Virtual team building is a great way to foster collaboration, communication, and trust among remote workers. But how do you plan a fun and engaging activity that everyone can participate in online? In this article, we'll share some of the best online tools to use for virtual team building, and how to make the most of them.
Online tools are essential for virtual team building because they provide the platform, the features, and the interaction that make the activity possible. Without online tools, you would have to rely on email, phone, or video calls, which are not very conducive to creativity, feedback, or bonding. Online tools can help you create a variety of activities, such as games, quizzes, challenges, icebreakers, brainstorming, and more. They can also help you measure the results, collect feedback, and track progress.
Zoom is great and it has quite a few integrations you can use. One of my favourites is Mentimeter. Some event organizers also bring their own tools so it's worth checking those out too.
There are many online tools available for virtual team building activities. Some popular options include virtual escape rooms, online games, virtual museum tours, and virtual classes or workshops. For example, Clued Upp offers a CSI-themed virtual escape room while Cygnus Studio offers a virtual calligraphy class You could also consider organizing a virtual volunteering event, such as those offered by Zooniverse or Stall Catchers Another option is to host a virtual gaming event using platforms like Jackbox or Kahoot These are just a few ideas to get you started. You can also search for more virtual team building activities that cater to your team’s interests and preferences.
They facilitate creativity, feedback, and bonding far beyond what’s possible with basic communication tools. With the right online platform, you can host a range of activities from quizzes to brainstorming sessions.
As I have been working in remote office environment and using Zoho which is an overall package to use and help in data and team management successfully.
Slack or Microsoft Teams (Channels and Threads): These communication platforms allow for ongoing discussions and collaboration. Create dedicated channels or threads for team-building activities, where team members can share ideas, participate in challenges, or discuss progress.
When selecting an online tool for virtual team building, you should consider the size and composition of your team, the goal and duration of your activity, and the functionality and usability of the tool. Make sure to choose an online tool that can accommodate everyone in your team, matches their interests and skills, and helps you meet your objective within your schedule and budget. Additionally, the online tool should have a user-friendly interface and provide features such as chat, video, audio, screen sharing, polls, surveys, etc.
When setting up zoom or other teleconferencing events, remember that not everyone communicates the same way. Due to culture, neurodiversity or just personal preference, some people may have a ton of ideas that they feel they need to share immediately, while others may have a lot to share but not like being the centre of attention. The quality of an idea and how much someone feels they need to share it are often not related. In person, quiet side conversations act like a pressure valve for the shy or really eager. Tools like whiteboarding and small group breakouts allow side conversations that permit more people to share at a time, resulting in more diverse ideas.
Ask around! Read these funny LinkedIn Articles and connect with peers that you know organize and participate in events... it's good to also get the view of the participant!
Select tools based on your team’s size, goals, and preferences. Look for user-friendly interfaces and features like chat, video, and interactive elements to support engagement.
Kahoot! was a life saver during the times of Covid-19. We used to have team quizes on various topics (and the team culture was induced in the questions as well).
When choosing online tools for virtual team building, consider team needs, desired features like video conferencing and collaboration boards, ease of use for all team members, accessibility across devices, security measures, scalability for growth, feedback from users, and cost. These factors ensure the tools align with your team's dynamics, objectives, and budget, enhancing virtual team-building efforts.
Searching for ideas to build your virtual team? Here are a few of the online tools you can use to get started: Kahoot, a game-based learning platform that lets you create and play quizzes, trivia, and puzzles with your team; Miro, a collaborative whiteboard tool that allows you to brainstorm, ideate, and visualize with your team; and Breakout Rooms, a feature of Zoom that enables you to split your team into smaller groups for more focused discussions or activities. With Kahoot, you can choose from a library of ready-made games or create your own, as well as customize the difficulty, theme, and time limit. With Miro, use templates, sticky notes, shapes, images, and text to create diagrams, mind maps, flowcharts, and more. As for Breakout Rooms, you can assign people to different rooms manually or randomly and set a time limit for each session. You can also join and switch between rooms as a host.
Kahoot, Slack, Miro, Woolclap, Zoom Breakout sessions... it's not so much the tool but I would say what you do with it that really makes the difference.
We have used Trivia by Springworks which is a tool for online engagement. Has loads of games and is a great way to get your team to come together. Online pictionary is also another way to have fun as a team. Whatever tool we choose, it needs to be integrated with the internal communication system to make the process seamless. It needs to be woven into the culture of the organization
Consider Kahoot for quizzes, Miro for collaborative brainstorming, and Zoom’s Breakout Rooms for small group discussions. These tools support various interactive and engaging activities.
Video Conferencing Platforms Zoom: Ideal for hosting virtual meetings, webinars, and video conferences with features like breakout rooms for smaller group activities. Microsoft Teams: Offers video conferencing, chat, and file sharing, along with integration with other Microsoft Office tools. Online Team Games and Activities - Kahoot: Allows for creating and playing interactive quizzes, surveys, and discussions to engage and entertain team members. - Jackbox Games: Offers a variety of interactive games that can be played remotely, promoting team bonding and fun. Online tools can help team leaders make fun, lively, and relevant virtual team building activities that boost the team spirit and teamwork of remote team members."
