Team building is an important aspect of any organization, as it helps to foster strong relationships, increase communication and collaboration, and improve overall job satisfaction. Whether in a traditional or virtual setting, team building activities can have a significant impact on the success of a team.

The aim of this article is to examine the benefits of virtual team building events and provide some practical advice and ideas for planning and hosting effective team building activities. By leveraging the unique features of virtual events, businesses can create memorable and engaging team building experiences that foster team cohesion and boost employee morale.

Advantages of Virtual Team Building Events

Virtual team building events are an effective way for organizations to bring their teams together and improve their relationships, morale, and productivity. Here are the key advantages of virtual team building events in greater detail:

Boost Employee Morale

Provide employees a chance to connect with their colleagues and have fun, which can significantly boost their morale. When employees feel appreciated and valued, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged in their work, leading to improved performance and productivity.

Tip: Shout out individuals and teams that make an impact in the workplace, and also are doing special things in their communities to help.

Promote Workforce Collaboration

By working together, employees can accomplish more and build stronger relationships with one another. This can lead to a more positive and productive work environment, where employees feel supported and valued.

Tip: Spread the love by creating virtual events where members of different teams meet together and talk about the biggest challenges they are facing. You never know if HR has the answer to an ops problem.

Enhance Innovation

Give employees an opportunity to think creatively and come up with new ideas. This can help organizations stay ahead of the curve and support innovation management. By encouraging employees to bring new perspectives and ideas to the table, organizations can foster a culture of innovation that drives growth and success.

Tip: Take a break from day-to-day and host a virtual workplace hackathon to solve internal and client-facing issues. You’ll find out what issues are most important to the boots on the ground or come up with quick fixes for the nagging but maybe not top-of-the-list problems.

Increase Productivity

When employees are motivated and engaged, they are more likely to be productive and focused on their work. This can lead to improved performance and a more positive work environment.

Tip: Bring in wellness experts or fitness coaches and have a class or a group session. Mental health is important to your business’ health!

Encourage Versatility

Provide employees chance to try new things and develop new skills. This can encourage employees to become more versatile in their work, as they are encouraged to take on new challenges and step outside of their comfort zones. This can lead to increased job satisfaction and improved performance.

Reinforce Work Culture

Promote positive work culture by fostering teamwork, open communication, and positivity. When employees feel valued and supported, they are more likely to be engaged and productive, which can help improve the overall work culture.

Tip: Surprise your team by skipping an all-hands meeting and having a hangout instead. No agenda, or maybe a prompt to talk about. Get people connected on a personal level.

Builds Diverse Relationships

By building diverse relationships with remote employees, organizations can foster a more inclusive work environment that leads to better decision-making and improved relationships between employees.

Tip: Celebrate cultural and interest groups. In our connected world, your team will hail from all parts of the globe and are into all sorts of different topics – connecting your employees via things unrelated to work can lead to decreases in turnover. 

Types of Virtual Team Building Events

Here are some of the most popular types of virtual team building events:

Online Games and Quizzes: These events are designed to promote team bonding, improve communication skills, and boost team morale. They can be a fun and interactive way for team members to get to know each other and work together towards a common goal. Some popular examples of online team games and quizzes include virtual trivia, word puzzles, and team-based strategy games.

Virtual Cooking Classes: This type of virtual team building event provides a unique opportunity for team members to bond and develop teamwork skills. Participants can join from anywhere and follow along with a professional chef as they learn to cook a delicious meal together. This type of remote team-up event can be especially beneficial for teams who work remotely and don’t have many opportunities for in-person interaction.

Virtual Escape Rooms: Virtual escape rooms are high-stakes challenges that test a team’s problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills. Participants must work together to solve puzzles and escape from a virtual room within a set time limit. This type of event can be especially effective for improving teamwork and communication skills, as well as providing a fun and engaging challenge for team members.

Virtual Trivia Nights: Virtual trivia nights are a fun and competitive way to test a team’s knowledge and build camaraderie. Teams can compete against each other in a virtual trivia game, with points awarded for correct answers. This type of event can be a great way to promote friendly competition and bring team members together in a fun and relaxed setting.

Virtual Team Building Workshops: Virtual team building workshops are structured events that focus on specific skills or goals. They may cover topics such as conflict resolution, communication, or time management and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of an organization. These types of events provide a structured approach to team building and can be especially effective for improving specific skills or addressing specific team challenges.

How to Plan a Successful Virtual Team Building Event

Bringing a team together virtually can be a fun and exciting way to build relationships, boost morale, and increase productivity. Here’s how to plan a successful virtual team building event that will have your team members counting down the days!

Define the Purpose and Objectives: Whether it’s to foster better relationships, improve communication, or simply have a good time, having a clear purpose will help you choose the right activities and measure the event’s success.

Choose the Right Activity: Consider the interests and preferences of your team members and select activities that will get everyone involved. From virtual trivia games to escape rooms, there’s no shortage of options to choose from.

Right Platform: Look for a platform that offers customization and branding options to create a unique and engaging experience for your attendees. Make sure the platform is user-friendly and offers a range of interactive tools to keep attendees engaged. Prioritize privacy and security features to protect your attendees’ information. Finally, make sure it has analytics reporting so you can learn about what you did well and fix what you didn’t do so well.

Tip: consider a platform that allows for one-on-one calls to facilitate networking and connection among attendees.

Prepare the Activities: Plan each activity in detail, including the materials needed, instructions, and a timeline for the event. Make sure to allocate enough time for each activity and include breaks for…well, you know. Things people need to do intermittently as part of the human condition. Eating, sleeping…that kind of stuff.

Encourage Participation and Interaction: Encourage open communication, teamwork, and positivity throughout the event and consider offering incentives for the best contributions or performances.

Best Practices for Virtual Team Building Events

Keep it Short and Sweet: Ensure that participants remain engaged and focused, Events should last no longer than an hour or two, as longer events can lead to burnout and decreased participation. An hour event doesn’t need a break. 

Encourage Team Bonding: This can be achieved through activities that promote communication, collaboration, and positivity, such as virtual trivia games, escape rooms, or team challenges.

Make it Fun and Engaging: Consider the interests and preferences of your team members and select activities that will get everyone involved and have a good time.

Provide Clear Instructions and Support: Ensure that participants understand what is expected of them and provide support if needed. This can help to minimize confusion and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Encourage Follow-Up Activities: Consider scheduling regular virtual team building events or encouraging team members to continue interacting outside of the formal event. This can help to reinforce the relationships and teamwork that were established during the event.

Conclusion

Virtual team building events provide numerous benefits for organizations, including boosting employee morale, promoting collaboration, supporting innovation management, increasing productivity, encouraging versatility, reinforcing positive work culture, and building diverse relationships. By leveraging these benefits, organizations can improve their teams and create a more positive and productive work environment. Follow this guide and start planning a virtual team building event today to see the positive impact it can have on your organization!

Frequently Asked Questions