Set up a collaborative atmosphere by sharing some process-related tasks with participants! Meetings will run smoother, and everyone will gain a bit of experience and understanding on what works for improved collaboration. A hybrid event is one in which some participants are gathered in person, sharing the same physical space, while youmetalks others are joining remotely online.
Two truths and a lie works best for new teams, onboarding sessions, or smaller groups where everyone has time to share. Collaborative puzzle-solving where teams work together to “escape” a virtual scenario within a time limit. Escape rooms require communication, delegation, and problem-solving skills—abilities that transfer directly to project work. Onboarding calls for something that helps new hires learn names and personalities.
The rest of the team tries to guess which statement is false, encouraging conversation and helping team members discover interesting facts about each other. In fact, according to Forbes Advisor, 53% of remote workers say that they find it challenging to connect with their co-workers. The Hybrid Team Canvas is a framework and tool to design a hybrid or remote-first team culture. Facilitating in hybrid mode has its unique challenges (and you can read a more in-depth guide about how to face them).
- This activity promotes teamwork, healthy competition, and fosters a spirit of camaraderie.
- These games range from holiday-themed trivia to ugly sweater-making, and offer prime opportunities to celebrate together while strengthening team bonds and letting everyone unwind in a lighthearted and playful way.
- Over time, different cohorts will create different cultures (we are humans, that’s what we do!).
Just be sure to consider whether the learnings from such breakouts might not benefit the whole team and create space to share those learnings. It takes time to get your head around remote meetings and what online workshops entail. By giving people all the tools they need and outlining your expectations, you’re making a great start but remember to be empathetic. It also means adhering to any items of online meeting etiquette you’ve set and creating space for others to speak and contribute. One of the most important virtual facilitation skills you can master is finding that balance between focusing on delivering your agenda and being present in the moment.
Distributed Team Forming
Finding the silver lining during these times and planning fun activities have strengthened our team in so many ways and is setting an even stronger foundation for our future. Thanks to our diversity, equity, and inclusion advisory team, we selected Bonusly Afterhours as our form of a “happy hour” social activity space. Not everyone is on happy hour time when this activity happens due to the various time zones, so we wanted to be sure to include that difference in the name. We also respect individual choices to drink alcohol or not, so Afterhours seemed to be the most inclusive choice. In order to enhance our organizational culture and keep the team upbeat and engaged, we brainstormed a list of inclusive activities and conversation prompts.
With the right virtual team-building activities, you can create even more meaningful bonds than in traditional office settings. During conversations, we explored how digital interfaces influence how we communicate, the language we use, and the ways in which relationships may be structured. After all, online environments are not empty containers to apply methods for dialogue, but rather are constitutive of what is possible between people in any interaction (Law & Urry, 2004).
But you have to nurture this when your team is remote as you’re not there to say thank you in person. Rotate the discussion leader role so each team member shares the responsibility of preparing questions and guiding the conversation. This creates ownership and ensures diverse perspectives lead the discussion. Start a Virtual Book Club where team members read the same book and discuss a few ideas per week during a video call.
Encourage participation by keeping attendance optional, providing lunch stipends or delivery gift cards, and recording sessions for those who can’t attend live. The informal format removes barriers that more formal training might create. Formal mentoring relationships support career development and combat the isolation that can stunt professional growth in remote settings. Virtual mentoring programs pair less experienced team members with seasoned colleagues for regular guidance conversations. Invite team members to present minute talks on their areas of expertise, whether directly work-related or adjacent skills. A marketing team member might share content creation strategies, while someone from finance explains budgeting basics.
Continually evaluate the effectiveness of your initiatives, seek feedback from team members, and adapt as needed to ensure continuous growth and engagement within your remote team. The Place to Be for Remote Workers Sococo is a virtual workspace platform designed to create a sense of a physical office environment for remote teams. Organize virtual team dinners where team members enjoy a meal together via video conferencing. Encourage virtual team members to order food from local restaurants or cook a meal at home, creating a shared dining experience. This activity fosters a sense of togetherness and allows team members to relax and connect casually.
