Top 5 virtual team building ideas

So before we tell you about some fun ways to bond with your remote teams, let’s take a look at some of the problems that remote teams face.

Remote teams face a variety of challenges, including:

1. Communication: It can be difficult for remote teams to communicate effectively, as they may not have the same opportunities for face-to-face interaction as teams who work in the same physical location.
2. Isolation: Remote team members may feel isolated and disconnected from their colleagues and the company as a whole.
3. Collaboration: It can be harder for remote teams to collaborate and work together effectively, as they may not have the same level of access to shared resources and tools.
4. Time zone differences: Remote teams often have members in different time zones, which can make it difficult to schedule meetings or collaborate in real-time.
5. Lack of trust: Managers may find it hard to trust remote workers, they may feel like they need to micro-manage, which can be demotivating and lead to employee dissatisfaction.
6. Difficulty in building relationships: Remote teams may find it harder to build personal relationships and camaraderie, which can be important for team cohesion and morale.
7. Lack of physical presence: Remote teams may not have the same level of visibility and presence as teams who work in the same physical location, which can make it harder for them to be recognized for their contributions and accomplishments.

So now we’ve got the problems out of the way then let’s cut to the solutions.

What is Virtual Team Building?

Remote team building is all about bringing your team together, even if you’re miles (perhaps, thousands) apart! It’s a way to make sure that everyone feels connected and engaged, despite working remotely. The aim of virtual team-building exercises is that you’ll forget you’re not in the same room! Via interactive tools and participation, you’ll feel like you’re sitting right next to each other. And don’t forget about those regular virtual meetings – they’re like virtual coffee breaks with your colleagues! The goal is to make sure that everyone feels like they’re part of the team, and that can only lead to a more relaxed working vibe, more productivity, and more job satisfaction. So let’s get building that remote team with some virtual experiences!

1 Virtual Food/Drink Tastings

Virtual tastings are a unique and enjoyable way to bring remote teams together and foster a sense of cohesion and connection. They provide a fun and interactive way for team members to bond over a shared interest, and can be a great way to break the ice and encourage team members to get to know each other on a more personal level. They’re perfect for multicultural teams as well as they provide a way to shares national cultures by sharing something we all love, food and drink!

During a virtual tasting, team members can sample different wines, beers, or other beverages together, while learning about the different flavours and aromas. The experience can be made more interactive by involving team members in interactive quizzes on their phones. Prizes can be sent to the winners.

Virtual tastings also provide a great opportunity for team members to relax and unwind together, which can help to reduce stress and increase job satisfaction. Additionally, virtual tastings can also serve as a way to reward and recognize team members for their hard work and dedication.

Overall, virtual tastings are a creative and engaging way to build team morale, camaraderie and collaboration among remote team members.

2. Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Here’s an example of how a virtual scavenger hunt might be set up for a remote team:

1. Create a list of items or tasks for team members to find or complete. For example, the list could include items such as a specific type of flower, a picture of a famous landmark, or a specific brand of chocolate.
2. Give team members a set amount of time, such as an hour, to complete the scavenger hunt.
3. Have team members take pictures or videos of the items or tasks they find or complete and send them to a designated person or platform.
4. Once the scavenger hunt is over, have team members gather on a video conference call and share their findings.
5. Award prizes or recognition to the team members who complete the most items on the scavenger hunt list.

This is just one example of how a virtual scavenger hunt could be set up, but the possibilities are endless! You can customize the scavenger hunt to fit the specific interests and needs of your team, and make it as simple or complex as you like. Virtual scavenger hunts can be a fun and interactive way for remote teams to bond and work together, and can also be used to improve communication and collaboration among team members.

Here are a few printables you could use. https://www.playpartyplan.com/virtual-scavenger-hunt/

3. Virtual Escape Room

A virtual escape room is a digital version of a live escape room, where a team of players are locked in a room and have to solve puzzles and riddles to escape within a set time limit. They can be played online, usually through a video conferencing platform such as Zoom, and can be a fun and engaging way for remote teams to bond and work together.

Here’s an example of how a virtual escape room might be set up:

Choose a theme or storyline for the escape room. For example, it could be a mystery set in a medieval castle, or a crime scene investigation.

Create a series of puzzles and riddles that are related to the theme or storyline. These can include logical puzzles, word games, image puzzles, etc.

Divide the team into smaller groups, and give each group a set of puzzles and riddles to solve.

Set a time limit, such as an hour or 90 minutes, for the team to escape.

Have team members work together to solve the puzzles and riddles, with the goal of escaping the virtual room before the time runs out.

Once the time is up, have the team members gather on a video conference call to discuss their experience and share their solutions.

Virtual escape rooms can be a great way for remote teams to bond and work together, as they require teamwork, communication, problem-solving and critical thinking

You can get some reviews of Escape Rooms here (some free some paid) https://escapethereview.co.uk/location/online/

4 Virtual Icebreakers

There are many, many icebreakers online. Just google a them and pick up a couple that suit your team. But this is one of our favourites.

As we’re all having to type then what better way than to have a virtual type off icebreaker. Take the online typing challenge. It’s a great way to kick off an online meeting. You can use this online tool. https://www.typingtest.com/

5. Guess the Baby

One of our favourite icebreakers is this quick icebreaker.

“Ready, set, let’s play! Here’s how the game works:

1. Each team member will send you a photo of themselves as a baby. The ideal age range is 2-3 years old so that we can see some distinct features.
2. Once all the photos are received, we’ll post them in a shared Google Doc for everyone to see.
3. Now the guessing begins! Each player will make a list of who they think each baby might be.
4. After the guessing is over, we’ll collect the answers and grade the scores. The winners will be announced with a drum roll and after lots of ahhhhs, laughs and hopefully not too many ugggghs., you will have broken the virtual ice in style