dive in…

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The Power of Commonalities
From Reluctant to Engaged: Team Bonding Activities That Work
Recommended Viewing
Final Thoughts

The Power of Commonalities

Over my career, I’ve learned that one of the fastest ways to win over disengaged or reluctant participants is through commonalities. Connections often start with the simplest discovery that you share something in common with another person.

Think about it: when you walk into a room full of strangers, what’s the first thing you do?

You look for shared experiences: “Have you been here before? Where do you work? Where do you live?” Once you find common ground, the stress levels drop, and people feel more comfortable.

The following three activities are all designed to highlight those bonds in fun, easy, and engaging ways.

3 Team Bonding Activities That Work

#1 Must Choose

This is one of my go-to team bonding activities, especially at the start of a program.

It’s simple but highly effective.

Here’s how it works:

I ask the group a series of either/or questions.
Each person pairs up with someone and shares their preference. For example: Coke or Pepsi? White chocolate or dark chocolate? Video games or board games?
After sharing, I ask each pair to speculate on what the majority of the group will choose and why.

Finally, participants move to one side of the room or the other based on their preference.

Then we repeat the process with new rounds – sunrise or sunset, good news first or bad news first, and so on. After a few rounds, everyone will have found some things in common – even if they’re in the minority.

That simple recognition sparks comfort and connection, making it much easier to build relationships.

#2 Ubuntu Cards

This next one has common bonds baked right into its name.

Ubuntu is a Zulu concept meaning “I am because we are.”

Ubuntu Cards, created by High 5 Adventure Learning in the US, are one of those tools I wish I’d invented.

Each card has a single image on one side and multiple images on the other.

The activity challenges people to identify the one image that appears on both cards when two participants compare them.

The magic happens because:

You’ve put something into their hands, which immediately piques interest.
Once they find the common image, they’re prompted to have a conversation about what they have in common.

It could be obvious – like both wearing glasses – or unexpected, such as both being vegetarians or recently visiting the zoo.

The activity naturally encourages dialogue, laughter, and connection, which is exactly what reluctant participants need.

# 3 Categories

This final activity is brilliant for gently drawing in people who are unsure or resistant. It’s all about splitting the group into categories – sometimes silly, sometimes meaningful.

For example, ask everyone to cross their arms. Then invite them to notice: is their left arm over their right, or their right arm over their left? Split the group accordingly.

From there, you can keep it light or go deeper:

Which thumb is on top when interlocking your fingers
Were you born in winter, spring, summer, or autumn?
What’s the last digit of your phone number?
Are you the eldest, middle, or youngest child?

The important part isn’t just moving into groups – it’s sparking conversations within those groups.

For example, when dividing by family roles, ask people to share the best and worst parts of being the eldest, middle, or youngest.

Reluctant participants quickly realise there’s no threat here – just a chance to connect and laugh.

And once they’re engaged, they’ll often stay engaged.

Recommended Viewing

If you loved these team bonding activities, here are some recent videos and articles I think you’ll also enjoy:

4 x Team-Building Activities for Employees

Fun Team-Building Games using Playing Cards

101 Quick & Easy Teambuilding Games

Final Thoughts

These three activities – Must Choose, Ubuntu Cards, and Categories – are powerful ways to win over reluctant participants. They strip away resistance by focusing on simple commonalities that naturally build trust, connection, and comfort.

When people discover they’re not alone, they relax. And when they relax, they participate.

That’s when your team bonding activities really shine.

Until then, thanks for reading – and here’s to creating group experiences that are fun, inclusive, and genuinely engaging.

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Team-Bonding Activities that Win Over Reluctant People