As remote work becomes more prevalent, the need for effective virtual team building activities has never been greater. Building a strong team culture and maintaining high levels of employee engagement can be challenging when team members are scattered across different locations. However, with the right virtual team building ideas, it's possible to create a cohesive and motivated team, even when everyone is working remotely.
In this blog, we'll explore various virtual team building activities that can help remote teams bond, improve communication skills, and boost morale. Whether you're looking for fun virtual games, virtual team building events, or productive remote team building sessions, we've got you covered.
What is Virtual Team Building?
Virtual team building involves activities designed to strengthen the relationships between remote team members. These activities aim to build a sense of community, enhance communication, and improve collaboration within virtual teams. Virtual team building can include a wide range of activities, from virtual games and online office games to virtual escape room experiences and virtual happy hours.
Implementing virtual team building activities can have several positive effects on your team and company culture:
- Enhanced Communication: Virtual team building helps remote team members communicate more effectively, improving overall team collaboration.
- Increased Engagement: Fun and interactive activities keep team members engaged and motivated.
- Stronger Relationships: Building personal connections between remote team members fosters trust and camaraderie.
- Improved Morale: Regular team building activities boost employee morale and job satisfaction.
- Higher Productivity: Engaged and happy team members are more productive and committed to their work.
If you want to know more about how to make virtual team communication effective, check our this blog.
34 Best Virtual Team Building Activities
From fun games to structured events, these activities can help create a more connected and productive team. Here are 34 of the best virtual team building activities to inspire and energize your team.
Pro tip: Using an AI note taker like Wudpecker during these sessions can ensure that all the key points and highlights are captured, allowing everyone to participate fully without worrying about taking notes.
(1) Virtual Scavenger Hunt
Lightning Scavenger Hunts are designed to be fun and quick virtual team building activities. To do this activity with remote teams, first invite your coworkers to a virtual meeting.
Create a list of items that participants need to find around their homes and give them a time limit to gather as many as they can. At the beginning of the game, start firing off clues like “cuddle your pet,” “show a dictionary,” or “get your favorite mug.”
The first person to complete each clue gets a point. You can score by groups too.
How to Organize:
- Create a list of items for team members to find.
- Set a time limit (e.g., 10-15 minutes).
- Use breakout rooms in Zoom or Microsoft Teams for smaller groups.
- Have participants share their findings with the entire team.
(2) Virtual Escape Room Experience
Virtual escape rooms are an excellent way to promote teamwork and problem-solving skills. Teams must work together to solve puzzles and complete challenges to "escape" within a set time.
How to Organize:
- Choose a virtual escape room provider.
- Split your team into smaller groups.
- Set a time limit for the escape room challenge.
- Debrief after the activity to discuss strategies and experiences.
(3) Virtual Trivia
Hosting a virtual trivia game is another great virtual team building activity. It is a great way to engage remote team members and encourage friendly competition. You can create trivia questions based on general knowledge, company history, or industry-specific topics.
How to Organize:
- Use an online trivia platform or create your own trivia questions.
- Divide the team into smaller groups or play individually.
- Use video call platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams to host the game.
- Keep score and offer prizes for the winners.
(4) Virtual Happy Hour
A virtual happy hour provides a relaxed environment for team members to socialize and unwind. This activity helps build personal connections and strengthens team bonds.
How to Organize:
- Schedule a time for the virtual happy hour.
- Encourage team members to bring their favorite drinks.
- Use breakout rooms for smaller group conversations.
- Include icebreaker questions or virtual games to keep the conversation flowing.
Check out this blog for some great ice breaker questions.
(5) Online Office Games
Online office games are a great way to inject some fun into virtual team meetings. These games can range from simple icebreakers to more complex team building challenges.
Popular Online Office Games:
- Pictionary: Use an online drawing tool and have team members guess the drawings.
- Charades: Act out words or phrases without speaking and have others guess.
- Two Truths and a Lie: Share three statements about yourself, and others must guess which one is a lie.
(6) Virtual Dance Party
A virtual dance party is a high-energy way to get team members moving and having fun. This activity can be a great stress reliever and a way to break up the workday.
How to Organize:
- Choose a fun playlist or have team members submit song requests.
- Schedule a time for the dance party.
- Encourage everyone to turn on their cameras and dance along.
- Consider using breakout rooms for smaller dance groups.
(7) DIY Craft Challenge
A DIY craft challenge allows team members to showcase their creativity and share their projects with the group. This activity can be a fun way to learn more about each other's hobbies and interests.
How to Organize:
- Choose a craft project that can be completed with common household items.
- Set a time limit for the challenge.
- Have team members present their finished projects during a video call.
- Offer prizes for the most creative or impressive crafts.
(8) Virtual Coffee Breaks
Virtual coffee breaks provide an informal setting for team members to chat and catch up. These breaks can help build personal connections and improve team morale.
How to Organize:
- Schedule regular virtual coffee breaks.
- Encourage team members to join with their favorite beverage.
- Use breakout rooms for smaller group conversations.
- Keep the conversation light and avoid work-related topics.
