Even before the pandemic necessitated moving to remote work for thousands of people, it’s been trending upward, growing 173 percent since 2005. Another 2018 study showed that about 70 percent of the entire global workforce telecommutes at least one day a week already.
Research has found that employees who worked from home reported “higher levels of job satisfaction and reduced levels of burnout and psychological stress.” Employees that work from home can often struggle to feel connected with coworkers and the organization. By investing in remote team building activities, you can build happy, engaged, and productive remote teams.
Virtual team building activities can range from silly and straightforward to those that include teaching work competencies under the guise of fun. They can all create solidarity among remote teams.
Mystery & Intrigue
With simple animation and eerie music, virtual games such as Among Us and the virtual version of Codenames provide fun ways to foster team spirit and cooperation. Both games rely on problem-solving skills and a bit of imagination.
Virtual Team Coffee Breaks
A 15-minute “coffee break” each day or once a week, depending on your preference, is a simple way to provide a relaxing environment with team members. The team can gather on a video chat platform for conversations that can be work-related or purely for fun and entertainment, just as if people were sharing a coffee break at the office. Take it up a notch by sending team members a company coffee mug.
Virtual Escape Rooms
This activity lets teams play together while providing a great problem-solving activity. You can split into smaller teams and turn it into a friendly competition.