Working virtually has become the latest norm. Many people are now accustomed to virtual happy hours, virtual meet-ups, and virtual team-building activities. While some may argue that these types of events are not as effective as in-person events, the right planning and execution will result in a virtual event that is just as engaging, if not more so. This blog post will explore eight virtual team-building ideas that you can make use of to make your remote teams more engaged.
It’s no secret that happy employees are more productive employees. And while there are many factors that contribute to employee happiness, one of the most important is feeling like they’re part of a team. Remote teams need to be given the right incentives so that all remote team members will get incorporated into the company culture effectively. To create a successful team, it’s important to boost employee morale and make sure that team engagement is always present.
Unfortunately, building team morale can be difficult when you have team members who work remotely. But it’s not impossible! There are plenty of virtual team-building activities you can do to help your remote workers feel engaged and connected to their teammates. All it takes is a little creativity and effort. With a fun virtual team-building game or two, team bonding will be enhanced, along with things like communication skills, collaboration, respect, and trust.
8 Online Team Building Activities
To help make your remote team-building more fun and engaging, here are eight excellent remote team-building activities you can do online:
1. Virtual Scavenger Hunt
Virtual scavenger hunts are a great way to get your team working together to solve problems and complete challenges. Remote employees will surely love to engage in this activity. Plus, they’re a lot of fun! A virtual scavenger hunt can be tailored to any theme or topic, so you can find one that’s perfect for your team.
To arrange one, simply divide your team into groups and give each group a list of items to find or challenges to complete. You can make the game as simple or complex as you like, and you can even add virtual rewards for the winning team. This is an awesome team-building activity because it promotes virtual team bonding and makes the entire team engaged to achieve a common goal.
2. Online Quiz
An online quiz is a great way to test your team’s knowledge and get them thinking about working together. You can find quizzes on any topic, so you can tailor the activity to your team’s interests. If you want, you can make the quiz about your company or about the industry you work in.
To make it more fun, you can offer virtual prizes for the winning team or individual. Quizzes are a great way to get your team thinking and working together. After this activity, your team will be able to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to real-world challenges.
3. Virtual Reality Games
Virtual reality (VR) games are a great way to get your team working together in a fun and immersive environment. There are many different VR games available, so you can find one that’s perfect for your team.
Some popular VR games include:
- Job Simulator: In this game, players take on the role of different workers in a virtual world. The goal is to complete various tasks and challenges while working together as a team.
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Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes: In this game, one player is locked in a virtual room with a bomb. The other players must work together to defuse the bomb by following the instructions of the player with the bomb. This is a great activity for teams that need to learn to communicate effectively under pressure.
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Superhot VR: In this game, players must work together to take down enemies in a virtual world. The catch is that time only moves when you do, so you must plan your moves carefully. This is a great activity for teams that need to learn to work together and think strategically.VR games are a great way to get your team working together in a fun and immersive environment.
4. Online Escape Room
An online escape room is an exciting and unique team-building activity that will help you get your team working together to solve problems. It can be done through a video call or an online chatroom, and it is a great way to get everyone thinking creatively.
You can incorporate an online escape room into your team building by having everyone work together to solve a puzzle or challenge. This is a great way to get everyone thinking outside the box and working together. This virtual team-building event will surely make the entire team-building session more interesting and fun.
5. Online Karaoke
If you and your team are music lovers, then online karaoke is the perfect virtual team-building activity for you! All you need is a computer with internet access and a microphone, and you’re good to go. There are plenty of websites that offer free karaoke tracks, so all you have to do is choose a song, turn on the microphone, and start singing!
Not only is online karaoke a fun way to bond with your team members, but it’s also a great way to relieve stress and let off some steam. Plus, it’s a great way to show off your hidden talents (or lack thereof)!
6. Online Office Olympics
The virtual office can be a pretty boring place, so why not liven things up with a bit of friendly competition? You can hold virtual Office Olympics whenever you like, and they don’t have to be complicated. A few simple games that everyone can play from their desk are all you need.
Some ideas for virtual office Olympics include:
- online trivia
- virtual puzzle race
- virtual relay race
- virtual bake-off
Get creative and have some fun with it!
7. Virtual Wellness Sessions
Working from home can be stressful and impact our physical and mental well-being. To help your team stay healthy, consider virtual wellness sessions. You could hire a professional to lead a yoga or meditation class, or host a virtual cooking session where everyone makes the same dish. By taking care of your team’s physical and mental health, you’ll help them be more productive and engaged employees.
8. Virtual Improv Session
Another great virtual team-building activity is having a virtual improv session. This can be done by having someone in the group be the leader and come up with a scenario. Then, everyone else has to act out that scene. This is a great way to get everyone to loosen up and have some fun. Improv sessions are rooted on the principle of “Yes, And” which is all about acceptance and building off of each other. This is a great way to build trust within a virtual team.
4 Online Team Building Games
Online games are all about bringing people together to have fun and bond with one another. Here are four team-building games that will surely get your team laughing and working together:
1. Trivia
One of the most classic team-building games is trivia. You can tailor the questions to be about your company, industry, or even just general knowledge. This is a great way to get everyone on the same page and learn more about one another.
To start, divide your team into small groups. Then, have each group come up with a list of trivia questions. Once everyone has their questions ready, start the game! The group with the most correct answers wins.
2. Skribbl
Skribbl is a virtual game that is perfect for team building. It is an online multiplayer game where players have to guess the word being drawn by another player. This game requires teamwork, communication, and creativity, which makes it a great activity for virtual teams. This game will also help team members get to know each other better.
3. Scattergories
Scattergories is all about quick thinking and creativity. It’s a great way to get your team thinking outside the box and working together. To play, you’ll need a list of categories (you can find lists online or make your own) and a timer. Each player comes up with an answer for each category, starting with the letter given. If another player has the same answer, you both get a point. The goal is to get as many points as possible.
4. Two Truths and a Lie
This game is a virtual team-building classic for a reason. It helps people get to know each other by sharing three things about themselves, two of which are true and one of which is a lie. Then, everyone else has to try to guess which one is the lie. You can make it as silly or as serious as you want, depending on your team.
To make it more challenging, you can add a time limit or have people share their answers in a specific order (e.g. going around the virtual meeting clockwise).
This activity is great for:
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Getting to know your teammates
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Encouraging people to be creative
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Helping people think on their feet
Working virtually or managing a virtual team doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right virtual team-building activities, you can create a fun and cohesive work environment no matter where your employees are located.
