Team building is a great way to strengthen any group, by building a greater sense of trust and strengthening the focus on common goals. In a time when many offices have to work remotely, it is very important to maintain the sense of teamwork and collaboration that comes from sharing an office space. Virtual team building games are a great way to connect with coworkers on matters that are not strictly work-related, while creating bonds and relationships that can carry over to increased productivity in teamwork.
Here are 10 activities for team building that can be done with a virtual team:
1. Personal Facts Guessing Game
For this activity, one team member will gather personal facts about each of the other team members and add them all to one list that can be shared during a video or audio conference. During the live call, the rest of the team will try to guess who each personal fact belongs to, based on their knowledge of their teammates. This activity is a great way to reinforce relationships between coworkers and test their knowledge about one another.
2. The Birth Map
The birth map game is a great way to learn about members of your team and get a better understanding of all of the different backgrounds from which they come. In order to complete this activity, all you will need is a shared image of a map on any virtual platform, where team members can pinpoint where they were born. If you’d like to learn a little more about your team, you can think about asking each member to share a favorite memory from this location as well!
3. Two Truths and a Lie
This classic icebreaker is a great way to challenge your team’s critical thinking skills and attentiveness to details. To play this game, teams can get on a video or audio call where each team member comes prepared with two truths and a lie about themselves. The team should take turns sharing their truths and a lie and guessing which statement is a lie. This is a great way to learn new things about your teammates!
4. 10 Things in Common
The 10 things in common activity allows team members to find out things they share in common. While on a video or audio call, team members should be split up into a few groups (or the whole team can work together if the team isn’t too big!) and asked to come up with ten things that they all share in common. Try starting small here with easy similarities like: “We’re all wearing gray,” and work your way up to uncovering some less obvious shared qualities or interests.
5. Virtual Bingo
This game can be done by teams a few different ways. If you want a simple game of bingo, you can use this site to generate free boards for up to 30 players: https://myfreebingocards.com/virtual-bingo. This activity can also be used to get a little more creative by asking a team member to create different bingo cards to be used as for an icebreaker. Team members can share these icebreaker bingo cards as a way for everyone to quickly learn what they may or may not have in common with one another.
6. Can You Hear Me Now? (from Museum Hack)
In order to play this game, teams can join a video or audio conference. One member of team should find a random image which can be picked from the internet or found by using this random image generator: https://randomwordgenerator.com/picture.php This team member will describe the image, using only geometric shapes (draw a big square, draw three circles, etc.) Once they feel the description is complete, everyone can share the art they have drawn and see how close it is to the actual image! This activity is a great way to strengthen communication skills.
7. Trivia
Another easy activity that can help build a team is a game of trivia. Team members can play individually or as teams and trivia can be general or about a specific category! This game can be customized to fit your specific team. There are many trivia questions that can be found online, here are some to get you started: https://www.triviaquestionsnow.com/
8. Five Fingers Icebreaker
In order to play this virtual game, team members should join a video call where each member’s hand is visible. Your team members can take turns naming specific life experiences or characteristics they have and any other team members who share this experience/characteristic will put down one finger. (My favorite color is green, I have been to California, etc.) The winner is the first person with no fingers remaining!
9. Take a Picture
This activity can allow team members to learn more about each other and their remote workspaces. Each member of the team should take a picture of either their workspace or some objects in their work space and share them during a live conference or through an email chain. Either method is a great way to start conversations about different interests and habits of your teammates! Another way to complete this activity is by providing a theme for each week for your team and asking your team to share related pictures. (pets, plants, cooking, etc.)
10. Online Pictionary
The last virtual team building game is a virtual game of Pictionary! This website allows team members to all view the same screen on their devices and guess through a live chat what is being drawn. This fun and familiar game is a great way to strengthen team relationships.