Growth mindset meeting with group in circle

Activity Ideas 14 Oct 25 1 Comments

Team-Building Activities That Build a Growth Mindset

By Mark Collard
Experiential Trainer, Author & Speaker

Team-Building That Grows with Your People

The internet is flooded with team-building activities – some great, many not so much.

But finding team-building activities that genuinely promote continuous improvement and a growth mindset?

Those are few and far between.

So, if I’ve piqued your interest, stick around.

By the end of this blog post, you’ll have five brilliant team-building activities you can run in under five minutes – each one designed to build resilience, adaptability, and a culture of growth.

These activities were inspired by questions from facilitators worldwide, who asked about activities that help develop a growth mindset, Six Sigma thinking, and high-performance teamwork.

So, I’ve pulled them all together here.

In this Post…

Click the links below to scroll directly to that content:

Why Focus on Growth Mindset?
5 Team-Building Activities That Build a Growth Mindset
Recommended Viewing
Final Thoughts

Why Focus on Growth Mindset?

Before diving into the activities, it’s worth remembering why this matters.

A growth mindset encourages teams to learn from mistakes, adapt quickly, and continually improve.

These experiences are not just fun – they’re practical, meaningful ways to help people reflect on their progress and see challenges as opportunities.

5 Team-Building Activities That Build a Growth Mindset

#1 Through The Wringer

This one’s simple, quick, and surprisingly powerful.

Grab a hula hoop and challenge your group – whether 10 or 20 people – to pass every single person through the hoop as fast as possible.

The timer starts when the hoop lifts off the ground and stops when it returns to the ground.

After the first attempt, give them a few minutes and let them try again.

You’ll see creativity, strategy, and teamwork take over as they refine their approach – clear signs of a group embracing continuous improvement.

#2 Numbers Game

This activity really brings home the value of iteration.

Each person gets a sheet filled with randomly scattered numbers (1 to 60). On “GO,” they must touch the numbers (on the paper) in order as fast as they can.

Time their first attempt, then have them repeat it – either individually or in pairs.

You’ll see noticeable improvement after each round.

It’s a brilliant way to demonstrate how reflection, repetition, and collaboration drive performance.

#3 Mimeograph

Here’s one that uses a deck of cards and a bit of brainpower. Although my favourite way to play is to use a set of UBUNTU Cards.

Create a hidden pattern of five or six cards and have your group recreate it exactly, one person at a time, by taking quick looks and communicating what they saw.

It sounds easier than it is!

This game sharpens communication, memory, and strategic thinking – all essential for a growth mindset. Once they’ve got it right, mix up the cards and do it again. You’ll be amazed at how quickly the group improves their process.