Hiring a new employee is one thing. Making sure that person truly feels part of the team is another. Many companies focus on a good onboarding process, but forget the element that actually makes a team a team: experiencing something together. A teambuilding onboarding fills exactly that gap. Instead of just informing a new colleague about the work, you let them meet the team by doing something together.

In this article, you will read about what a teambuilding onboarding concretely entails, which activities are suitable for this, and how to deploy it, regardless of the size of your team or how often you welcome new employees.

What is a teambuilding onboarding and why does it work?

A teambuilding onboarding is an activity that you deploy during the onboarding process of new employees, with the aim of accelerating the connection with existing colleagues. Where regular onboarding often revolves around transferring information, such as systems, processes, and who is who, a teambuilding onboarding revolves around sharing experiences.

That works because people get to know each other fastest when they face something together. During an activity where the team collectively takes on a challenge, the distance between "the new person" and "the rest" disappears. Everyone starts equal, everyone contributes, and the new employee is immediately part of the whole instead of a spectator.

Would you like to know more about the broader approach to an onboarding process, including structure and guidance? Then read our article on tips for the onboarding of new employees here. In this article, we focus specifically on the activity itself.

Onboarding activities that connect new employees with the team

Not every activity is suitable for onboarding. A good onboarding activity is accessible, requires no prior knowledge, and ensures that everyone, new and existing, has an equal role.

Broadly speaking, there are a few types of activities that work well for this:

• Icebreakers: short, light-hearted activities that immediately relax the atmosphere, without the forced vibe of traditional introductory games.

• Escape rooms and puzzle activities: teams solve a challenge together under time pressure, which naturally sparks conversation and collaboration.

• Compact formats: activities that require little space and preparation, and easily fit into an introduction day or onboarding program.

• Custom activities: formats that are tailored to the company's own culture, product, or organization's mission.

The Einstein Box is a compact, mobile escape room that is set up at any location. With a playing time of 10 to 30 minutes, it is a short, accessible component that easily fits into an introduction day or onboarding program. Colleagues solve puzzles together under time pressure, which naturally sparks conversation and collaboration.

Are you looking for a longer, more immersive experience where the whole team or the whole department is challenged? The Escape Room Experience lasts 75 minutes and is specifically developed for larger groups. Instead of a short part of the day, this activity forms the main program itself, making it suitable for an onboarding moment where multiple new employees or departments get acquainted at the same time.

Are you looking for a light icebreaker to immediately set the right mood? Play it Nice, Break the Ice is designed to get people talking to each other in a relaxed way, without the forced vibe of traditional introductory games.

Employee onboarding for every type of team and every situation

Every organization onboards differently. Some companies welcome new employees continuously, while others see peaks around a start date or season. The beauty of a teambuilding onboarding is that the format moves along with that situation.

With a small, regular influx, a compact activity often works best: short, focused, and easy to repeat every time a new colleague joins. With a larger influx, for example when an entire department or branch grows at the same time, an activity that works in parallel for multiple groups at once is more valuable. Everyone is then actively involved instead of passively watching, and getting to know the wider team goes faster than through separate round-robin introductions.

Are you unsure which setup fits your situation? Take a look at our insights on teambuilding for large groups. Many of those principles also apply when you want to onboard multiple new employees at once.

Teambuilding onboarding on-site, online or hybrid

Not every team works in the same place, and that does not have to be an obstacle to a good onboarding. The Box Company offers teambuilding onboarding activities on-site, fully online, and in a hybrid format.

For teams that largely work in the office, an on-site activity is the obvious choice: the physical setting strengthens the feeling of belonging to something together. If (part of) the team works remotely, an online or hybrid variant ensures that remote employees are not left out either. This way, the experience remains equal, regardless of where someone is located.

How to organize a teambuilding onboarding with The Box Company

Setting up a teambuilding onboarding is not a major project. First, determine the timing: many companies choose to schedule the activity during the first work week, when the new employee is still soaking in impressions and open to making connections. Then, choose a format that fits your team and situation: compact and fast, or more extensive and immersive. Then contact The Box Company. We are happy to brainstorm which activity fits your team, whether it is for a one-off onboarding or a recurring program.

Frequently asked questions about teambuilding onboarding

What is a teambuilding onboarding?

A teambuilding onboarding is an activity that you deploy during the onboarding process of new employees to accelerate the connection with the team. Instead of just transferring information, you let new and existing colleagues experience something together, which makes getting acquainted more natural and faster.

What are the best teambuilding activities for onboarding?

Activities where new and existing employees have an equal role work best. Think of an escape room, a compact puzzle box like the Einstein Box, or a light icebreaker like Play it Nice, Break the Ice. Crucially, the activity should require no prior knowledge and actively involve everyone.

What are effective online teambuilding activities for onboarding?

For teams working (partially) remotely, The Box Company offers online and hybrid variants of the same activities. This ensures the onboarding experience is equal for everyone, regardless of where they are located.

Is a teambuilding onboarding suitable for every team?

Yes. The Box Company's activities are scalable and adaptable to the situation of your organization, from a small team to a larger department.