What are some ideas for remote team building activities?
Sitting in yet another Zoom call to “socialize” and drink coffee probably isn’t on the top of your team’s wishlist. Remote team building doesn’t have to mean virtual, and some of the best ideas blend real life and internet life together
GeoGuessr. Hands down, this is my favorite thing to do with remote teams. If you’re especially distributed, create a custom game with each person’s current town or hometowns as a location. Split up into teams and make the competition a little more interesting with a prize for the winners.
Company recipe and grocery stipend. Anything with cooking during an in-person retreat has always been a highlight for my teams when we’ve done it (even for those folks who don’t ever set foot in a kitchen). Come up with a straightforward, accessible recipe and give each team member some cash to go buy ingredients. Create the space for everyone to get together and share their result, or post it to a Slack channel. Desserts are great here (especially no bake desserts), or a signature cocktail.
LEGO sets. If people are going to sit in a Zoom call and drink a beverage of choice together, give them something to do! Later, people can have their LEGO sets in their office or in the background when they’re on a call. It’s a nice reminder that stays around longer than a cup of coffee.
Online games. Jackbox allows for online multiplayer games where folks can use their smartphone or tablet to play. Drawful was a pandemic favorite. There are also plenty of online multiplayer browser games which are a great fit for remote teams.