(9) Team Storytelling
Team Storytelling is a creative activity where team members collaboratively create a story. This exercise fosters creativity, communication, and teamwork.
How to Organize:
- Schedule a time for the storytelling session during a virtual meeting.
- Start with a prompt or the first sentence of a story.
- Each team member takes turns adding a sentence or a mini-story to build the narrative.
- Compile the completed story and share it with the team for everyone to enjoy.
(10) Personality Tests
Personality Tests can help team members understand each other's strengths, preferences, and work styles. This activity promotes empathy and better collaboration.
How to Organize:
- Choose a personality test that suits your team (e.g., Myers-Briggs, DISC, or Enneagram).
- Share the test link with team members and set a deadline for completion.
- Schedule a meeting to discuss the results and insights.
- Encourage team members to share their thoughts on how to use the insights for better teamwork.
(11) Online Bingo
Online Bingo is a fun and engaging way to foster team bonding. Create bingo cards with work-related tasks or fun challenges for team members to complete.
How to Organize:
- Create custom bingo cards with relevant tasks or challenges (e.g., "shared a fun fact," "completed a project early").
- Distribute the bingo cards to team members before the game.
- Use a virtual meeting platform to host the game and call out tasks or challenges.
- Award prizes to the first team members to complete a row or full card.
(12) Virtual Jeopardy
Virtual Jeopardy is an interactive game that encourages teamwork and friendly competition. Customize the game with categories relevant to your team.
How to Organize:
- Create a Jeopardy board using an online tool or template.
- Develop categories and questions that align with your team's interests or work.
- Divide team members into small groups to form teams.
- Host the game during a virtual meeting, with a facilitator to read questions and keep score.
- Celebrate the winning team with a prize or recognition.
(13) Virtual Workshops
Virtual Workshops provide opportunities for team members to learn new skills and improve their knowledge. These sessions can be both educational and interactive.
How to Organize:
- Identify topics that are relevant and beneficial for your team.
- Find a skilled facilitator or subject matter expert to lead the workshop.
- Schedule the workshop and send invitations to all team members.
- Use interactive tools like polls, Q&A sessions, and breakout rooms to engage participants.
- Gather feedback after the workshop to assess its effectiveness and areas for improvement.
(14) Virtual Icebreakers
Virtual icebreakers are quick activities that help team members get to know each other and feel more comfortable. These activities are perfect for starting meetings or introducing new team members.
Popular Virtual Icebreakers:
- Virtual Introductions: Each team member shares a fun fact about themselves.
- Virtual Show and Tell: Team members share an item from their workspace and explain its significance.
(15) Virtual Team Building Sessions
Regular virtual team building sessions can help maintain a strong team culture and keep team members engaged. These sessions can include a mix of fun activities, team discussions, and skill-building exercises.
How to Organize:
- Schedule regular team building sessions.
- Plan a variety of activities to keep sessions fresh and engaging.
- Use feedback from team members to continuously improve the sessions.
(16) Who Da Baby?
"Who Da Baby?" is a quick and entertaining virtual game that can be played over a platform like Zoom, email, or Slack.
How to Organize:
- Participants send you baby photos.
- Post the images in a shared document.
- Each player guesses who the baby might be.
- Collect the answers, grade the scores, and announce the winners.
(17) Praise Train
Start a praise train where each person compliments another team member's work. This activity boosts morale and fosters a positive work environment.
How to Organize:
- Begin by praising one team member.
- That team member then praises another colleague.
- Continue the chain until everyone has received praise.
(18) Guess the Emoji Board
Guess the Emoji Board is a quick and fun activity that can help team members learn more about each other.
How to Organize:
- Snap a screenshot of your most frequently used emojis.
- Share the screenshot with your team.
- Everyone guesses the top five most used emojis of each person.
- Reveal the answers and award points for correct guesses.
(19) Mister Rogers Calls
Mister Rogers Calls are video calls aimed at getting to know your remote work neighbors better.
How to Organize:
- Randomly assign conversation partners.
- Schedule a 30-minute video call.
- Avoid work topics and focus on hobbies and interests outside of work.
(20) Virtual Debate Club
Virtual Debate Club involves friendly debates on various topics to encourage critical thinking and communication skills.
How to Organize:
- Schedule a 45-minute video call.
- Share best practices for effective debating.
- Do mini debates on fun and inconsequential topics.
(21) Virtual Ambassadors
In Virtual Ambassadors, each person acts as an ambassador of a country and describes it without naming it.
How to Organize:
- Assign countries to team members using a random country generator.
- Each team member describes their assigned country.
- Others guess which country is being described.
- The player with the most correct guesses wins.
(22) Tree or Bob Ross
This game is similar to 20 Questions and encourages imagination and creativity.
How to Organize:
- One player chooses an identity (object, person, concept).
- Others ask questions to uncover the identity.
- Start with “Is it more like a tree, or more like Bob Ross?”
- Continue with new words to narrow down the answer.
(23) Virtual Werewolf
Werewolf is a classic game of speaking, careful listening, and voting to survive the night.
How to Organize:
- Players draw roles: werewolf, villager, medic, or seer.
- The game master guides the rounds of night and day.
