Changing from in-office to hybrid or full-remote working arrangements is becoming more and more common. This has required a lot of adjustment for employers as well as workers, but through it, teams are adapting and thriving
97 percent of workers preferred being able to work remotely, according to a 2020 Growmotely study. A majority of employers agree with the idea of a fully remote working arrangement. Virtual workspace may one day outnumber traditional office arrangements according to some opinions. Team-building, employee engagement and the social dynamics of work need to evolve.
Work is needed to foster productive collaboration when coworkers are sharing the same space. There were many options for encouraging this in the office, from company softball games to office gift exchanges. Team-building and employee engagement efforts can continue after the shift to remote work.
When it comes to strengthening a team’s dynamic regardless of where they are, remote employee engagement and virtual team building are very impactful.
Virtual hangouts can help strengthen remote teams.
Virtual hangout ideas and remote employee team-building can be used in many different ways. They include games, challenges, and activities that are meant to encourage trust, cooperation, and more productive interaction.
Virtual hangouts can be related to a professional challenge. Hackathons are used by remote tech companies. What is a hackathon capable of doing? When confronted by a team with relevant skills, a project Hackathon presents a challenge that should result in the creation of a new solution.
In the tech world, a new app, software, or operating system is usually what it would mean to develop. Outside of this sector, a team-building online Hackathon can be a great way for coworkers to come together with a shared goal that also serves a purpose. A teambuilding Hackathon could be used to improve the company’s social media graphics, an outdated file drive, or a portion of its website.
There are many other virtual hangout options that strengthen team relationships without beingbogged down in work tasks. They can include everything from taking an enjoyable online class as a group, holding a virtual scavenger hunt or escape room, or utilizing the virtually countless apps, programs, and services that enable teams to get together with little more than an internet connection.
Virtual team challenges can be put to use.
Regardless of the type of virtual team building or engagement activity, successful deployment is best done with careful consideration of all participants. The goal of the event should be for everyone to work together and have fun.
The trust and camaraderie that is meant to be fostered could be hurt if the event or challenge is too specialized or skills-based in a way that some team members will be unfairly disadvantaged or disinterested. The relationship between the team and nature of the challenge need to be considered.
If there have been recent conflicts or tensions among the group, virtual events and challenges that require coworkers to compete against one another or in opposing teams might not be a good idea. If the challenge includes employees who have not been working together for an established period, this is a consideration.
It is better to focus on a challenge that has all participants working toward a common goal or that is not competitive. Communication is important so that everyone fully understands the activity and feels prepared to have a productive experience.
There are sources in this article.
There’s a website called magoda.com.
