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Feeling disconnected as a remote team leader? You’re not alone. Over 40% of employees reported feeling lonely while working from home, which can impact productivity and morale. Our guide is filled with tried-and-true virtual team building activities that help build connections, boost engagement and foster a sense of belonging in your remote teams.
Let’s dive right into it!
Key Takeaways
- Remote team building activities are essential for fostering a sense of belonging and increasing employee engagement and retention.
- These activities help to strengthen workplace relationships, improve productivity, and boost team morale in remote teams.
- Different types of virtual team building activities, such as DEI activities, games, team building activities for meetings, educational experiences, health & wellness classes, and hosted classes and workshops can be implemented to build connections among remote teams.
Benefits of Team Building for Remote Teams
Team building activities for remote teams offer numerous benefits, including an increased sense of belonging, better employee retention rates, stronger workplace relationships, higher productivity levels, more engaged employees, and overall higher team morale.
1- Increased sense of belonging
Team building makes you feel like you are part of a group. You don’t feel alone when working from home. It helps the whole team know each other better. This will make your team work well together.
Being part of a team can also help with work stress.
2- Better employee retention
A strong team bond can lead to better employee retention. When employees feel a sense of belonging and connection with their colleagues, they are more likely to stay with the company.
Virtual team building activities help foster these relationships and build trust among remote teams. By creating an engaging and supportive work environment, companies can reduce turnover rates and retain top talent.
According to studies, companies that prioritize employee engagement and team cohesion have higher retention rates compared to those that do not. So, investing in virtual team building activities is not only fun but also beneficial for keeping your remote workforce happy and committed.
3- Stronger workplace relationships
Strong workplace relationships are essential for remote teams to thrive. They promote collaboration, trust, and effective communication among team members. According to studies, employees with strong workplace relationships are more likely to feel supported and motivated in their work.
This ultimately leads to higher job satisfaction and productivity. Virtual team building activities play a crucial role in fostering these relationships by creating opportunities for teammates to connect on a personal level and build rapport.
By engaging in activities like icebreaker games, virtual coffee chats, or online team lunches, remote workers can strengthen their bonds with colleagues despite the physical distance.
4- Increased productivity
Virtual team building activities have been shown to increase productivity among remote teams. When employees feel connected and engaged with their colleagues, they are more likely to be motivated and focused on their work.
This sense of camaraderie can lead to improved collaboration, effective communication, and a shared commitment to achieving goals. In fact, studies have found that companies with strong teamwork see a 20% increase in productivity compared to those without.
By incorporating virtual team building activities into your remote work routine, you can foster a positive work environment that promotes productivity and success for your entire team.
5- More engaged employees
Engaged employees are crucial for the success of remote teams. When employees feel connected and engaged, they are more likely to be motivated and productive. According to important facts, virtual team building activities can help foster a sense of belonging among remote workers, leading to higher team morale and better employee retention.
These activities provide opportunities for employees to interact with their colleagues in fun and meaningful ways, creating stronger workplace relationships. By integrating team building initiatives into the company culture, managers can encourage continuous engagement and create a positive work environment for their remote teams.
6- Higher team morale
Building team morale is crucial for remote teams to foster a positive and engaging work environment. When team members feel connected and supported, their overall morale increases, leading to better teamwork and productivity.
Remote team building activities provide opportunities for virtual collaboration, communication, and connection. These activities help combat feelings of isolation by creating a sense of belonging among team members despite physical distance.
By participating in fun and interactive games or initiatives, remote workers can bond with one another, boosting their motivation, satisfaction, and loyalty to the company. With higher team morale, remote teams are more likely to thrive and achieve success in their work endeavors.
12 Virtual Team Bonding Activities to Try with Your Remote Team
Looking for fun and engaging virtual team bonding activities? Check out these 12 ideas that will bring your remote team closer together and boost morale. From trivia games to craft parties, there’s something for everyone! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to strengthen your team relationships – read on to discover more.
1-Would You Rather?
One engaging virtual team bonding activity to try with your remote team is a game of “Would You Rather?” This simple yet entertaining game involves posing hypothetical scenarios and asking participants to choose between two equally difficult options.
For example, “Would you rather have the ability to fly or be able to teleport instantly?” This game encourages creativity, critical thinking, and sparks conversations among team members.
It’s a fun way to learn more about each other’s preferences and can help break the ice in virtual meetings. With over 25 activities and games for remote work team building mentioned in the article, this one is sure to get your team talking and laughing together.
