Working remotely can be fantastic, offering flexibility and convenience. But it can also present challenges, especially when it comes to keeping your team connected and engaged. This article is packed with creative and fun ideas to help you build a strong, collaborative, and happy remote team. Let’s dive in and discover some activities that can transform your team’s dynamic!
Virtual Coffee Breaks & Water Cooler Moments
Remember those casual chats you used to have by the coffee machine? Recreate that virtually! Schedule regular short video calls (15-30 minutes) specifically for informal conversation. These aren’t about work; they’re about catching up, sharing personal updates, and generally building rapport. Think of it as a digital water cooler. Encourage topics outside of work. Did someone adopt a new pet? Learn a new recipe? Encourage them to share! Statistics show that teams who engage in regular informal communication experience a 20% increase in team performance and a 15% increase in team satisfaction. These virtual breaks combat the isolation that can sometimes arise from work from home arrangements.
Online Games & Team Challenges
Who doesn’t love a good game? Incorporating online games into your team’s routine is a fantastic way to boost morale and create a sense of camaraderie. There are countless options, from collaborative puzzle games to trivia challenges.
Consider games that require teamwork and communication.
Among Us, Codenames Duet, and virtual escape rooms are popular choices. Skribbl.io (online Pictionary) is a lighthearted option for a quick laugh. Weekly or monthly game nights can become a cherished team tradition, providing your employees a great way to relax outside of project deadlines. The key is to pick games that cater to your team’s interests and skill levels. Remember to keep it light and fun, even reward the winners! Such informal competition can improve communication by giving the team more to talk about besides the work itself.
Show & Tell: Remote Edition
Remember show and tell from elementary school? It’s surprisingly effective for remote teams! Dedicate a portion of a meeting (or a separate virtual gathering) where team members can share something interesting, personal, or work-related. It could be a new skill they’ve learned, a hobby they’re passionate about, a recent success at work, or even a funny story. Show and Tell helps team members learn more about each other’s interests, backgrounds, and expertise. This, in turn, promotes empathy, understanding, and stronger relationships. It helps build trust and breaks down silos. It’s a great chance for your team members to showcase different facets of their personalities and help their colleagues get a better feel for them as a whole person.
Virtual Team Lunches & Happy Hours
Eating together is a universal bonding experience. While you can’t physically gather for lunch, you can certainly do it virtually! Schedule regular virtual lunches or happy hours where team members can eat together and chat over video call. Encourage everyone to share what they’re eating or drinking. It’s simple, but effective. Want to make it more interesting? Theme the lunch around a cuisine, or everyone makes the same recipe. For happy hours, try a virtual mixology class where someone can lead the team through preparation for a unique cocktail. Not only is this an opportunity for socializing, but it is also a good chance for employees who work from home to feel like a cohesive part of the organization. Statistics show that remote teams who engage in these activities enjoy a better sense of belonging and improved collaboration.
Skill Sharing Sessions
Everyone has unique skills and knowledge. Encourage team members to share their expertise with each other through informal skill-sharing sessions. This could be anything from teaching a quick tip in Excel to demonstrating a new design tool to sharing best practices for giving presentations. These sessions are beneficial as professional development but can also foster a culture of learning and collaboration. What’s more, it empowers each employee by giving them a chance to show leadership and to share their unique capabilities with colleagues. This leads to better team morale and increased engagement overall. Create a sign up process, and be sure to record the sessions for those who couldn’t attend live!
Book Clubs & Movie Nights
Create a virtual book club or movie night where team members can discuss a shared book or movie. This provides a common topic for conversation and encourages intellectual engagement outside of work. Use a platform like Goodreads to track the book club’s progress or host a virtual screening party using a shared streaming service with a chat function to allow for commentary during the film. Team members can take turns choosing the book or movie and leading the discussion. These activities can foster a sense of community and shared experience, helping to bridge the gap created by remote work.
Virtual Volunteering
Give back to the community as a team! Many organizations offer virtual volunteering opportunities, such as online tutoring, data entry for non-profits, or virtual mentoring. This is a meaningful way to bond as a team while making a difference. Research local charities to find opportunities that resonate with your team’s values. Virtual volunteering can improve team morale, boost employee engagement, and create a sense of shared purpose. This can also be a great public relations boost for your company, and could lead to increased business in the long-term.
Photo & Video Challenges
Get creative with photo and video challenges! Assign a theme (e.g., “My work from home setup,” “What I’m grateful for,” “My pet doing something silly”) and have team members submit photos or short videos. Share the submissions and vote for the best ones. This is a fun and engaging way to encourage creativity and showcase team members’ personalities. Set a time limit, and offer small prizes for the winners! This kind of activity encourages creativity and offers a lighthearted respite from the usual demands of work, making it an indispensable tool for building a strong team and combating any potential negative effects of work from home situations.
