In the last year, teams have spent more time than ever working apart. Even as offices begin to open, more offices than ever are remaining or incorporating aspects of remote work. While this time is full of change, one thing remains constant: to maintain a strong company culture, it’s important to bond with your team, even when you’re apart.
Why Remote Team Building Matters
How do you bond a team together? And how can you build a team while working remotely? Team building activities might conjure thoughts of trust falls and human knots, but remote team building looks entirely different. And it could be argued that remote team building is even more important than connecting teams who see each other regularly. In an office, colleagues cross paths naturally and engage in small talk. (You know, good old fashioned water cooler talk!) They also might gather for lunch, impromptu happy hours, or office birthdays in the break room.
Remote teams don’t have the same opportunities to bond serendipitously. The chances of getting to know each other outside of work is less likely. Teammates may have never interacted in person before, and many never will. Remote work can feel isolating and remote employees may feel unsupported or left out. This makes remote team building activities for virtual teams even more important. Despite this challenge, it’s important to maintain a sense of community in virtual and hybrid teams. Without intention around connecting teammates and keeping culture strong, you could potentially lose employees who don’t feel engaged or valued
How do you build team morale remotely? Luckily in the last few years there has been an increase in platforms and activities that cater to remote teams. Remote team building requires more intention to foster a connected team but it’s worth the time and financial investment. We believe that a team that plays together, stays together. Keep morale high and keep your team energized with the best remote team building activities to try with your team in 2023. We’ve chosen these as experts in team building and as a team who is folly remote ourselves.
What Makes a Great Team Building Activity
Your company likely has a diverse group of people which is great. That doesn’t mean it has to be hard to find something everyone will enjoy. Here is what makes a great team building activity.
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Fun
It may seem obvious, but a very important aspect of good team building is that it’s fun. You want your entire team to be engaged and research shows that people who laugh together like each other more.
- Structure
While many people love an office happy hour, in-person or even remote, a structured activity provides more opportunities for everyone to be involved. Having an outsider facilitate your remote team building activity is another way to ensure there is structure and also frees up everyone on the team to bond, instead of the person doing the planning being left out as the host. Go beyond just “hanging out” and invest in something with a sense of purpose that will get everyone involved.
- A Learning Moment
A great team building activity also allows people to learn together. This doesn’t have to be a heavy handed lesson and of course the lesson can be fun, as well. Think: learning new facts at trivia night, solving puzzles together in an Escape Room, cooking an entirely new meal in a virtual cooking class with the help of a chef.
- Inclusivity
The most successful team building activities appeal to a broad range of people. Your team probably has a mix of introverts and extroverts, people from different backgrounds and cultures, and if you’re a remote team, people who live all over the country or world. Great team building activities ensure everyone is considered and comfortable.
- Different Than A Regular Day at Work
The best team building activities have totally different vibes than work. An event should feel like an entirely new experience that takes people out of the setting they’re usually in together. It also splits away from the hierarchy that can come along with a workplace. This allows people to loosen up and opens to the door for connection in a new way on a level playing field.
- Well-Timed
Make sure everyone can have their first cup of coffee before jumping into an activity. Don’t plan an activity right before the busiest day of the year. Make sure no one is in a time zone where they’ll be asked to play a game in the middle of their night. Timing is important for planning a team building event so everyone can be focused and present. Adjacently, some activities are fun for just an hour or so while others can be day or days-long events. Consider the sweet spot for your team’s schedule, so that as many people as possible can join.
- Opportunity for Celebration
Positive affirmation is a big part of a workplace. Celebrating people’s wins and giving them opportunities to shine helps increase their commitment to a team, boosts morale, and strengthens relationships. Team building activities should have an opportunity for people to shine and be celebrated as well, but in a different environment. This transitions them from just being coworkers to having a relationship outside of their normal rules. From showcasing their puzzle skills to showing off how well they can make risotto, a team building activity should allow people to share potentially unknown skills with each other.
Our platform is thoughtfully designed to encourage inclusive participation (and fun!) with live gameplay.”
- Co-Founder, Ian Fraser
How to Make Remote Team Building Feel More Connected and Fun
- Build up the hype and camaraderie.
If your teams are competing in something like a game show, send their team assignments in advance so they can coordinate and wear matching colors. Or mail something, such as bandanas or colorful beaded necklaces, that teammates can wear to feel further bonded.
- Make it a surprise.
Turn your event into a surprise party. Block off time for a “team meeting” or “check in” and inform the team when they arrive online that they’ll actually be participating in a fun remote team building activity.
- Build suspense.
If you’re doing something like a cocktail class, send everyone the ingredients in advance but tell them not to open it. Or send costumes to wear while you have a trivia night but have everyone open them on screen. Build some suspense as to what is going to happen. Anticipation is half the fun.