Remote work has become increasingly popular in recent years, allowing companies to hire top talent worldwide. However, with the benefits of remote work come new challenges, including building strong and cohesive teams.

Remote team building is critical for ensuring that team members feel connected to one another, work collaboratively, and maintain a sense of belonging to the company. Unlike in-person teams, remote teams often lack opportunities for informal interactions, such as coffee machine conversations or random brainstorming sessions.

Traditional in-person team-building activities are not feasible and practical for remote teams. They may be spread out across different time zones, have different workloads or have limited resource access. This article will explore the challenges and benefits of remote team building and provide tips and strategies for building strong and effective remote teams.

The Science of Remote Team Building

Remote work has become an increasingly common arrangement for many organisations, with teams working together from different locations, often across different time zones.

It is important to consider the psychological and sociological research insights on how people behave and interact in remote working environments.

One of the critical factors for remote teams is establishing solid social connections, trust, and communication, which can lead to better team performance, morale, and engagement.

Studies have shown that building social connections and trust can be more challenging for remote teams, as physical distance can make it difficult to develop the same level of familiarity as in-person teams. However, remote team-building activities can help facilitate these factors, such as virtual team-building games, online social events, and regular video calls.

By understanding these factors and investing in remote team building, organisations can help create a strong sense of community, improve communication, and foster trust and collaboration.

Synchronous Remote Team Building

Synchronous remote team-building activities have become essential for remote teams to stay connected and build relationships in real time. The synchronous activities that can help remote teams stay engaged and motivated.

- Virtual coffee breaks: Set up a video call and have team members join in for a coffee break to chat and catch up with each other.

- Online games: Host an online game session, such as CS:GO, a virtual trivia game, escape room, or other team-based games that can be played remotely.

- Group workouts: Set up a video call and have the team participate in a group workout session, such as a yoga or fitness class, which can help improve team morale and promote physical health.

- Lunch and learn sessions: Host a video call where team members can join and share their favourite lunch recipes or participate in a group cooking demonstration.

- Virtual team-building activities: There are various online team-building activities, such as virtual scavenger hunts, virtual team-building games, and team-building workshops that can be done in real-time.

- Team brainstorming sessions: Hold brainstorming sessions where the team can brainstorm ideas, share feedback, and collaborate on solutions.

- Online training sessions: Organize training sessions or webinars where team members can learn new skills together and participate in interactive activities.

- Group meditation sessions: Set up a video call and have the team participate in a group meditation session, which can help improve mental health and promote relaxation.

- Remote team building events: Organize virtual happy hour, online talent shows, or virtual parties to celebrate important team milestones.

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While synchronous team-building activities have many benefits, they also have some drawbacks. For example, scheduling can be challenging, especially for teams in different time zones, and not all team members may have access to the same resources or equipment.

To ensure successful synchronous team-building activities, it is essential to facilitate them effectively, ensuring that they are engaging and interactive and that all team members can participate equally.

Additionally, providing clear instructions and guidelines for each activity can help ensure everyone is on the same page and that the activity runs smoothly.

Asynchronous Remote Team Building

Asynchronous remote team-building activities provide flexibility and enable individual contributions from team members, allowing them to participate at their own pace and on their schedule. Here are some examples of asynchronous team-building activities for remote workers

- Online Discussion Forums: Create a forum for your team members to share ideas and resources or engage in open discussions on different topics. This can help build relationships and connections among team members over shared interests and break down communication barriers.

- Virtual Book Clubs: Start a virtual book club for your team where team members can read books related to their industry or interests and discuss them on a shared forum or chat platform. This can promote learning, collaboration, and connection among team members.

- Personal Development Activities: Encourage team members to engage in personal development activities, such as taking an online course, learning a new skill, or practising mindfulness or meditation. Team members can share their progress and support each other through a shared forum or chat platform, promoting growth and development.

- Peer-to-Peer Recognition: Create a platform where team members can recognise and celebrate each other's accomplishments, such as completing a project, going above and beyond, or showing exceptional teamwork. This can be done through a shared forum, chat platform, or a dedicated recognition program, promoting a culture of appreciation and recognition.

- Virtual Team-Building Games: Set up virtual games that team members can play asynchronously, such as virtual escape rooms, trivia challenges, or online board games. Team members can participate at their own pace and schedule, promoting engagement, fun, and bonding.

- Buddy Program: Pair team members with a "buddy" or "mentor" who can offer support, guidance, and friendship. Team members can communicate with their buddies asynchronously through a shared forum or chat platform, promoting connection and support among team members.

- Virtual Team-Building Challenges: Set up virtual challenges that team members can complete asynchronously, such as a fitness or jogging challenge or a creative challenge. These challenges can promote engagement, motivation, and team bonding. The key to successful asynchronous team-building activities is to ensure they are accessible and engaging and promote connection and collaboration among team members.

Overcoming Challenges

Remote teams face several team-building challenges, but some strategies and tips can help overcome these challenges.

One of the most significant challenges is the need for face-to-face interaction, making it difficult to establish personal connections and build trust. To overcome this, team members should communicate regularly and prioritise building relationships.

Regarding time zone differences, scheduling asynchronous team-building activities can be a helpful solution. Setting clear expectations and establishing a culture of accountability can also help overcome the lack of accountability and difficulty in monitoring progress.

Finally, to combat burnout, it's essential to encourage a healthy work-life balance and provide opportunities for social interactions. By addressing these challenges proactively, remote teams can build strong relationships and cohesive team culture, even when working from different locations.

Real-World Examples

Remote team-building has become increasingly common in recent years, and many success stories highlight the benefits of effective remote team-building strategies.

One example is Zapier, a fully remote company that has built robust, connected teams by investing in regular virtual team-building activities. Zapier's team-building activities include a weekly virtual coffee chat, a virtual game night, and a monthly virtual book club. These activities help to foster connections between team members and create a sense of community within the remote workforce.

Another example is Automattic, the company behind WordPress, which has over 1,200 employees in over 75 countries. Automattic has implemented various team-building activities, including virtual meetups, team lunches, and a company-wide internal blog, which helps create a sense of connection and collaboration across the organisation.

Finally, Buffer, a social media management company, has successfully built a connected and engaged remote team by focusing on creating a positive remote work culture. Buffer's team-building activities include regular virtual team lunches, team-building exercises, and an annual company retreat, all of which help to create a sense of community and belonging within the remote team.

These real-world examples highlight the importance of investing in effective remote team-building strategies and provide insights into the activities and strategies that can help build a strong, connected remote team.

Conclusion

In conclusion, remote work is becoming increasingly popular, and building strong and cohesive teams is critical for ensuring that team members feel connected to one another and maintain a sense of belonging to the company.

Remote team-building activities can facilitate social connections and trust, leading to better team performance, morale, and engagement. Synchronous and asynchronous remote team-building activities can help overcome some of the challenges of building remote teams, such as the lack of face-to-face interaction and communication barriers.

Ensuring all team members can access the necessary technology and provide technical support is essential. Investing in remote team building can help create a strong sense of community, improve communication and company culture, and foster trust and collaboration, all of which are crucial for the success of remote teams.

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Reach out to get more information.

Jirka, co-founder

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