The phrase online team-building activities gets a mixed response. For some, it represents fond memories of messing around with coworkers, feeling like you're featuring in a sitcom for a day. For others, it might be a day of awkward small talk and patronising professionals who got paid an undisclosed amount telling you to do trust falls and puzzles. Social capital is a concept that gives real value to our relationships and how we interact with each other. Teams that get on well and respect each other are more valuable than teams that only interact through emails and therefore have greater social capital. Here are some easy-to-do team-building activities that are perfect for working from home.
Virtual Pub
Friday, Pub. Name a more iconic duo, I’ll wait. Heading to the local for a couple drinks after work, allows people to unwind before they get home and are greeted by the list of chores they ignored that week. For as long as the five-day working week has existed this ritual has been performed and it does not have to stop if your employees are spread out across the country and work from home. Re-name one of your Wurkr rooms to the Winchester and chat with your co-workers over a cool beverage.
Group Exercise
The office lifestyle is already a pretty sedentary one, but missing out on Starbucks trips and commuting can lead you to become one with your chair if you’re not careful. It’s important to get moving during your breaks but it can often be a bit dull on your own. Doing online team building activities getting your teams together to attempt to follow professional yoga videos on youtube can be a laugh and a great way to encourage those who struggle to find the time to keep fit. Vlogging this process can also add an extra competitive dimension as teams try to outdo each other with their creative locations or outlandish poses.
Quiz Night
Finding out Darren, a father of two knows every Taylor Swift song from the first few notes might not be vital for good team dynamics, but it's definitely something you wouldn't find out without a weekly quiz night. Lighthearted competition is healthy and quiz nights will help you develop online team building activities to know each other better, hobbies and interests.
Online Games
Love Pictionary? Try Skribbl.io. All of your favourite party games have been ‘reimagined’ on the internet. Bringing these games to the ‘virtual’ pub is also a great way to loosen up for some of the more spicy games, like cards against humanity. Just make sure HR isn't with you and there are no meetings the following morning.
Non-Work Work Chat
A chat channel for things unrelated to work lets team members get to know each other’s personal lives better without the small talk. Don’t worry about things getting too personal between you and your boss since these chats typically devolve into daily pictures of dogs, cats, and 2012 Facebook memes. You should also start online team building activities to develop a positive environment virtually.
Visit www.wurkr.io to experience Wurkr’s free virtual workplace for 30 days.