2-Rose vs. Thorn
“Rose vs. Thorn” is a simple and fun virtual team bonding activity that encourages remote workers to share both positive and negative aspects of their day or week. Each participant takes turns sharing a “rose,” which represents something good, and a “thorn,” which represents a challenge or difficulty they’ve encountered.
This activity helps build trust and empathy within the team by fostering open communication and creating a safe space for everyone to express their feelings. It also allows team members to support each other through difficult times and celebrate successes together.
Virtual team building activities like “Rose vs. Thorn” can help strengthen bonds among remote teams, promote collaboration, and boost morale in the virtual workplace.
3-Quiplash
Quiplash is a fun virtual team building activity that can bring remote workers together and spark laughter. In this game, participants are asked to come up with witty responses to prompts in order to win votes from their teammates.
It’s a great way to encourage creativity, build rapport, and create a lighthearted atmosphere within the remote team. Quiplash can be played using various online platforms and is suitable for both small and large groups.
With its quick rounds and hilarious responses, Quiplash offers an enjoyable experience for remote teams looking to bond and have some fun together.
4-Two Truths and a Lie
Two Truths and a Lie is a fun virtual team building activity where each team member shares two true statements and one false statement about themselves. The other participants then have to guess which statement is the lie.
This game helps remote teams get to know each other better, build trust, and create a light-hearted atmosphere. It can be easily played over video conferencing platforms and requires no additional resources or preparation.
By playing Two Truths and a Lie, remote workers can bond with their colleagues while sharing interesting facts about themselves in an engaging and interactive way.
5-Virtual Trivia
Virtual trivia is a fun and engaging team bonding activity that can be easily organized for remote teams. It involves asking questions on various topics and having team members compete to provide the correct answers.
This activity not only promotes friendly competition but also encourages teamwork as team members collaborate to come up with the right answers. Virtual trivia helps in building stronger connections among remote workers by creating a sense of camaraderie and shared experience.
It can be done using online trivia platforms or through video conferencing tools where the host asks the questions. With over 52 virtual trivia activities available, there are plenty of options to choose from to keep your remote team entertained and connected.
6-Craft Party
Craft Party is a fun and creative virtual team building activity that allows remote workers to connect and bond while expressing their artistic side. It involves organizing a craft session where participants can engage in various DIY projects together, such as painting, jewelry making, or even creating personalized greeting cards.
Craft parties provide an opportunity for employees to showcase their creativity and have meaningful conversations with their teammates. This activity can be customized based on the interests of the participants and can be organized through video conferencing platforms.
Craft parties not only foster teamwork but also help alleviate stress and promote relaxation among remote workers.
7-Book Club
Book clubs are a great way for remote teams to come together and bond over literature. Reading and discussing books not only encourages personal growth but also fosters meaningful conversations among team members.
It allows everyone to share their thoughts, insights, and interpretations, promoting collaboration and understanding. By participating in a book club, remote workers can develop stronger connections with their colleagues while expanding their knowledge base.
With countless options available, from fiction to self-help books, there’s something for everyone’s interests. So grab a book, join a virtual book club with your team, and start enjoying the benefits of reading together!
8-Mr. Rogers
Mr. Rogers is a fun and interactive virtual team building activity that aims to foster connection and collaboration among remote teams. Inspired by the popular children’s show host, this activity encourages employees to share interesting facts or stories about themselves in a safe and supportive environment.
It creates a sense of camaraderie as team members learn more about each other on a personal level. By incorporating Mr. Rogers into your virtual team building initiatives, you can enhance communication, boost morale, and strengthen relationships within your remote work team.
9-Weekly Team Lunch
One virtual team building activity that can help remote workers bond is a weekly team lunch. This involves setting aside dedicated time each week for the entire team to come together virtually and enjoy a meal or snack while chatting and getting to know each other better.
This activity helps create a sense of belonging among team members and fosters stronger workplace relationships. By incorporating this regular lunchtime gathering into the work routine, remote workers will feel more connected, engaged, and supported by their colleagues, even if they are physically apart.
It’s an opportunity for everyone to relax, have fun, share stories, and build camaraderie in a casual setting.
10-Virtual Birthday Parties
One way to celebrate and strengthen connections within your remote team is by hosting virtual birthday parties. Recognizing and celebrating birthdays is a great way to show appreciation for each team member.
You can organize online gatherings where everyone comes together to sing happy birthday, share well wishes, and even play virtual games or activities. Virtual birthday parties are fun and inclusive, allowing team members to feel valued and connected, despite being physically apart.
