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Team Building for Virtual & Hybrid Events

Tips to Creating the Best Virtual Team Building Event

The remote workplace is a necessary reality. Companies have been moving towards remote employment for a decade or longer, but the events of 2020 and 2021 have home offices around the world buzzing with activity. This model has worked well for maintaining productivity in the face of the pandemic, as employees remain safely distanced while continuing to advance corporate projects and initiatives. However, it is not without its drawbacks. Remote employees are distant from their teams. Often, this distance is metaphorical as well as physical, as employees focus on their own needs and projects without the chance encounters with coworkers that build relationships. When communication is primarily through chat platforms, context and meaning are stripped to their bare essentials, leaving any sense of community in the digital dust.  Without a concerted effort to build and rebuild personal bonds both within and across teams, employees become more and more isolated. Planning team-building events for your remote employees gives them the space and time to interact in meaningful ways. Our directory can help.

The Importance of Personal Connection

Following a great deal of fluctuation in 2020, Gallup reports an engagement rate of 36% for the first half of 2021. Only a little over a third of workers across the country are actively engaged in their work; 15% are actively disengaged. The remainder of workers are simply going through the motions, without any vested interest in the corporate environment. The results of this are clear: disengaged employees cost companies money. Employee engagement in a traditional office environment can be maintained through personal contact, meaningful, two-way feedback that allows employees to both grow and be heard, and team-building events. But how do you maintain that engagement in a remote world? Virtual problems require virtual solutions. Hosting a virtual team-building event provides an opportunity for employees to work together, chat, and get to know each other as individuals. That personal connection is vital to the success of your organization. Processes run more smoothly when positive personal relationships are present; camaraderie helps teams work together to address issues and develop creative ideas for the future. Most of all, an employee who enjoys their team interactions and thinks of coworkers as friends is more likely to remain engaged in the company’s vision.

Virtual Team Building Ideas

Team building events can be exciting, interactive, and interesting. By choosing an event that will appeal to the interests of your team, you can create common ground and shared experiences that employees can draw upon later. Here are some ideas for virtual team-building events, but don’t feel limited! Check out our directory for even more options.

1. Create Shared Experiences

Get your teammates thinking outside the box with a virtual escape room, or teach them something new with a cooking or mixology class. Shared experiences give attendees something to talk about! These events bring in an element of active participation that helps engage your attendees and keeps them focused on the event throughout. Minimize multitasking with an interesting and detail-focused task.

2. Opt for Entertainment 

Entertainment is another great option for a virtual audience. Share laughter at a comedy night, or try to figure out how a magician performs their daring sleight of hand. Let attendees relax and enjoy a show, perhaps even attuned to your company and projects. These events create a positive environment for employees to enjoy and talk about later—it might even give them a few in-jokes!

3. Play Games

Find your hidden card sharks with a casino night. Games are a great way for teams to work together towards a common goal, and you might be surprised who shines! Trivia games are another option to encourage animated interactions, as teams try to out-think each other for bragging rights. Game nights give attendees something to focus on while leaving room for networking and a little friendly competition.

4. Try Something New with Tastings

Is your team more refined? Food and beverage tastings are an innovative option for inquiring palates. From chocolate to cheese, cultivate fine taste and learn something new. Or, for a more adult team-building idea, choose from wine, beer, whiskey, or even tequila! The wide array of options means there is a match for any group. Part virtual catering and part experience, tastings elevate the team building experience and give attendees knowledge they can use in their lives outside of the office.

5. Mingle with Music Events

Host a dance party, or simply add music! Music can be an event unto itself, but it can also augment another gathering. Musicians, DJs, and emcees can enliven your events and get your attendees moving. Music can be an immersive experience, and it brings people together while allowing them the chance to mingle and chat while listening.

6. Choose Cooperative Activities

Don’t forget about traditional virtual team-building events! Events such as treasure hunts and speed networking can work to effectively build connections and trust within your team. Many of these service providers have some overlap into other categories, so they can be a great place to start your search. Once you decide what kind of event you would like to host, be sure to choose the right platform to support your needs. This is one of the most crucial decisions in hosting your event; you want an option that will support the team-building activities you’ve chosen and the size of the event. Be sure they have technical support and any necessary training available to ensure a smooth event!

Invest in Engagement

Team building events remain as important to team morale and engagement as ever. Many employees want to remain remote; virtual events are vital to allow even geographically distant groups to come together to build personal relationships.  Companies must work to maintain employee engagement and satisfaction in a remote world. Putting the effort into choosing an engaging event that interests your team will prove to be an investment in your company’s retention and corporate culture.

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