Virtual Team Building Activities for Remote Teams

20 Virtual Team Building Activities Perfect for Remote Teams

While working with a remote team may offer you the benefits of a super-skilled talent pool, it does come with certain disadvantages. One of the main issues is that teams often work in individual silos, and managers have a tough time getting them to feel and operate like a single, cohesive unit.

In a traditional team structure, HRs often resort to team building activities to improve team morale and bring about a sense of unity. We’ve curated a list of 20 similar activities designed specifically for virtual teams that need a pick-me-up.

Advantages of Team Cohesion and Engagement

The advantages of working on team cohesiveness and motivation via virtual team-building activities are numerous and significant.

A well-coordinated team of workers will always be able to share information and ideas, work together, and help one another, resulting in high productivity and job satisfaction.

The sense of belonging fosters commitment from the team members and makes them more inclined towards the project, producing better results and ideas.

Engaged employees are also likely to be loyal to their organization. Thus, the organization will likely experience low turnover and associated cost implications.

Besides, team cohesiveness can create a positive organizational culture within the workplace, where employees’ input is cherished and valued, boosting their morale and productivity.

20 Virtual Team Building Activities

1. Virtual Icebreakers

Icebreakers are a great way to start meetings and create a good mood for the rest of the session when working in a virtual environment.

These can be as simple and fast as questions or activities that make people on the team more at ease about opening up and being part of the process.

Using icebreakers as questions at the beginning of meetings can help the team members express a little about themselves. Some examples include:

Do you like reading or watching movies? Which book/motion picture do you prefer?
Where would you go if you could travel to any place in the world?
What is the best meal you have ever eaten?
It is your turn to share something that most people do not know about you.

These are some of the questions that are easy to ask and allow the flow of conversations and the creation of rapport within the team.

Examples of Effective Icebreakers

Beyond simple questions, countless other icebreaker activities can be used to engage remote teams:

Two Truths and a Lie: Everyone tells three facts about themselves, and the rest of the team determines which statement is a lie.
Show and Tell: Each team member brings an object from their home or workplace and explains why it is essential to them.
Virtual Backgrounds: Encourage the team members to set a fun or exciting virtual background and tell why they did it.

These activities not only assist in the ice breaking but also give the leader some idea about the personality and hobbies of the team members

2. Online Scavenger Hunts

Virtual scavenger hunts are an effective method of engaging people and uniting remote teams. They are designed so that the participants are required to locate particular objects or accomplish certain activities within a given period based on hints given by the coordinator.

Organizing a Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Choose a Theme: Choose a category for the scavenger hunt so that the items are related to the theme, such as office equipment, home items, or items associated with a particular holiday.
Create a List of Items: Make a set of objects or activities for participants to search or accomplish. Ensure the list is diverse and exciting.
Set a Time Limit: Choose an appropriate time limit for the scavenger hunt, which should be between fifteen and thirty minutes.
Award Prizes: To encourage more people to participate, small prizes or recognition should be given to the winners.

Benefits for Team Interaction

Virtual scavenger hunts help a team function, share ideas, and solve problems innovatively. They create a feeling of togetherness and are an excellent way to diversify the daily routine work.

These activities also help the team members get to know each other better and in a more relaxed manner, hence enhancing their rapport and the team's morale.

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3. Virtual Escape Rooms

Virtual escape rooms are interactive and fun group tasks that require participants to find clues and solve problems to “escape” from a virtual room before time runs out.

These activities can be done through various online platforms that offer different-themed escape rooms. There are many virtual escape room platforms, each with topics and puzzles. Some popular options include:

Escape Room in a Box: Provides free kits that teams can download and use to create their virtual escape room.
The Escape Game: Offers online escape room games that can be solved by teams not physically together.
Enchambered: Provides multiple escape rooms available online and can be solved by users with varying difficulty levels and topics.

In what ways do they help in improving problem-solving?

Virtual escape rooms involve a series of tasks in which people cooperate to solve different problems.

This problem-solving process promotes critical thinking, communication, and teamwork among the students.

Everyone on the team has to listen, communicate, and use everyone’s skills to get the job done. These skills can easily be translated into the workplace; therefore, virtual escape rooms are entertaining and beneficial team-building activities.

4. Online Office Olympics

Online Office Olympics are events that will help to unite remote teams and bring the spirit of competition and fun into work. Such events can enhance team spirit and foster a healthy rivalry in employees.

