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Virtual Team Building Activities for Better Collaboration
Virtual teams want to feel stronger connected with each other. Online Team Building excercises help.
At appanvil, our team works remotely from different cities and countries. While we love the freedom that remote work gives us, it can be tough to keep the team feeling connected.
We’ve all been there—feeling a bit distant from colleagues, even when we’re working on the same projects. That’s why we’re always looking for creative virtual team building activities for better collaboration.
These remote team building activities help us stay close, have fun, and keep the team spirit strong. In this article, we’ll share some of our favorite virtual team building ideas that have worked for us.
Did you know that 80% of global companies shifted to virtual collaboration during the pandemic, and 64% of organizations expect virtual teamwork to be a permanent part of the future? As more teams move online, the need for virtual team building has never been greater.
When teams are spread across different cities or even countries, it’s easy to feel isolated, even if you’re all working toward the same goals. Virtual team building activities create opportunities for employees to connect on a personal level, strengthening relationships and boosting team morale.
With 73% of employees asking for more team building exercises, it’s clear that virtual teams thrive when they foster a sense of unity.
Now that we understand why virtual team building is crucial, let’s dive into some creative online team building activities that can help your remote team stay connected, engaged, and motivated. Whether you’re looking for a 5-minute icebreaker or a 30-minute challenge, there’s something here for every team.
This classic icebreaker works great for virtual teams looking to get to know each other better. Each person shares three statements about themselves: two are true, and one is a lie. The rest of the team has to guess which one is the lie.
It’s quick, fun, and often leads to surprising revelations! Plus, it’s a great way to kick off a meeting and build a sense of camaraderie among remote team members.
Example:
I once won a karaoke competition.
I’m afraid of heights.
I’ve never been on an airplane.
Boost team morale and spark some friendly competition with a short trivia quiz.
The trivia can be about anything—company history, pop culture, or even fun facts about team members. A quick trivia quiz is a great way to inject some fun into a workday and give everyone a chance to relax for a few minutes.
After the trivia quiz, why not share the results in your social company intranet or post it somewhere easily accessible to everyone? This way, even after the quiz, everyone can review the scores and have fun discussing the questions. This also makes the experience feel like an ongoing team event instead of just a one-off.
Ideas wanted? Here, you’ll find some trivia quizzes questions and answers.
This one’s always a hit! Have each team member share a baby photo of themselves, and everyone else guesses who’s who. It’s a fun way to break the ice and see a totally different side of your coworkers. You’d be surprised how much laughter it generates!
Plus, it’s a lighthearted way to build connections that go beyond the workplace.
We’ve all had days where our desks look like a disaster zone. So why not share them? Have team members upload pictures of the contents of their bags to a central space where others can react and comment. It’s a quick, quirky way to connect and share a laugh over clutter.
You’ll likely discover that even the most organized person has their chaotic moments!
For this activity, ask team members to grab their purse or wallet and give everyone a quick tour of what’s inside. This one can reveal some funny and unexpected things—like who carries around 10 pens or a collection of concert tickets. It’s a playful way to see into someone’s personality and gives everyone something to laugh about.
For this game, give everyone a category (like “Name 10 types of fruit” or “Name 10 countries in Africa”), and whoever can name 10 things the quickest wins. It’s a fast, competitive way to get everyone’s brains working and spark some friendly competition.
You can add an element of fun by sharing the results on your intranet, where everyone can comment, react, and even challenge each other.
It’s a quick and fun challenge to see who can learn the NATO phonetic alphabet the fastest. You could even take it to the next level by spelling out words or team names using the phonetic alphabet.
Not only will it make your team more “techie,” but it’s also a great way to laugh at the different ways we pronounce words!
A scavenger hunt doesn’t need to be limited to in-person events! Create a list of quirky or random items that people can find around their homes or workspaces. Set a timer for 10 minutes and have team members race to collect as many items as they can.
You can get creative with the list—things like “something that reminds you of childhood” or “an item that makes you laugh” can spark fun conversations. It’s a lighthearted way to break the ice and let everyone share a bit of their personal space.
Bring the outdoors into the virtual world! Have everyone gather around a “virtual campfire” (this could be a shared screen with a fire animation or a simple image) and share a story—whether it’s a funny memory, something inspiring, or just a random tale.
You can use a team workspace on your intranet to create a space/community for team members to share their stories, allowing everyone to read and comment on each one, fostering deeper connections and more interaction.
Pictionary is always a crowd-pleaser, and it works just as well virtually! Use an online Pictionary tool or simply share your screen with a whiteboard. One person draws, while others guess what the drawing is.
You can even customize the theme based on your industry or inside jokes from the team. Not only does this exercise get everyone laughing, but it also encourages creative thinking and collaboration.
Break out the mic (or just use Zoom) and get your team singing together! You can pick a theme like “classic hits” or “movie soundtracks” and each team member sings a few lines from a song. Or, for a fun twist, have them sing a song that represents their current mood.
For added fun, create a shared playlist or newsfeed post on your intranet where everyone can upload their performances. You can have team members comment, cheer each other on, and vote for their favorite performances, turning the activity into a long-lasting team memory.
Keep in mind that some team members might feel shy or uncomfortable singing in front of others, so it’s important to be mindful and respectful of personal preferences. If karaoke isn’t their thing, maybe suggest they participate by cheering others on or even choosing the next song. The goal is fun and inclusion, not forcing anyone out of their comfort zone!
