How can you build a sense of community and shared purpose during virtual team workshops?

1 Choose the right tools and platforms

Before you start your workshop, you need to decide what tools and platforms you will use to communicate, collaborate, and create with your team. Depending on your workshop objectives, you might need a video conferencing tool, a shared workspace, a brainstorming tool, a voting tool, a feedback tool, or a combination of these. Choose tools that are easy to use, reliable, and compatible with your team's devices and preferences. Make sure you test them beforehand and provide clear instructions on how to access and use them during the workshop.

2 Set clear expectations and ground rules

Another important step to prepare for your workshop is to set clear expectations and ground rules for your team. This will help you create a safe and respectful space where everyone can participate and contribute effectively. Some examples of ground rules are: turn on your camera and microphone, mute yourself when not speaking, use the chat function for questions and comments, respect different opinions and perspectives, stay focused and avoid distractions, and have fun. You can also ask your team to co-create and agree on the ground rules at the beginning of the workshop.

3 Use icebreakers and energizers

One of the best ways to build a sense of community and shared purpose during your workshop is to use icebreakers and energizers. These are activities that help you warm up, connect, and energize your team before, during, and after the workshop. Icebreakers are usually designed to introduce yourself, share something personal, or find commonalities with others. Energizers are usually designed to boost your energy, creativity, or mood. Some examples of icebreakers and energizers are: two truths and a lie, show and tell, scavenger hunt, trivia quiz, or dance party.

4 Encourage interaction and feedback

Another key element of a successful virtual team workshop is to encourage interaction and feedback among your team. This will help you create a collaborative and supportive atmosphere where everyone can learn from each other and improve their performance. You can use various methods to facilitate interaction and feedback, such as: breakout rooms, polls, surveys, sticky notes, chat, emojis, or gestures. You can also use different types of feedback, such as: appreciation, coaching, evaluation, or reflection.

5 Align on goals and actions

Finally, to build a sense of shared purpose during your workshop, you need to align your team on the goals and actions that will guide your work. This will help you create a clear and common vision of what you want to achieve and how you will get there. You can use various tools and frameworks to help you align your team, such as: SMART goals, OKRs, SWOT analysis, action plans, or roadmaps. You can also use check-ins and check-outs to review your progress and celebrate your achievements.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?