Building Stronger Teams Through Objects: A Creative Approach to Team Building

Objects carry stories. They remind us of experiences, people, and emotions. When people share an object — whether it’s a childhood toy, a lucky pen, or a souvenir from a favorite trip — they’re sharing a piece of themselves. You don’t have to be an extrovert or a wordsmith to hold up something meaningful and explain its importance. Everyone gets to participate on their own terms. Object sharing doesn’t just create fun moments; it fosters deeper listening. It builds appreciation for the diverse backgrounds, values, and motivations within your team. Over time, this strengthens collaboration, communication, and psychological safety — the essential foundations of high-performing teams.

So, next team meeting, try these simple steps:

🔹 Invite people to bring an object (or photo) to a meeting.
🔹 Give 2–3 minutes each to share their story.
🔹 Reflect together on what you noticed and felt.

Bonus: It works beautifully for virtual or in-person teams, and you’ll learn things about your colleagues you’d never expect.

Sometimes the smallest objects hold the biggest stories — and the strongest teams are built on knowing each other's stories.