Congratulations! Your remote onboarding process was successful and you’ve made some great hires… on the other side of the world. Now, you’re staring at a bunch of faces on a screen. You know they’re great, but you’re wondering, “How do I turn them into a high-performing team?”
A decade ago, as a fresh-faced HR associate, I actually had a long debate with my manager about better employee wellness programs—team building included. I showed him a Harvard Business Review study (which I still cite) that showed the ROI on these programs could be as high as six to one.
He agreed to organize an Amazing Race-style scavenger hunt around the city for our department. The energy was infectious, and the bonds formed that day were undeniable.
For me, it was clear how team building improved the camaraderie for our company, and how it does for any company. But it’s still a bit hard to visualize how to do it in today’s setting. I mean, how do you build a happy, successful team when everyone is in different time zones?
Evidence in Numbers: Team Building Matters
Keeping remote teams engaged and motivated can feel like keeping 12 different fires going at once. But here’s the thing:
- Only 36% of employees feel some sort of involvement/engagement, while 51% feel the opposite.
- 50% of positive changes in workplace communication come from social interaction outside of work.
- Team building can boost work ethic and innovation up to 10 times.
Tech can be a double-edged sword. Zoom fatigue is real.
It’s now even clearer that physical and remote team building brings both a good time and a better bottom line for your company.
Why Bother with Team Building?
Workplace stress—and home-office stress—is a real thing. You probably know this without me telling you, but if you need some proof, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has the stats to back it up. In fact, job stress costs U.S. businesses an estimated $300 billion a year in lost productivity, absenteeism, and turnover.
And strong remote teams can be one of the antidotes to this. Think about it:
- Increased productivity: People who connect, by which I mean those having high levels of interaction and comms, can collaborate better, as proved by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Human Dynamics Laboratory.
- Improved communication: Wouldn’t you like to get rid of those awkward email threads where you feel like you don’t quite gel with the other person? With activities that build your team, they can have a better grasp of how others communicate.
- Reduced employee turnover: The equation is simple: the happier the employees, the longer they stick around.
Research confirms this. A study in the Small Group Research journal found that team building significantly improves team outcomes, especially processes and overall mood. Goal-setting and clarifying roles had the biggest impact.
The study also found that larger teams benefited the most from team-building interventions, likely because they face greater challenges in communication and coordination.
Fun Ways to Bond with Your Remote Crew
Alright, enough with the serious stuff. Let’s get to the fun part! Here are a few creative ways to bring your remote team closer:
Escape the Ordinary: Online Escape Rooms
I’ve done these quite a few times already, and I know how much it helped me to finally get close to that one co-worker who everyone believed to be too shy to talk to the team. Always ask the quiet one, as sometimes they’re sitting on the answer and just too timid to say it.
There was this sense of accomplishment when only the two of us were able to figure out how to get out of a mad scientist’s lab.
It’s funny. Some of the people who don’t get along (or never had the chance to) finally do when playing in these virtual rooms.
Parlez-Vous Team Building? Try Language Classes!
A language class can bring tons of cultural awareness and even boost someone’s communication skills. Learning a new language together is a unique way to connect. If English isn’t your team’s native language, it can strengthen communication and break down barriers of embarrassment. And with any language, it broadens cultural awareness and boosts communication skills. Plus, imagine the fun of watching your CTO try to order a croissant in French!
Virtual Coffee Breaks: Spice Things Up!
Ditch the boring “How was your weekend?” routine. Introduce themed discussions, icebreaker questions, or even a virtual barista who teaches everyone how to make latte art. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- “Mystery Guest” Mondays: Invite a surprise guest speaker or expert to join your coffee break for a Q&A session.
- “Would You Rather” Wednesdays: Pose thought-provoking or silly “would you rather” questions to spark lively debates.
- “Show and Tell” Fridays: Encourage team members to share a personal object or story related to a specific theme.
Sharing is Caring: Personal Experiences
Encourage your team to open up and share stories. You’d be surprised the team spirit and camaraderie a “weirdest family tradition” contest can bring. It’s important to humanize your remote employees.
Bonus Tips
You can also do contests (photo contests!) or even a wild hunt. When I shifted from HR to IT, one of my managers held a race for all the non-involved teams to search for product bugs in our project. That’s another two-in-one!
On the other hand, you can also give your employees 30-60 minutes of paid free time. It shows you trust them and value their well-being. Just make sure it’s implemented fairly and gives them genuine freedom to recharge.
Wrapping Up
Would you let employees play a fast-paced online escape room that lags due to software or hardware issues? As you can see, it’s impossible to just blabber on remote team building without the topic of technology popping out. Your entire IT infrastructure should be ready; this includes reliable video conferencing, smart IT procurement, and all the right tools that can make or break your team-building efforts.
But beware that tech can be a double-edged sword. Zoom fatigue is real, people! Encourage breaks, mix up your activities, and don’t be afraid to go old-school with a good phone call now and then. Ready to build a dream team, even if they’re miles apart? Start by getting your tech in order. Solid IT automation software and efficient electronic shipping for any equipment needs are your first steps to ensuring your team-building activities are set for success. Check out Dots’ resources on IT asset management to learn more.
