A lot has changed in the last year, but one thing that remains the same is the importance of team bonding. Without a strong, trusting team, it’s hard to survive long enough to thrive in the future.
Thankfully, the advent of technology means it’s easier than ever to stay in touch with your staff. You should not take Zoom for granted.
And while it’s true, technology can give you the keys, it won’t open the door. To ensure morale remains high, you must engage and connect as you would in-person.
Here are four things you need to do to strike the right balance.
A Reliable Internet Connection
How often have you been on a video call only for the signal to drop out? It’s annoying, but more than that, it stops the conversation dead. You might try again, yet the damage is done.
Therefore, if the internet goes offline when people are attempting to bond and build bridges, it will only impact the relationship between peers.
Investing in quality WiFi is a start; however, utilizing IT consulting services is a must as you can develop solutions to real business challenges.
There is no alternative if the connection fails, so you should do everything you can to keep your team online.
Remote Events
An event is an excellent way to inject fun and excitement into an otherwise dreary situation. For instance, you can host a quiz where people compete against one another for prizes. A bit of friendly competition never hurt anyone, but more on that later.
The trick is to avoid remote burnout. Your workers might not be motivated to log back into their work computer after a day of virtual MS Teams meetings. Instead, you can host them during breaks, or take thirty minutes out of the day to boost morale.
Challenges
People are more likely to invest in team bonding if there is an element of competition. The question is, how do you create motivating challenges?
The answer is as simple as making it about their personal lives. Setting workout goals for the office as a whole is a prime example because employees can choose how much they want to compete.
Some will take a backseat, but others will dive in headfirst and really bond with their colleagues who do the same. Keep in mind that the rivalry has to be fun to prevent it from boiling over into something nasty.
Donut
Image Credit: Pexels – CC0 Licence
No, not the sugary kind – the virtual watercooler kind. Donut is an application that connects people with team members randomly.
As you know, it’s human nature for coworkers to gravitate to those they know best. However, it’s a counterproductive trait as it creates a less inclusive atmosphere, which is where the Donut application comes into play.
When you download Donut with Slack or Teams, you can encourage people who don’t know each other very well to meet for a virtual coffee and build a relationship. Once enough bonds are created, the whole team will have a better alliance.
How has your team been doing at virtual bonding? What’s your favourite virtual team bonding tip?
Featured Image Credit: Pexels – CC0 Licence
