Team building isn't just about icebreakers and trust falls; it's about building meaningful connections, enhancing communication, and creating a sense of unity among team members. In a virtual setting, doing this requires a bit of creativity. That's where virtual team building activities come into play to keep your team connected and motivated:
Virtual Lunch or Coffee Breaks:
Start your day with a virtual coffee break. Encourage team members to join a video call, bring their favorite beverage, and engage in casual conversations. These breaks mimic the water cooler chats that naturally occur in physical offices and help build personal connections.
Online Games:
Host online games like trivia, Pictionary, or scavenger hunts where team members search for specific items or complete tasks within their own homes. This activity encourages problem-solving, teamwork, and a good dose of laughter as participants share their quirky findings over video calls. These games are not only fun but also encourage teamwork and creativity. Platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack offer various integrations for gaming.
Wellness Challenges:
Promote health and well-being by organizing virtual wellness challenges. From yoga to weight training to Zumba, there are so many different types of fitness classes you can offer your team, and it can all be done virtually. These could include step-count competitions, meditation sessions, or even a healthy recipe exchange. Encouraging physical and mental well-being helps boost morale and teamwork.
Online Skill-Sharing Workshops:
Let team members share their unique skills or expertise through online workshops. Whether it's coding, graphic design, or language lessons, this promotes continuous learning within the team. It’s like hosting a TED Talk within your own company. The more your team knows the better, and it's a fun way to have folks share their special skills!
Themed Dress-Up Days:
Spice up your video meetings by organizing themed dress-up days. Whether it's '80s retro, favorite movie characters, or pajama day, these lighthearted activities break the monotony of work and showcase your team's fun side.
Recognition and Celebrations:
Don't forget to celebrate achievements and milestones, even in a virtual environment. Recognize outstanding performance, birthdays, work anniversaries, and other special occasions to show appreciation and strengthen team bonds.
Host a Sip and Paint:
What’s better than wine and art? Hire an art teacher to teach your employees virtually how to paint their own version of Starry Night or some other masterpiece.
Offer a Rose and a Thorn:
If you don’t want to make a big to-do about team bonding, you can allow a low-key moment each week with “Rose & Thorn”. Ask each team member to share the rose and thorn for the past week. A rose is a good thing that they’ve learned about themselves or their job. A thorn is something negative that they’ve encountered. This is often a short exercise, but it’s a great way to encourage transparency, vulnerability, and honesty, which helps to create a stronger team.
Incorporating these virtual team building activities into your remote work culture can improve morale, strengthen relationships, and increase overall team satisfaction. Remember, the key to successful virtual team building is regularity and inclusivity. We hope you borrow some of these activities for your team!