Celebrating Milestones & Achievements
Don’t forget to celebrate team and individual milestones! Acknowledge birthdays, work anniversaries, project successes, and other achievements. This can be done during virtual meetings, through personalized e-cards, or even with small gift cards. Acknowledging the team member’s accomplishments publicly and highlighting the value they add to the organization helps with long term morale of all team members. Recognition makes team members feel valued and appreciated, which improves morale and engagement. A simple “thank you” can go a long way in building a positive and supportive remote work environment.
Structured Feedback Sessions
While “fun” might not be the first word that comes to mind, regular feedback sessions are crucial for engagement. Make them constructive and developmental, focusing on strengths and areas for improvement. Use a framework like “Start, Stop, Continue” to guide the discussion. Make sure these sessions are a two-way street— solicit feedback from your team members about your leadership and the remote work environment. Make sure to actively implement feedback given by your team, to show them you care about their input and will act on their suggestions to improve things. These sessions allow team members to feel valued, and can improve team harmony!
Personal Development Stipends
Investing in your team’s personal and professional growth is a great way to show you care. Consider offering personal development stipends that employees can use for online courses, books, conferences, or other learning opportunities. This demonstrates that you value their growth and development. This not only enhances their skills but also boosts their engagement and loyalty. When employees feel like their employer is invested in them, they are more likely to be deeply invested in their work and stay with the company long-term.
Regular Check-ins: Beyond Work
Make time for regular one-on-one check-ins with each team member. While work-related topics are important, also dedicate time to discussing their well-being, challenges, and goals. These check-ins help you stay connected with your team, identify potential issues early on, and provide support. By showing genuine interest in their lives, you build trust and strengthen relationships. Sometimes, work from home can feel isolated, so this is crucial to make sure your team members feel included! Use this as an opportunity to praise employees, and ask what the biggest obstacle standing in their way is currently. Knowing your employees are truly cared for can improve their mood and efficiency!
Creating a Dedicated Communication Space
Set up a dedicated online space for team communication and collaboration. This could be a channel in Slack, a project management tool like Asana, or a shared document in Google Drive. Having a central hub for communication ensures that everyone is on the same page and can easily access information. Encourage team members to use the platform for both work-related and social purposes. This enhances efficiency and coordination, and helps create a sense of community and shared purpose among colleagues who are all operating in a work from home environment.
Virtual Awards & Recognition Ceremonies
Publicly acknowledge outstanding achievements and contributions during virtual award ceremonies. Give out awards for categories such as “Team Player of the Year,” “Most Innovative Idea,” or “Above and Beyond Performance.” These ceremonies create a sense of celebration and recognition. Receiving recognition for any contributions can greatly improve an employee’s self-worth and productivity! Make it a fun, festive occasion with music, virtual decorations, and personalized awards. Celebrating not just victories but also important work or behaviors will further incentivize employees to repeat those behaviors.
Themed Workdays
Inject some variety and excitement into the workweek by introducing themed workdays. For example, “Fun Fact Friday” could involve each team member sharing an interesting fact during a virtual meeting. “Motivation Monday” could begin with positive affirmations and goal-setting exercises. “Wellness Wednesday” could focus on stress-reduction techniques like guided meditation or yoga. A consistent thematic approach can make each workday engaging, fun, and refreshing. The work from home environment doesn’t mean your days have to be repetitive!
FAQ
Why is team engagement important for remote teams?
Team engagement keeps remote teams connected, motivated, and productive. It fosters a sense of belonging, boosts morale, and improves overall team performance. Disengaged team members often deliver sub-par results, but engaged teams can often outperform their in-office counterparts. Without team engagement, work from home can feel difficult!
How often should we have these team-building activities?
It depends on your team’s needs and preferences. Aim for at least one activity per week, but also consider shorter, more frequent interactions like daily check-ins or virtual coffee breaks. The key is to find a balance that works for your team without overloading their schedules. Some teams have found every-other-day shorter events work best, and some find longer weekly events are best! Survey your team to find what works best for them.
What if some team members don’t want to participate?
Participation should always be voluntary. Encourage participation by making activities fun and inclusive, but respect individual preferences. Focus on creating a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable contributing at their own pace. Never force anyone to participate in activities, this could make them feel uncomfortable!
How do we choose activities that everyone will enjoy?
Involve your team in the decision-making process. Ask for their input and preferences. Consider conducting a survey or brainstorming session to gather ideas. Try to choose a variety of activities that cater to different interests and skill levels. Offer alternatives from time to time for those who don’t participate in one activity but might participate in something different.
How can we measure the success of our team engagement activities?
Track team morale, productivity, and communication levels. Conduct regular surveys or feedback sessions to gauge team members’ satisfaction and engagement. Monitor metrics such as project completion rates, meeting attendance, and communication frequency. If these metrics increase, you know that your team engagement activities are working!
What are some low-cost or free team engagement activities?
Virtual coffee breaks, skill-sharing sessions, photo challenges, and virtual book clubs are all low-cost or free options. The key is to leverage existing resources and creativity to design engaging activities. Even some simple brainstorming might bring out some useful things people can share with each other!