- Werewolves eliminate villagers, medics save, and seers reveal.
- Villagers vote to eliminate werewolves based on suspicion.
(24) The Longest Word
Challenge your team to spell the longest word they can think of. It's a fun way to test their vocabulary and spelling skills.
How to Organize:
- Divide participants into teams.
- Challenge them to spell a long word like "pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis."
- The team that gets closest to the correct spelling wins.
(25) Typing Speed Race
A Typing Speed Race is a fun way to show off typing skills and develop a crucial remote work skill.
How to Organize:
- Have team members take a typing speed test.
- Post scores on Slack or other communication channels.
- You can also do a Typing Speed Relay with team totals.
(26) Chubby Bunny
Chubby Bunny is a lighthearted and silly challenge that involves saying "chubby bunny" with marshmallows in your mouth.
How to Organize:
- Each participant puts a marshmallow in their mouth and says “chubby bunny.”
- Add an additional marshmallow each round.
- The last person who can still say "chubby bunny" wins.
(27) The Price is Almost Right
This activity involves guessing the price of household objects.
How to Organize:
- The host shows an item.
- Participants guess the price.
- The closest guess without going over wins.
(28) Healthy Lifestyle Challenge
A monthly Healthy Lifestyle Challenge promotes health and wellness.
How to Organize:
- Set a challenge, like drinking a certain amount of water each day.
- Track progress with a shared spreadsheet.
- The person with the most "X" boxes marked wins.
(29) Virtual Birthday Parties
Celebrate team members' birthdays with virtual parties.
How to Organize:
- Plan a surprise virtual call.
- Include fun activities and games.
- Celebrate all birthdays for the month in one event if needed.
(30) Virtual Retirement Parties
Send off retiring team members with a virtual farewell party.
How to Organize:
- Plan fun activities and games.
- Include a speech or presentation to honor the retiree.
(31) Online Fundraiser
Organize a virtual fundraiser for a meaningful cause.
How to Organize:
- Partner with a donation platform.
- Choose a cause that resonates with your team.
(32) Virtual Book Club
Start a virtual book club where team members can read and discuss a book together. This activity encourages teamwork, communication, and critical thinking.
(33) Virtual Creative Project
Assign a creative project to the team, such as creating a video, writing a story, or designing a logo. This activity promotes creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.
(34) Virtual Wellness Day
Host a virtual wellness day where team members can participate in online wellness activities, such as meditation, yoga, or fitness classes. This activity promotes well-being and stress relief.
Conclusion
Virtual team building activities are essential for maintaining strong team dynamics and a positive company culture in a remote work environment. By implementing a variety of fun and engaging activities, you can help your remote team members bond, improve communication skills, and boost morale.
Use the ideas and tips in this blog to create effective virtual team building events that will keep your team engaged and productive.
FAQs
How to Do Team Building Activities Virtually?
Virtual team building activities are essential for fostering communication and collaboration among remote team members.
Here’s how to organize effective virtual team building activities:
1. Identify Objectives
Determine your goals, such as improving communication, boosting morale, or fostering team collaboration.
2. Choose the Right Activities
Select activities that align with your objectives and suit your team’s preferences. Popular options include:
- Virtual Scavenger Hunt
- Virtual Escape Room
- Virtual Trivia
- Virtual Happy Hour
- Online Office Games
3. Plan Logistics
Ensure you have the necessary tools and platforms (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams). Use breakout rooms for smaller groups and set appropriate durations for each activity.
4. Schedule the Activities
Find a convenient time for everyone, considering different time zones. Send calendar invites with all necessary details.
5. Prepare Materials
Distribute any required materials in advance, such as bingo cards or trivia questions.
6. Facilitate the Activities
Act as a facilitator to explain rules, encourage participation, and keep the energy up.
7. Encourage Participation
Create a positive environment and use icebreakers to help everyone feel comfortable.
8. Follow Up
Gather feedback after the activities to improve future sessions.
What Are the 5 C’s of Team Building?
The 5 C's of team building are key principles for creating a cohesive and productive team:
- Communication: Ensure open, clear, and effective communication among team members to prevent misunderstandings and foster collaboration.
- Collaboration: Encourage teamwork and the leveraging of diverse skills to achieve common goals.
- Commitment: Build dedication to the team's objectives, aligning individual goals with the team's mission.
- Competence: Ensure team members have the necessary skills and resources through training and development.
- Creativity: Foster an environment that welcomes new ideas and innovative problem-solving.
How Do You Build Team Spirit Virtually?
Building team spirit in a virtual environment involves several key strategies. Hold regular video meetings for both work updates and casual check-ins to maintain open communication. Organize virtual team building activities like online games, scavenger hunts, and trivia quizzes to foster engagement and fun.
Celebrate milestones and individual achievements to boost morale. Set up virtual coffee breaks and happy hours for informal socializing. Encourage sharing personal stories and interests to build personal connections. Use icebreakers at the start of meetings to build rapport.
Promote a supportive and inclusive work environment, provide regular feedback, and recognize contributions to keep everyone motivated and connected. These efforts collectively help create a cohesive, motivated, and productive virtual team.
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