?? "Online Events: Unleashing the Power of Online Hackathons, Tickethons?, and Techathons?

?? "Online Events: Unleashing the Power of Hackathons, Tickethons?, and Techathons? to Foster a Vibrant, Inclusive, and Enjoyable Remote Work Culture! ?????

As we've mentioned before, over 30% of remote workers grapple with feelings of loneliness and isolation. But there's no need to go it alone—there are effective strategies to counter these challenges. Check out this our article that outlines 11 proactive steps to address loneliness and isolation. Among these strategies, one stands out as a powerful means of fostering lasting connections within your team, department, or organization: organizing online events. And the beauty of it? It's a seamless fit even for asynchronous work environments. ????

Online events as opposed to live events have the flexibility to span days or even weeks, allowing for gradual and meaningful interaction. How does it work, you ask? Well, it all comes down to your objectives, and let me share an example from our experience at our client LeaseWeb with their distributed Tech Team comprising 120 talented individuals.

Their primary aim was crystal clear: to cultivate fresh connections among team members, making it easier for them to collaborate in the future. Across different locations, numerous highly skilled individuals hadn't had the chance to get acquainted. Leaseweb recognized that if they did, problem-solving would become more efficient, and the seeds of innovation could flourish. ????

The journey began with the formation of new teams Leaseweb taking the lead. Monday marked the commencement of our grand adventure, and what better way to break the ice than with an online escape room—an engaging activity designed to help the teams get to know each other better. When it came to scheduling, we initially considered accommodating two different time slots, but after thoughtful discussions with team members from various time zones, we settled on a unified time: 3:30 pm EST, a slot that worked for our teams spanning India, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Canada.

On Wednesday, at 3:30 pm EST, we embarked on our Techathon? journey, tasking teams with a thrilling challenge—to create a game for the entire company to enjoy, alongside a snappy 1-minute promotional video for their masterpiece. The excitement didn't stop there. Friday, again at 3:30 pm EST, saw us invite the entire company to a grand show where these 1-minute cinematic gems took center stage.

As the following Monday dawned at 9 am, all the games were set loose for our entire company to dive into, play, and relish. And, to add an extra layer of thrill, we culminated our eventful week with a live vote on Friday at 3:30 pm EST, where the entire company came together to decide which Tech Team emerged as the triumphant victor. ??????

"We decided to organize the Techathon Event? through Locus Quest with the goal of fostering new connections within global Product Engineering organisation, and injecting pride, fun, and engagement into our teams. And boy, did it deliver!" Sander Poelwijk, Director of Product Engineering

"Collaborating with the Leaseweb Team was an absolute delight. I had a blast working alongside these talented individuals and teams! What truly impressed me, and what I consistently witness, is the sheer wizardry of crafting these games in just 48 hours. Equally remarkable is the humor, creativity, and culture-enhancing elements infused into each game. They crack jokes and delve into the very essence of our company—its colors, products, and the inside jokes that define us. As you'll see in the clip above, every game captures the essence of the Leaseweb culture." Mariel Dommering, CEO Locus Quest