What are the best practices for facilitating virtual team building sessions?

1 Choose Tools

Selecting the appropriate digital tools is the foundation of a successful virtual team building session. You need platforms that support video conferencing, real-time collaboration, and interactive elements to keep everyone engaged. Ensure that the tools are user-friendly and accessible to all team members, regardless of their technical skills. Prior to the session, provide a brief tutorial or resource guide to familiarize everyone with the functionalities they'll be using. This helps prevent technical difficulties from disrupting the flow of activities.

2 Plan Activities

Careful planning of activities is essential for virtual team building. Aim for a mix of games and exercises that promote interaction and require collaboration. Consider the size of your team and choose activities that can be effectively managed in a virtual setting. Keep sessions concise to maintain energy levels, and include a variety of tasks to cater to different personalities and working styles. Remember to clearly articulate the objectives of each activity, ensuring they align with your team's goals and the overall purpose of the session.

4 Foster Inclusion

Inclusion is paramount in virtual team building. Make an effort to engage every participant by using features such as breakout rooms for smaller group discussions or individual polls to capture everyone's input. Be mindful of time zones and work schedules to ensure that all team members can attend without undue stress. Additionally, be attentive to the varying comfort levels with technology and provide support where needed. An inclusive atmosphere encourages participation and makes every member feel valued.

6 Reflect Together

Finally, allocate time for the team to reflect together on the experience. This can be done through a group discussion at the end of the session or a follow-up meeting. Reflecting together helps solidify the connections made during the activities and reinforces the lessons learned. It also provides an opportunity for team members to share how they will apply these insights to their daily work, further cementing the value of the team building efforts.

7 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?