Remote work can be a game-changer. For starters, it provides that balance between work and life that your team craves and it breaks down geographical walls to allow you to build a super team of talented individuals from various places.
But a coin has two sides, right? While there are many amazing benefits to going fully remote, how do you maintain a sense of brotherhood and keep your culture alive in a virtual workplace? The answer is my friends, virtual team-building activities. Now let’s dive in and explore this more.
Exploring the Impact of Virtual Team Building on Company Culture
In a physical office, maintaining a flourishing company culture is somewhat easier given everyone is physically together. There’s room for subtle non-verbal cues, in-person meetings, team lunches, after-work hangouts, and that kitchen banter we all enjoy. In the realm of remote work, these elements are missing.
Building a culture in a remote environment requires deliberate effort. Virtual team building activities emerge as a strong tool that supports company culture by fostering connection, promoting effective communication, and enhancing trust amongst virtual team members.
- Promoting Communication: Virtual team building activities can aid teams in developing stronger communication skills, critical for the success of remote work.
- Fostering Connection: These activities can also help create an emotional bond among team members, building a sense of unity, and belonging, which is vital in a virtual work environment.
- Building Trust: Trust amongst remote teams plays a vital part in building a healthy culture. Well-structured virtual team-building exercises can help build and strengthen this trust.
“Culture is simply a shared way of doing something with a passion.” – Brian Chesky, Co-Founder, Airbnb.
Creating this shared passion virtually can be challenging. However, with thoughtful virtual team-building activities, it is possible to develop a rich and inclusive culture where all members feel valued and connected despite geographical distances.
Top 5 Virtual Team Building Activities
- Escape Team – A digital game that replicates an escape room. A fun and engaging way to develop problem-solving skills, and promote teamwork.
- Office trivia – A fun trivia game that focuses on company-related facts and details. Encourages team members to learn more about the company and its people.
- Donut – An app that organizes virtual coffee meetings, helping remote team members connect in a casual, friendly manner.
- Virtual team lunches – Allows teams to share a meal over a video call, promoting informal chatter and bonding.
- Go Game – Offers some virtual games that can be customized according to team size and preferences. It’s a great tool for fun-filled team bonding.
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan
These virtual activities are only the tip of the iceberg. By exploring and experimenting with different activities, you can find what works best for your remote team and helps foster your ideal company culture.
Common Questions about Virtual Team Building
Q: Can virtual team-building activities be as effective as those in physical workplaces?
The effectiveness of team-building activities, virtual or traditional, depends greatly on their execution and whether they are in line with the participants’ preferences. If executed properly, virtual activities can certainly be as effective.
Q: Are long-duration team-building activities more effective?
Not necessarily. The duration does not always impact the effectiveness. The activity must first be engaging and serve its key purpose – promoting connection, improving communication, and enhancing team trust.
Q: How regularly should we conduct these activities?
Having regular team-building activities can help in continually promoting a healthy remote team culture. However, it’s important to strike a balance and not overpower the team’s work time.
Q: Can team-building activities alone build a company culture in a remote setting?
While team building activities play a key role, having systematic processes, clear communication guidelines, and tools that facilitate remote work are equally critical in fostering an effective company culture remotely.
“Working collectively and collaboratively is the difference between mediocrity by yourself…or success as a team. You have to share the pain and the responsibility, and if you do then you will also share in the rewards.” – Michael Bloomberg
While it’s important to note that virtual team-building activities are not a one-stop solution to creating a company culture, they do play a significant role in fostering a sense of unity and belonging amongst team members.
The Remote Work Market Scenario
In recent years, remote work has shown significant growth with a vast segment of the workforce opting for flexible work options. A report by OwlLabs states that 52% of employees around the globe work remotely at least once every week. This shift towards a flexible work culture is proof of changing workplace dynamics and also amplifies the need for virtual team building.
Auditing the remote work scenario, it is apparent that virtual team-building activities play a crucial role in supporting the company culture. Let’s look at an example of a tech company that has successfully achieved this.
Case Study: How Doist Reinforced Its Virtual Culture
Doist, a productivity software company that created Todoist and Twist, operates entirely remotely with a global team. Understanding the challenges of remote work, Doist puts great effort into nurturing its virtual culture.
Key to Doist’s approach is the annual company retreat, where team members from across the globe come together. The retreat locations vary, from the sunny beaches of Greece to the vibrant cityscape of Santiago. These retreats provide an opportunity for Doisters to interact and bond, fostering a strong sense of team unity.
Between retreats, Doist keeps its virtual culture alive through virtual coffee breaks and hobby-based chat channels on Twist, their own communication app designed for remote work. These channels allow Doisters to bond over shared interests, from books to fitness, fostering a sense of community.
Doist’s commitment to its virtual culture shows the importance of regular interaction and shared experiences in a remote team. By successfully creating a culture of trust, camaraderie, and mutual support, Doist serves as a testament to the power of a well-nurtured virtual culture in remote startups.
