Team building exercises are very easy to coordinate when you’re all in the same office. How can you practice trust falls and build camaraderie, however, when your team is located across the globe? This is a common challenge for business owners who lead remote teams, but it’s not an insurmountable one. You can build your team culture in highly effective ways, even when it has to be built online. Here’s how to conduct team building when your team is distributed across the globe.
Create deliberate opportunities
When you have a remote team, you have to prioritise team building in a way that works for your business and your team’s context. When you create deliberate opportunities to explore team building together, you need to set up the environment the right way. It starts with your tech stack. Video conferencing platforms, like Zoom, have become the backbone of virtual interaction, enabling face-to-face communication that bridges any distance. Building the right tech stack for your remote team is step one in building out your remote team culture. Make sure you choose the right tools for your team and your business, but don’t forget to ensure they’re managed and used in secure ways.
The power of a casual chat
Instant messaging platforms, like Slack and Discord, are also essential. These help your team share updates, stay connected, and communicate as they need to. When setting up your instant messaging platforms, make space for casual conversations. You might create a “watercooler” chat channel on Slack, or a “general chatter” one. While it may seem less important, it’s actually very important to spend time here. Encourage your team members to participate in casual conversations here, share personal stories, or celebrate their wins. As a business leader, set the tone by sharing some of your own personal experiences, in a casual way. When you engage in a personal way, others will feel comfortable to do so. This kind of real-time interaction mimics the casual conversations that happen in traditional offices and is vital for maintaining a sense of belonging.
Your project management tools
You’re all signed up and set up on Trello, but you’re not sure how to embed a sense of team culture into your processes? That’s okay! Through using collaborative project management tools, you’re actively embedding a fundamental part of building your remote team. It’s called transparency. Collaborative project management tools give everyone visibility into your business, enabling you cultivate a culture of personal accountability and mutual respect. Everyone can see where and how others contribute towards building your business and getting the work done. It’s easier than having to find the time to have a team meeting so that everyone can share their progress updates.
Virtual team building exercises
Then, of course, as part of creating deliberate opportunities for team building, you need to inject a little bit of fun. There are thousands upon thousands of ways to do this. You could run an online quiz, trivia contest, or have everyone sign up to an online game to enjoy together. Many successful distributed teams have online gaming leagues or team challenges. You can also set up slightly more formal, yet casual, team chats, on a weekly or monthly basis. Call it a “coffee break” meeting, and have everyone share something personal from their lives or a weekly update on their personal projects. Here again, as a remote team leader, you need to set the tone and the example. Don’t be afraid to get personal, talk about your hobbies, or share stories about your family. This personal connection is the foundation of strong teamwork.
Host a virtual party
Year end celebrations, or celebrating a business milestone, are not only for those who connect in an office. It’s absolutely essential to celebrate your business wins and milestones with your remote team too, and it’s easy to do. Host a virtual party for your year end celebration, and personalise the experience by ensuring every member of your team receives a cute package or gift that forms part of the experience. Take this one step further by acknowledging your team’s personal celebrations too. For example, make sure you send a small gift to every team member on their birthday. If you’re celebrating a special occasion for your business, send everyone a package containing a company t-shirt or stationery. Virtual parties, themed dress-up days, or even sending small gifts or care packages can go a long way in making your team members feel valued and included.
Your feedback loops
Building a team culture that’s based on open communication starts with you. Leaders should encourage team members to share their thoughts on what’s working well and where improvements can be made. Regular check-ins, anonymous surveys, and open forums can provide valuable insights into the team’s dynamics and highlight opportunities for growth. When your team members feel heard and empowered to contribute their ideas, they are more likely to engage fully and support one another.
Keep the momentum
Team building is not a one-time event—it’s an ongoing process. As teams evolve and new members join, you must look out for new opportunities for connection and engagement. This might mean experimenting with different activities, rotating leadership of team building sessions, or asking your team for input on what they’d like to try next. Flexibility and creativity are key—what works for one team may not resonate with another, so it’s important to tailor activities to the unique personalities and preferences of your group.
The benefits of investing in team-building for distributed teams are profound. A connected team is more resilient in the face of challenges, more innovative in its problem-solving, and more committed to shared goals. Strong relationships build trust, which enables open collaboration and a willingness to take risks. In a remote setting, where misunderstandings can easily arise, these bonds are the glue that holds everything together.
At Prominence Global, know how the right mix of tools, activities, and leadership can transform a group of remote workers into a high-performing, cohesive team. Prioritise your team building, and make it a regular part of your operations. That way, you will lay the foundation for a culture of engagement, loyalty, and success, and it won’t matter where your people are located. That’s why we created Remote Team Connect, so we can help business leaders unlock the full potential of their distributed teams, one connection at a time.
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