Setting up fun and competitive office games

Select Games: Choose games that might interest everyone and challenge the players according to their abilities.
Create Teams: Group participants in groups to ensure that they are working in groups and able to collaborate.
Set Rules and Scoring: It is important to state the general rules and how points will be given to the players or teams.
Prepare Prizes: To maintain the participants' engagement, it may be useful to provide small incentives for the winners.

Some of the Games and How to Play

Virtual Trivia: Trivia activities can be conducted using the Kahoot or Quizizz applications. Teams are required to give answers to questions on any subject.
Pictionary: Some of the online whiteboards that you can use are Skribbl.io for a drawing and guessing game, which will be fun.
Minute to Win It: Contests are held in rapid-fire, entertaining activities using household objects, such as cups, or racing to keep objects on a spoon.

5. Virtual Karaoke Sessions

Virtual karaoke sessions offer a lively and entertaining way for team members to bond through music and singing.

Platforms for Virtual Karaoke

Smule: An app that allows users to sing solo, duets, or group songs.
KaraokeParty: An online platform where participants can sing and compete for high scores.
Zoom: Use screen sharing and audio settings to host a karaoke session with YouTube tracks.

Benefits of Singing Together

Singing together can enhance team spirit, reduce stress, and create a joyful atmosphere. It allows team members to let loose and have fun, fostering a sense of community and belonging.

Moreover, karaoke sessions can help break down barriers and build confidence among participants.

6. Virtual Improv Sessions

Virtual improv sessions involve spontaneous and unscripted activities to encourage creativity and quick thinking.

How Improv Exercises Foster Creativity

Improv exercises require participants to think on their feet, adapt to new situations, and collaborate with others.

This fosters creativity by encouraging out-of-the-box thinking and helping team members become more comfortable with uncertainty and change.

Ideas for Improv Activities

Yes, And…: Participants build on each other’s statements, encouraging positive and creative dialogue.
Character Switch: Team members act out a scenario, switching roles periodically to add a twist.
Story Building: Each person contributes a sentence to a story, creating a collaborative and often humorous narrative.

7. Wellness Sessions

Wellness sessions are crucial for the mental and physical well-being of the remote teams. The activities enhance general health and can prevent stress.

The Significance of Mental and Physical Health

Employees must stay fit physically and mentally so that they can be productive and satisfied with their work. Classes like wellness can be very helpful for having breaks, introducing and maintaining healthy lifestyles, and developing a healthy organizational culture.

Some of the Virtual Wellness Activities include;

Meditation and Mindfulness: Meditation sessions would assist the team members to calm down and concentrate.
Yoga Classes: Online yoga classes are available for beginners and intermediate-level students to enhance physical fitness and relieve stress.
Fitness Challenges: Fitness activities are carried out every week, and team members are challenged to develop ways to keep fit and healthy.
Mental Health Workshops: Stress management, work-life balance, and other related issues training workshops.

It is possible to integrate these activities into the daily practice of employees working remotely, which will help to improve the team's efficiency and unity and the physical and psychological well-being of employees.

8. Lunch Roulette

Lunch Roulette is an idea aimed at helping the employees get to know each other better and establish rapport by scheduling them for lunch meetings.

Concept of Lunch Roulette

Lunch Roulette is a tool that randomly pairs employees in a team for casual, virtual lunch or coffee meetings.

It is a way for employees to talk to one another directly and chat about things unrelated to work, which helps create a friendly atmosphere among co-workers.

How to Use It in Your Team

Set a Schedule: It is also important to determine how often the lunches will take place, such as whether they will be weekly or bi-weekly.
Facilitate Introductions: It is advisable to send calendar invites or reminders to the participants to remind them of the dates they agreed to have lunch with.
Encourage Participation: Stress the advantages and comments of previous team members when encouraging people to sign up for the teams.

9. DIY Craft Challenges

DIY Craft Challenges are engaging virtual team-building activities allowing team members to showcase their creativity while working on fun projects.

Creative Ideas for Virtual Craft Challenges

Paper Crafting: Create origami figures or paper sculptures.
Painting: Organize a virtual paint night where everyone follows a tutorial.
Recycling Projects: Challenge team members to create something new from recyclable materials.

How These Activities Promote Teamwork

Craft challenges require collaboration, idea-sharing, and support, fostering teamwork and camaraderie. These activities also provide a break from work-related tasks, allowing team members to bond over a shared creative experience and showcase their unique talents.

10. Miniature Campfires

Miniature Campfires bring the warmth and intimacy of a campfire gathering to the virtual space, creating informal interactions and storytelling opportunities.

