Remote team building is emerging as an innovative solution for maintaining team cohesion despite geographical distance. In a context where telecommuting is becoming the norm, companies need to rethink their strategies for strengthening links between employees. Let’s discover together the advantages and best practices for organizing effective and engaging virtual team building activities.
What is remote team building?
Remote team building, or virtual team building, refers to all activities and events carried out online to strengthen team cohesion in a remote working environment. These activities generally take place via videoconferencing platforms, enabling participants to connect from their home or workplace.
Contrary to popular belief, virtual team building offers a multitude of possibilities for creating moments of sharing and conviviality between colleagues. Among the most popular activities are :
- Quizzes and blind tests
- Virtual escape games
- Online cooking workshops
- Remote sports challenges
- Online collaborative games
These activities not only break the ice between participants, but also develop essential skills such as communication, problem-solving and creativity. What’s more, they can be adapted to different types of corporate events, such as new employee induction, virtual seminars or online company aperitifs.
Advantages of virtual team building for companies
Remote team building has many advantages for organizations, particularly in the context of a health crisis or digital transformation. Here are the main advantages of this approach:
1. Respect for barrier gestures: By organizing virtual activities, companies can protect their employees’ health while maintaining social ties. This solution is particularly relevant in times of pandemics or health restrictions.
2. Cost savings: The budget allocated to virtual team building is generally lower than that of a face-to-face event. Savings on travel, room hire or catering costs can be reinvested in quality activities.
3. Flexibility and accessibility: Participants can join the activities from their home or office, which facilitates logistical organization and enables geographically remote collaborators to be included.
4. Improved communication: Virtual activities encourage exchanges between colleagues and reinforce remote communication skills, essential in a hybrid work environment.
5. Boosting commitment and productivity: By creating moments of sharing and conviviality, virtual team building helps to improve team motivation and commitment, which translates into greater productivity.
| Criteria | Face-to-face team building | Virtual team building |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | High | Moderate |
| Flexibility | Limited | High |
| Accessibility | Restricted | Global |
| Environmental impact | Significant | Low |
How to organize a successful online team building event?
To ensure the success of your virtual team building, here are a few tips and best practices to follow:
1. Choose the right platform: Opt for a videoconferencing solution tailored to your needs. The most commonly used platforms are :
- Zoom
- Microsoft Teams
- Google Meet
- Skype Business
Make sure all participants have the necessary tools (computer, smartphone, stable internet connection) to participate comfortably in the activity.
2. Select appropriate activities: Choose activities that match your corporate culture and event objectives. Some providers offer turnkey packages with professional animators to guarantee an optimal experience.
3. Personalize the experience: Wherever possible, adapt activities to your corporate colors and values. This will reinforce participants’ sense of belonging and give the event a unique dimension.
4. Plan regularly: To maintain bonds between colleagues over the long term, consider organizing virtual team building sessions on a recurring basis. This can take the form of weekly mini-challenges or more elaborate monthly get-togethers.
5. Solicit feedback: After each session, gather feedback from participants to continually improve your remote team building activities. This will enable you to identify the most popular activities and adapt them to the needs of your teams.
Ideas for innovative virtual team building activities
To inspire you, here’s a selection of original and engaging remote team building activities:
1. Virtual Escape Game: Plunge your teams into an immersive adventure where they have to work together to solve enigmas and escape from a virtual location. This activity stimulates reflection and communication between participants.
2. Interactive music quiz: Organize an online blind test to test your staff’s musical knowledge. This fun activity creates a festive atmosphere and encourages informal exchanges.
3. Virtual cooking workshop: Invite your teams to follow a chef’s live instructions to prepare a recipe. This activity is a great way to share a convivial moment around gastronomy.
4. Connected sports challenge: Launch a remote sports challenge using activity-tracking applications. Participants can accumulate points according to their performance, creating a healthy emulation within the team.
5. Online improvisational theater: Call on professional actors to lead a virtual improvisational theater session. This activity develops creativity and public speaking skills.
Finally, remote team building offers many opportunities to strengthen team cohesion despite geographical distance. By choosing the right activities and organizing them on a regular basis, companies can create a stimulating and engaging virtual working environment. Feel free to explore the different options available and adapt them to your organization’s specific needs to get the most out of virtual team building.