How Remote Employee Time Tracking Manage Works With Onethread
Set them up to function as “single sources of truth” where participants can always find information on the agenda, sessions and activities. This tool to support mutual understanding can be turned into a hybrid team building activity. What could be hard or frustrating about participating remotely rather than in-person?
A collection of festive competitions where holiday spirit meets gamified fun. It’s great for putting their problem-solving skills to the test while encouraging quick thinking and time management. Sign up for FREE with Confetti to begin customizing your next virtaul escape room.
Importance Of Remote Employee Engagement Activities
Virtual fitness challenges provide an excellent platform to promote physical activity among remote employees. Be it a daily step challenge or an online workout class, these activities can help employees stay active, boost their mood, and improve their overall health. Start by choosing a theme that resonates with the team; it could be a ‘70s disco night, a glamorous Hollywood party, or even a Disney character theme. Once the theme is set, plan activities that spark engagement and interaction. These could be simple conversations about shared interests or organized games in breakout rooms.
Effective remote team building is not focused on replicating in-person experiences. Online team-building games are meant to create meaningful connections that work within the digital environment, having a positive impact on remote workers. The activities in this guide leverage the unique advantages of virtual interaction while addressing the specific challenges remote teams face. Employee engagement platforms offer features that help onboard new team members effectively, providing them with the necessary information, resources, and support to integrate into the team seamlessly.
The cotton candy sticking to your fingers, the silly ring toss game that always felt impossible, the carousel ride that made you laugh until your cheeks hurt. Nobody really cared about winning prizes, what mattered was the energy, the togetherness, and the joy of being part of something lighthearted. Those simple shared experiences created memories that lasted far longer than the carnival itself. Overall, effective team-building activities for remote workers contribute positively to both individual and organizational health, boosting productivity, employee happiness, and long-term success.
Furthermore, as a result of adapting their facilitation practice to online or remote platforms, many community-engaged practitioners were able to see and approach their facilitation practice in new ways. No matter how small or large your virtual team is, there’s bound to be common interests across teams and departments. Take a poll to see where people’s passions lie and encourage individuals to connect. Here are a few examples of remote team building activities to support your employees’ unique interests.
Use this tool to improve collaboration, support and kindness among the different cohorts. Carving out this time also gives your people the chance to air any stresses they might be carrying. Incorporate wellness into your virtual social events by planning activities that promote physical and mental well-being, such as virtual coffee breaks, fitness challenges, or mindfulness sessions.
Remote engagement doesn’t happen accidentally—it requires deliberate design, consistent execution, and willingness to measure and adapt based on what your team actually needs. Structure sessions casually, with minute presentations followed by questions and discussion. Focus on storytelling rather than formal reporting—what made the success possible, what obstacles were overcome, who contributed along the way. These sessions build organizational knowledge while ensuring good work receives visibility and celebration across the team. These walls become places team members visit regularly to give and receive appreciation.
Your remote team might not have its office, but it can have its own world. If you want your team members to connect in a fun way that still requires creativity, make sure to check out Gather. Video conferencing software like Zoom, Skype and Google Teams can also be used as team-building tools, not just for serious meetings. The great thing is that everyone already knows how to use it, taking away any barriers for people to join. Their current office space will turn into coworking spaces for their employees Dropbox Studios, where people can choose to go in to work if they need a break from remote work. Social media giant Facebook will allow up to 50% of their employees to work remotely forever.
Team brainstorming sessions are a fantastic way to foster innovation and collaboration while addressing key challenges. Bingo is simple, fun, and easy to set up, making it ideal for teams of all sizes. Watch parties create a shared experience that’s perfect for relaxing together after work. Friendly competitions like virtual bake-offs, photography challenges, or talent shows encourage participation and fun.
Remember, the magic of a virtual magic show lies not just in the tricks but in the shared experience of wonder and amazement. Remember, the goal is to create an enjoyable and relaxing experience that brings each team member closer together, regardless of their physical location. These elements will help to strengthen team bonds and foster a sense of community during the event. It is a set of practical suggestions to make your remote workshop successful. Countless companies are making the switch to fully remote, especially after a year that has proven that there’s more possible than we could ever imagine. As long as you build a sense of team spirit in every phase of growth for your company, you’ll be moving forward.