Organizing a Virtual Campfire Experience

Set the Scene: Encourage participants to use virtual backgrounds or dim their lights to create a cozy atmosphere.
Plan Activities: Include storytelling, sharing personal anecdotes, or even a virtual sing-along.
Provide Snacks: Suggest that participants bring their favorite snacks or drinks to enjoy during the session.

Benefits of Informal Team Interactions

Virtual campfires help break down barriers and foster deeper connections among team members. These informal interactions can increase trust, improve communication and create a more cohesive team dynamic, as employees feel more comfortable and valued.

11. Virtual Scattergories

Virtual Scattergories is an exciting and intensive game, perfect for short team-building activities.

Virtual Scattergories and Its Rules and Setup

Choose a Platform: You can use available games such as Scattergories Online or make your lists.
Set Up Teams: This can be done in teams if preferred or the participants can do it individually.
Explain the Rules: In this game, the players are expected to think of words that belong to a certain category and begin with a particular letter within a given time.
Score and Discuss: After each round, reveal the answers, give points for the most creative answers, and count the scores.

Why It is Perfect for a Quick Team Building

Virtual Scattergories enhances creativity, time for thinking, and healthy rivalry. It is a simple game that can be played in small turns and is ideal for a break or when a meeting is ending.

It is fun and requires active communication among people, which makes it possible to foster strong bonds between team members in a fun manner.

12. Murder Mysteries

Virtual murder mystery games are engaging and interactive activities that challenge teams to solve a fictional crime together.

Setting Up a Virtual Murder Mystery

Choose a Theme: Select a murder mystery theme that suits your team’s interests, such as a classic whodunit, a 1920s speakeasy, or a supernatural twist.
Select a Platform: Use Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or specialized virtual murder mystery services like Murder Mystery Co. or Red Herring Games.
Distribute Roles: Assign each participant a character role and provide them with background information and clues.
Set the Scene: Use virtual backgrounds or props to enhance the immersive experience.
Facilitate the Game: Guide the participants through the storyline, allowing them to question each other, share clues, and work together to solve the mystery.

How It Improves Critical Thinking

Murder mysteries require participants to analyze clues, form hypotheses, and collaborate to solve the crime.

This process enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as team members must evaluate information, question assumptions, and develop logical conclusions.

It also fosters teamwork and communication, as participants must share insights and work together to piece together the puzzle.

13. Virtual Tasting Experiences

Virtual tasting experiences offer a delightful way for teams to explore new flavors and enjoy shared sensory experiences.

Organizing a Virtual Tasting Event

Choose a Type of Tasting: Decide on the type of tasting, such as chocolate, cheese, or coffee.
Source Products: Arrange for the tasting products to be delivered to participants' homes or provide a list of items for them to purchase.
Hire an Expert: Consider hiring a sommelier, chocolatier, or other expert to guide the tasting and provide insights.
Create a Tasting Guide: Provide participants with a guide that includes tasting notes, pairing suggestions, and background information.

Types of Tastings

Chocolate Tasting: Sample a variety of chocolates, learning about their production and tasting notes.
Cheese Tasting: Discover different cheeses, their textures, and flavor characteristics.
Coffee Tasting: Experience various coffee beans and brewing methods, discussing flavor nuances.

14. Classic Online Games

Playing classic online games is a great way to bring teams together for light-hearted fun and stress relief.

Popular Online Games for Teams

Among Us: A multiplayer game where players work together to complete tasks while trying to identify the impostors.
Jackbox Games: A collection of party games that are easy to play and perfect for virtual gatherings.
Pictionary: An online version of the classic drawing and guessing game.
Trivia: Host a trivia night covering various topics with platforms like Kahoot or Quizizz.

How Games Can Reduce Stress and Build Camaraderie

Online games provide a break from work-related stress and offer a fun way to unwind. They encourage laughter, friendly competition, and casual interactions, strengthening team bonds and improving morale.

Playing games together also helps team members get to know each other better in a relaxed setting, enhancing overall team cohesion.

15. Virtual Happy Hours

Virtual happy hours allow employees to sit back, grab a drink, and casually engage in a conversation with fellow team members online.

How to Plan for a Successful Virtual Happy Hour

Encourage Participation: Someone should come up with the topic or ask people to bring their preferred beverages and food items.
Prepare Icebreakers: Having pre-determined questions to encourage or help start the conversation would also be helpful.
Create a Relaxed Atmosphere: Include virtual backgrounds and music for a less formal look and feel.

