Virtual team-building activities can be a lot of fun! They can help team members get to know each other better and build trust. They can also help teams develop their communication and collaboration skills. There are various virtual team-building activities that you can do, so there is sure to be something that will work well for your hybrid or remote team.
1. Scavenger hunt
This is a great way to get everyone moving and thinking creatively. Kick off with some virtual ice breakers then give everyone a list of items to find around their house or neighborhood, and set a time limit for them to find as many as they can. The person with the most items at the end wins!
2. Movie/TV show marathon
Get your team together for a movie or TV show marathon! You can use Netflix Party to watch movies and TV shows together (it’s a Chrome extension). Or you can just have everyone watch the same movie/show at the same time and then discuss it afterward.
3. Online escape room
An online escape room is a great way to test your team’s problem-solving skills. Many websites offer free online escape rooms, such as FreeRice and AARP. Or you can take part in a high tech virtual escape like Moonshot or Expedition Patagonia.
4. Cook-off challenge
Let’s face it, cooking has become a must-have skill for everyone. And what better way to work together than to teach each other some new recipes and then have a little competition with it?
You can do this activity in pairs or larger groups. All you need is some kitchen space and the ingredients for your chosen dish. You can either set a theme (like Italian night) or let everyone choose their recipe. Then, time yourselves cooking the dish and see who can finish it the quickest!
5. Trivia night
Trivia is always a hit! Many websites offer free trivia games, such as Sporcle and Quizlet. Or you can create your own with Google Forms or SurveyMonkey.
6. Give a compliment rotation
Sit in a circle and start with someone giving a compliment to the person next to them. Continue around the circle until everyone has had a turn. This is an easy way for people to get to know each other, and you might be surprised at what some of your team members have achieved or accomplished! You can also ask everyone to give their favorite memory from the previous year as a way of getting everyone thinking about happy times and looking forward to the future.
7. Guess that tune
Play a short song clip (30 seconds or less) and have everyone write down what they think the song’s name is. The person who gets the most correct wins a prize! You can make it more challenging by only playing instrumental pieces or songs that are particularly old or obscure.
8. Pictionary
This classic Pictionary game is always a hit! You can play it in teams or individuals, and it’s easy to set up – all you need is a whiteboard or piece of paper and some pens or markers. One person from each team (or each player) will take turns drawing a picture based on a word
9. Virtual improv
There are many ways to host a virtual improv activity, but one way to do it is to use a platform like Zoom. Once everyone has joined the meeting, you can start the improv activity by having everyone develop an idea for a scene. Once everyone has an idea, you can have each person take turns acting out their scene. The other group members can help by adding ideas and making suggestions.
10. Virtual karaoke
Karaoke is a great team-building activity to do online because it helps team members bond and connects. It also helps them to have fun and relax together.
Bring it all together
After all the hard work, don’t forget the final touch: team-building prizes. Think about what your team would like. You may want to consider gift certificates, sports equipment, or even something like a day at the spa. Be sure that you come up with a good variety so that everyone on your team has a chance to win something they will enjoy.