En mi caso, una de las herramientas que utilizo es Trello lo que me permite llevar adelante distintos avances y retroalimentación con mi equipo de marketing.
When you’ve chosen an online tool for your virtual team building activity, there are some steps you should take to prepare. Test the tool beforehand to make sure it works properly and that you and your team have the necessary devices, software, and internet connection. You can also do a trial run with a few team members to check for any issues. Communicate the details to your team, including the date, time, purpose of the activity, and how to access and use the online tool. Additionally, set some ground rules and expectations for your team, such as muting yourself when not speaking, respecting each other's opinions, and having fun. Be sure to send them an agenda, a link, and a reminder before the activity starts.
Test it! Dry runs... log it with another account, ask a peer to pilot it.... it's really crucial you always discover something useful and when it glitches you know what to do to solve the issue.
Test your chosen tool, ensure all participants have the necessary tech setup, and communicate details and expectations clearly ahead of the session.
Set Clear Goals: Define precise objectives aligned with team development targets. Choose Relevant Activities: Select exercises tailored to virtual settings that promote collaboration and communication. Communicate Proactively: Provide concise instructions and ensure everyone understands the activity's purpose and logistics. Tech and Logistics Check: Test tools and address any issues beforehand to ensure a seamless experience. Evaluate and Adapt: Gather feedback post-activity to refine future initiatives for maximum impact.
Prior to the meeting, come up with five multiple choice or short answer trivia questions. Ask the questions verbally during the meeting or, for video conferences, share your screen with the questions typed on presentation software, such as PowerPoint or Google Slides. Or you can use an interactive trivia game maker as well. Award a point to the first person who responds verbally with the correct answer and keep score on a notepad. (Some applications, such as Slides With Friends, compile points for you and have participants submit responses on their smartphones so that all correct respondents, not just the first one, are awarded points.)
Preparation was key to a smooth experience. I learned the hard way that assuming everyone is tech-savvy is a mistake. Running a trial session became my best practice. It wasn't just about testing the tool but ensuring everyone felt comfortable using it. I remember one particular trial run where we discovered that not everyone knew how to use breakout rooms in Zoom. This led to a mini-training session that not only boosted our team's Zoom skills but also highlighted the value of patience and empathy in leading a diverse team.
For an effective virtual team building activity, it's important to start with an icebreaker. This can be a short and simple activity that helps the team introduce themselves and get comfortable with each other and the online tool. During the activity, it's important to keep your team engaged by asking questions, giving feedback, and encouraging participation. You can also use polls, surveys, or quizzes to check their understanding, opinion, or satisfaction. Lastly, end with a debriefing session to help your team learn from the activity and express their feelings. This can be done with open-ended questions, ratings, or comments.
Storytell especially at the beginning to capture everyone's attention. Use images, sound, and I find that lighting is super important too... you want to be sure if on line that the speaker is well positioned in the camera and has great lighting. There is nothing worse that having a speaker with a window at the back and their face in darkness.
Kick off with an icebreaker, keep engagement high with interactive questions and polls, and wrap up with a debrief session for reflection and feedback.
Firstly, it is important to find the balance between the difficulty of an assignment and skills that learners have already accomplished. The simplest example of how to find the balance is to create several options of the course scenario (beginner, intermediate, high level of difficulty) and invite students to choose the appropriate one or conduct an entry test. For instance, online language courses are organized according to this principle. It makes no sense to place an upper-intermediate student in a group where everyone studies the basics of the language. With the help of a well-organized interactive script, you can transfer the student automatically to another level if he or she shows high knowledge and vice versa.
Zoom is my favourite because of its engaging features. Use these features to tap different senses of participants like invite them to answer through - chat window (touch), plan an audio to share a piece of information (sound), Zoom breakout rooms for building competition and surprise them with online gifts. Top activities could be - Online Escape Rooms, Treasure Hunts, Talent Trivia, Minute to win it games etc.
Zoom or Microsoft Teams are great for live interactions, while tools like Kahoot! or QuizBreaker can add fun quizzes and icebreakers. Miro or Trello can facilitate collaborative exercises and brainstorming sessions.
Embrace flexibility and adaptability. Not every tool or activity will be a perfect fit for every team, so be prepared to adjust based on feedback and observation. The goal is to strengthen connections and foster a positive team culture, even in a virtual environment.
Nowadays, considering the progress in technology, the tools are less critical than the facilitators. Here's why: Most good coaches will have the right tools, allowing you to communicate, have a good meeting, share anonymous feedback and more. Yet, the tools are nothing without the right facilitators, who can also moderate and read the room and ensure that all the team can participate or, at a minimum, benefit from the online session. - e.g. the shyest person in the room has space, too, even if the loudest person tends to take the space.
Things don't always go as planned! So what!?!? The tool may not work, someone will have a hard time accessing, not everyone is going to like. It's fine. Keep a smile on your face and more importantly...have FUN!