Take a look at some online team building games for remote employees and why they are necessary when you have remote workers.

The global pandemic and the shift to remote work have empowered a lot of companies to expand to new markets and draw from a global talent pool. Thanks to technology and new ways of working, it’s possible to have employees based all over the world, including in Australia.

Working with remote teams has numerous benefits but it can be challenging to create a strong workplace culture. People lack the opportunity to encounter their peers in the corridors of the office and get to know them.

With the ‘watercooler’ element of office life fading, how do you find ways for people to connect? One of the solutions is to host activities and online team building games for remote employees. This gives people a chance to relax, have some fun and interact in a casual environment.

Check out some fun ideas to bring your team together online:

Online Q&A Sessions

Icebreaker-style conversations are an easy and cost-effective way for your remote team to get to know each other.

Get everyone together in a Zoom meeting or other online chat environment and ask a few easy questions about favourite foods, television shows or hobbies. It can be surprising how quickly people find ways to relate to each other.

You can play this as an online team building game for remote employees or start your regular meetings with some personal chatter. You may only have the time to ask a few of the people in the room some questions but eventually everyone will have their turn.

Quizzes and challenges

Online team building games for remote employees can be lots of fun. Ideas include putting your team in a virtual escape room and challenging them to find their way out or hosting an online quiz on a Friday afternoon.

Quizzes and games give people a chance to share their skills and have some fun with their colleagues. For a quiz, you can choose a theme to match your company or the interests of your team members.

There is almost no limit to the different online games for remote workers out there; from lip sync battles to Virtual Amazing Race experiences.

Gift exchange

You may want to wait till Christmas to plan a gift exchange, or you can do this ‘just because’.

Have a dollar limit and your team can mail small gifts to each other, with the promise that nothing is to be opened until everyone can get together in a call.

There are virtual platforms where you can have your team nominate a few items they like. Elfster is an example. Remind people to order ahead of your online gathering so everyone’s gift has arrived in time. Everyone can try guessing who their package has been sent by.

Invite a guest speaker

Guest speakers are a powerful way to inspire and engage your team, especially when they have a compelling story to share. Hearing an incredible story or a new perspective gives people a shared experience that they can talk about later.

Many of the world’s best speakers are happy to present to a virtual audience. For those in tricky time zones, presentations can be recorded and watched at a more suitable hour.

Tastings and ‘pub crawls’

You can even organise an online cocktail hour. Hopefully, people will be happy to work around time zones but you can arrange to have ingredients sent to your team’s remote workplace and all join in on the fun.

Other ideas include virtual pub crawls, wine tasting or tea and coffee tasting for an alcohol-free experience.

Online channels

Not all your online team building activities have to include games and Zoom sessions.

Setting up Slack or chat channels that are dedicated to people’s pets, memes and silly GIFs or a joke of the day can help to improve culture and camaraderie. Your team will have a place where they can share their personalities and be a little bit less professional.

Why online team building games and activities are ideal for remote workers

While being a remote worker has its perks and allows talented people to live in their city of choice, it can feel frustrating to be cut off from other team members. By arranging some fun online team building games for remote employees and having ways for people to connect regularly online, you can create a positive workplace culture for everyone.

Want to know more about hiring a remote team to work from Australia? Contact APEO today.