Actions to Include During the Session

Themed Drink Recipes: Provide recipes for an actual drink that all the participants will prepare in class.
Virtual Games: Ordinary games like trivia games, bingo, and picture drawing games like Pictionary can be played.
Show and Tell: Ask the team members to bring and display something that they find interesting from their homes.
Music and Dancing: Listen to music together and fire up a virtual dance session.

16. Virtual Workshops

Virtual workshops are a great way for team members to get training and have fun together.

Types of Workshops

Cooking Classes: Practice the new recipes together with the help of an experienced chef.
Art and Craft: Join painting or drawing or any do-it-yourself art activity.
Fitness: Take an online yoga, Pilates, or fitness class.
Photography: Master the workings of a camera and be able to present your work to the team.

Benefits of Learning Together

Grouping makes the learners feel they are part of a group and working together towards a common goal.

It creates opportunities for team members to motivate each other and thus improves the flow of teamwork and communication.

Virtual workshops also help to avoid boredom at work and give the participants fun and informative activities to complete.

17. Accountability Groups

Accountability groups consist of team members who commit to supporting each other in achieving personal or professional goals.

Forming Accountability Groups for Personal Goals

Identify Goals: Have each participant identify specific, measurable goals they want to achieve.
Create Groups: Form small groups of 3-5 people with similar or complementary goals.
Set Regular Meetings: Schedule regular check-ins to discuss progress, challenges, and next steps.
Provide Support: Encourage group members to share resources, advice, and motivation.

How They Support Professional Development

Accountability groups create a structured environment for setting and achieving goals. They foster a culture of support and continuous improvement, as members hold each other accountable and provide constructive feedback.

This collaborative approach helps individuals stay motivated, overcome obstacles, and develop professionally, contributing to overall team success.

18. Virtual Book Clubs

Virtual book clubs bring team members together to discuss books, share insights, and engage in meaningful conversations.

Organizing a Virtual Book Club

Choose a Platform: Use tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Slack for discussions.
Select a Book: Choose a book that interests the group. Consider rotating who picks the book each time.
Set a Schedule: Decide on a regular meeting schedule, such as once a month.
Create a Reading Plan: Divide the book into sections and assign reading deadlines.

Facilitate Discussions: Prepare discussion questions and encourage participants to share their thoughts and perspectives.

Benefits of Shared Reading Experiences

Virtual book clubs foster community and connection through shared intellectual exploration. They encourage team members to engage in thoughtful discussions, enhancing communication skills and critical thinking.

Book clubs also provide a welcome break from work, allowing team members to relax and enjoy reading while building stronger relationships.

19. Online Trivia Quizzes

Trivia quizzes available online are a good way to engage the team members, challenge them, and have fun at the same time.

Virtual Trivia Night: Tips and Tricks

Choose a Platform: You can use Kahoot, Quizizz, or Zoom.
Select Themes: Choose trivia topics that your team will enjoy, including general knowledge, entertainment, or organizational trivia.
Prepare Questions: Combine simple questions with those that would be difficult for the students to answer.

Here are some of the trivia themes and questions:

Pop Culture: ‘’Who was awarded the Oscar for Best Actor in the year 2020?’’
History: The following questions are multiple choice: “In what year did the Berlin Wall fall?”
Science: ‘What is the chemical formula of gold?’
Company History: ‘’When was our company established?”

20. Virtual Fitness Challenges

Virtual fitness challenges motivate remote teams to stay active and healthy, promoting a balanced lifestyle.

Types of Fitness Challenges for Remote Teams

Step Challenges: Track daily steps and set team or individual goals.
Workout Challenges: Share a daily or weekly workout routine and encourage participation.
Yoga Sessions: Organize virtual yoga classes and challenge team members to attend regularly.
Healthy Eating: Challenge team members to try new healthy recipes and share their experiences.

How They Promote a Healthy Work-Life Balance

Fitness challenges encourage regular physical activity, reduce stress, boost energy levels, and improve overall well-being.

They provide a structured way for team members to integrate exercise into their daily routines, promoting a healthier work-life balance.

Conclusion

Virtual team-building activities are essential for maintaining a connected, engaged, and productive remote workforce.

From interactive games and creative challenges to wellness sessions and learning experiences, these activities offer numerous benefits that enhance team cohesion, communication, and overall job satisfaction.

Organizations can create a positive and supportive remote work environment by incorporating various virtual team-building activities. This ensures that their teams remain motivated and aligned with their goals.

Ready to take your team-building efforts to the next level? Let Swageazy add a touch of personalization to your virtual events.