This activity involves everyone writing down what they think their future self will be doing 5-10 years from now. You can even ask fun questions like “Where do you think the team will be working?” or “What new technology will we be using?”
Then, store these responses somewhere safe (maybe on a shared Confluence page or as company news in your intranet) and revisit them in a year or so. It’s a great way to create long-term engagement and some nostalgia down the road!
Challenge your team to sum up their entire life (or just their work life!) in just six words. For example, “Always learning, always evolving, always curious.”
It’s a quick and creative way to express something meaningful, and it’s also a fun conversation starter. Plus, you’ll get to see the unique ways your colleagues view their experiences.
What’s on your bucket list? Have everyone share a few items from their personal bucket lists—whether they’re big dreams like “Visit every country in Europe” or quirky things like “Learn how to juggle.”
It’s a simple way to get to know each other beyond the workday and can create deeper connections between team members.
This activity works great on Confluence Whiteboards since it allows everyone to participate, share, and get creative with drawings or text. Plus, it’s a great way to visually represent what your team values outside of work!
Create a bingo card with activities that are common in remote teams (like “Someone’s mic is on mute,” “A dog barks in the background,” or “Someone shares a motivational quote”). When people spot these things happening, they mark them off.
It’s a funny way to reflect on the quirks of remote work and encourages team members to be more mindful of the little things that make virtual work unique.
Looking for something that takes a bit more time? Try a virtual escape room! You can find plenty of online options where teams solve puzzles, find clues, and work together to escape within a set amount of time.
After the activity, create a dedicated space on your team intranet for team members to reflect on the experience, share funny moments, and rate the difficulty of the puzzles. This helps continue the engagement and allows everyone to connect in a deeper way.
Sometimes the best bonding happens over food! Set a time for everyone to grab their lunch or dinner and meet virtually to eat together. It’s informal, relaxed, and gives everyone a chance to talk about things outside of work.
You can even make it more interesting by choosing a theme—like a “taco Tuesday” or “pizza party” where everyone orders the same type of food or tries something new. Eating together virtually can mimic the social aspects of in-person lunches, helping remote teams stay connected on a personal level.
Get the team together for a virtual tasting experience—whether it’s wine, coffee, or even chocolate. Everyone can join the call with their tasting samples, and you can share your thoughts and preferences. It’s a relaxed and enjoyable way to connect over something other than work.
You could even have everyone rate each tasting item, turning it into a competitive challenge!
Host a virtual workshop or masterclass where team members can learn something new together—whether it’s a cooking class, a career development session, or a mindfulness workshop. To streamline the process, you can use an online event planner through your intranet to schedule, manage, and promote the event. After the session, your intranet becomes the perfect hub to share key takeaways, upload resources, and spark discussions about what everyone learned. This not only keeps the energy from the event alive, but also encourages ongoing knowledge sharing and continuous engagement within the team.
Gather your team for a thrilling virtual murder mystery! You can use online platforms or create your own scenario where team members play different characters, trying to uncover clues to solve the mystery. Whether you go for a classic whodunit or a quirky themed mystery, this activity is great for encouraging teamwork and problem-solving skills. Plus, everyone loves a good challenge!
After the mystery is solved, share your team’s detective skills and favorite moments on your intranet’s newsfeed. You might even want to vote on who played their character the best!
Set a “Virtual Social Hour”
Virtual team-building doesn’t always have to be structured around games or activities. Sometimes, it’s simply about making space for informal chats. A “virtual social hour” can give your team a chance to unwind and connect on a personal level without any work talk.
Rotate Team Leaders for Activities
Switch up the leadership for virtual team-building activities to keep things fresh. Instead of always having the manager or team lead in charge, let different team members take the helm.
Use Video When Possible
While audio calls are fine, video calls give a much stronger sense of connection. Seeing each other’s faces during team-building activities makes everything feel more personal and real.
Respect Time Zones
With global teams, time zones can be a big challenge. When planning virtual team-building events, be sure to take everyone’s time zone into consideration.
Keep it Inclusive and Low-Pressure
Not everyone may feel comfortable jumping into a virtual karaoke session or a high-energy game. Be mindful of varying comfort levels. Encourage participation without pressure, and provide alternative ways for people to contribute.
To ensure your virtual team-building activities run smoothly, it’s essential to select the right technical tools that will help keep everyone engaged, organized, and connected. Whether you’re organizing casual chats, collaborative games, or workshops, the right platform can make all the difference.
For instance, video conferencing tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams are excellent for activities that require face-to-face interaction. If you’re planning collaborative games or challenges, tools like Confluence can help teams work together in real-time on digital whiteboards. For simpler, text-based engagement, try using a social intranet platform like Mantra for quick polls, fun quizzes, or even emoji reactions to activities.
Remote work is great for flexibility, but it can also feel a bit lonely at times. So, the next time you’re feeling a bit disconnected from your remote team, remember this: a simple game, a shared laugh, or a casual chat can go a long way in strengthening those bonds. Virtual team building activities bring people together, even when they’re miles apart.
And with the right tools—like video calls, Confluence, or Mantra—it’s easier than ever to keep the energy up and the team spirit alive.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about the work; it’s about the people you work with. And a little bit of fun can make all the difference.
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