It’s a special occasion that brings joy and camaraderie to the remote work environment.
11-Annual Retreat Planning
Planning an annual retreat for your remote team is a great way to build bonds and strengthen relationships. It’s important to create an environment where everyone feels included and engaged, even when working remotely.
By organizing an annual retreat, you can bring your team together in person to foster connections and enhance teamwork. This face-to-face interaction allows for deeper conversations and the opportunity to build trust among team members.
Additionally, it provides a break from the virtual world and offers a chance for relaxation and fun activities. Take advantage of this time to plan team-building exercises, workshops, or even outdoor adventures that will further solidify the sense of belonging within your remote team.
12-Water-cooler Channels on Slack
Water-cooler channels on Slack are a great way for remote teams to have casual conversations and foster a sense of camaraderie. These channels provide a virtual space where team members can share interesting articles, funny videos, or discuss non-work-related topics.
It’s like having those spontaneous chats you would have at the office water cooler. Water-cooler channels help build connections among team members and create a more social and relaxed work environment.
They allow employees to get to know each other better, even when working remotely. This type of informal communication can enhance teamwork, boost morale, and make everyone feel more connected to their colleagues despite the physical distance.
5 Tips for Virtual Team Building
Host team building events regularly, reward great teamwork, incorporate team building into everyday workflow, welcome new hires with fun, and be open to feedback. Read on for more tips and ideas to enhance virtual team bonding.
Get ready to build stronger connections and achieve work success!
1-Host team building events regularly
Regularly hosting team building events is essential for fostering a strong sense of camaraderie among remote teams. These events provide opportunities for employees to connect, build relationships, and collaborate effectively, even from different locations.
Not only do regular team building activities increase employee engagement and morale, but they also create a more inclusive work environment. By bringing everyone together regularly, remote workers feel valued and connected to their colleagues and the company as a whole.
This boosts productivity and teamwork, leading to better work success in the long run.
2-Reward great teamwork
Rewarding great teamwork is essential for building a strong remote team. It motivates employees to work together and encourages collaboration. Recognizing and celebrating the achievements of individuals and the team as a whole can boost morale and create a positive work environment.
Rewards can come in different forms, such as monetary bonuses, gift cards, or even public recognition during company-wide meetings or emails. By rewarding great teamwork, companies show their appreciation for hard work and foster a sense of belonging within the remote team.
3-Incorporate team building into everyday workflow
To foster a strong sense of teamwork among your remote workers, it’s important to incorporate team building activities into their everyday workflow. By doing so, you can enhance collaboration and create a supportive work environment.
Some simple ways to do this include starting meetings with icebreakers or team-building questions, organizing virtual happy hours or coffee breaks for casual conversations, and encouraging employees to appreciate each other’s accomplishments through shout-outs or recognition programs.
These small efforts can go a long way in building stronger relationships and boosting employee morale, even in a remote work setting.
4-Welcome new hires with fun
When onboarding new hires in a remote work environment, it’s important to make them feel welcome and included from the start. One way to do this is by welcoming them with fun activities.
These activities can help break the ice, build connections, and foster a sense of belonging within the team. For example, you can organize virtual scavenger hunts or quiz games where everyone gets to know each other better.
By incorporating fun into the onboarding process, new hires will feel more engaged and motivated to contribute to the team’s success.
5-Be open to feedback
Feedback is an important part of remote team building. By being open to feedback, you can foster a culture of communication and growth within your team. This allows everyone to have a voice and contribute their ideas and perspectives.
Feedback helps identify areas for improvement and encourages continuous learning and development. It also shows that you value your team members’ opinions and input, which can increase trust and collaboration.
So, make it a point to actively seek feedback from your remote workers and be receptive to their thoughts, suggestions, and concerns.
FAQs
1. What are remote team building activities?
Remote team building activities are games, exercises, or events designed to foster teamwork and improve communication among remote employees who work together virtually.
2. Why is team building important for remote teams?
Team building is important for remote teams because it helps build trust, strengthen relationships, and enhance collaboration among team members who may be physically separated.
3. What are some examples of remote team building activities?
Examples of remote team building activities include virtual icebreakers, online trivia contests, virtual escape rooms, video conference scavenger hunts, and collaborative online games.
4. How can I implement remote team building activities effectively?
To implement remote team building activities effectively, schedule regular sessions that allow time for social interaction and encourage participation from all team members. Utilize technology tools such as video conferencing platforms and online collaboration tools to facilitate the activities smoothly.