Madina S.
Connecting with your team can be challenging, especially now that many remote employees are working from home part of the time. But it’s crucial to keep workplace culture and team building alive, even when we’re all more spread out than before. That’s where virtual team-building session activities come in.
So, why is team building important? First, it helps build trust among coworkers. When you work on projects together, as most virtual teams do, it’s crucial to trust your teammates to help and complete different parts of the project. Without that trust and good relationships, projects can slow down, not turn out as well, or even get stuck and not finish at all.
Why do we need team-building?
Team building involves various activities and exercises that help employees get to know each other better and learn to work together. These activities make the team more cohesive, improve communication, and help build trust among team members. The goal is to create a positive work environment that makes everyone more productive. Here are some key points about team building:
- Better communication
- Building trust
- Encouraging collaboration
- Boosting morale
- Finding strengths and weaknesses
- Creating shared goals
- Improving conflict resolution
Team members practice managing disagreements healthily through activities that require negotiation, active listening, and problem-solving. These skills translate into the workplace, enabling the team to resolve conflicts with understanding and respect rather than frustration or resentment. By learning to manage conflict effectively, the team creates a healthier work environment where issues are addressed openly, and relationships remain strong.
Tip: You may also be interested in our “How to organize your team at work” article!
Team building is more challenging now that many people work from home. While in-person activities make it easier to get everyone involved, getting the entire team on a video call is demanding when working remotely.
Since in-person team building isn’t an option, how can we still build relationships while working from home? Here are some virtual team-building activities, including virtual escape rooms and online office games, to keep everyone engaged and communicating well. Try these ideas to boost employee morale and strengthen team bonding instead of just another virtual happy hour!
Creative activities
It can often be hard to unwind if you’re in a role that requires high attention to detail and responsibility. In this case, it’s best to spend your free time on relaxing and creative activities that help shift your mind away from routine thinking. What can you try with your colleagues? Here are some engaging virtual team-building ideas to try, each with steps to help you introduce them effectively to your team.
#1. Film buff club
Gather team members to discuss a classic film each week. Depending on the group’s preferences, this could be anything from old-time favorites to critically acclaimed movies. Encourage everyone to share their thoughts and favorite quotes or bring interesting trivia about the film. This activity sparks lively discussions and gets everyone thinking about different perspectives. Choose a film for the week, send out the link in advance for everyone to watch, and schedule a time for the discussion. To streamline planning, consider using a daily task planner to organize viewing times and send reminders.
#2. Art therapy sessions
Host drawing sessions over Google Meet, allowing colleagues to express their creativity while relaxing. We suggest using a project planning board to schedule these sessions, ensuring everyone can participate.
Email your colleagues asking if they are interested in art therapy sessions. Then, use an online team tracker, like Bordio, to set a repetitive event for those interested with regular reminders that fit everyone’s schedule. Add a list of basic materials, like markers, paper, or paint, in the task description for participants to have ready. Select themes for each session, like “draw your mood” or “paint a landscape,” to add variety and inspiration (you can attach some inspirational pictures) and add it to the description of the event, too. And finally, choose Google Meet as a location and add participants, and all of them will get an invitation to your online art session in Google Meet.
#3. Origami contest
Organize an origami competition where team members can showcase their creativity and skills in a fun way. Send out some basic origami patterns in advance for those new to origami, or you might begin the session with a brief origami tutorial or share a quick video on how to make a specific shape.
Then, you give the team a theme, like “animals” or “geometric shapes,” and ask them to create an origami piece based on that theme. Hold a quick vote for the most creative or complex piece, and offer a small prize to add a little friendly competition.
#4. Culinary masterclasses
Creating a meal together using the same recipe or video lesson is also suitable for remote team building. It’s not only fun and suitable for bonding with a team but also for your mental health because modern people lack work-life balance and self-care.
If you want to invest in your remote team-building, you can invite a chef for an online cooking lesson, enabling the team to learn and cook together. You can find a chef who specializes in virtual classes. Many chefs offer online options for corporate groups. The same goes for art sessions. You can use the Bordio task planner to create an event and invite team members to a Google Meet for a culinary masterclass! At the end of the session, everyone can show off their dish, adding a sense of accomplishment and fun.
#5. Creativity challenges
Host contests for the best photo, video, or art project the remote team members can create on a specific theme. This can also be seen as a way to combine the abovementioned ideas. Depending on what your team has learned, you could host a competition, like seeing who can fold a specific origami design the fastest, and offer small prizes for the winner.
Social and entertainment activities
If earlier in the article we focused on more relaxed activities suited for introverts, let’s now explore some highly engaging activities designed for energetic extroverts!
#6. Virtual movie nights
Another solution for movie lovers is to watch something together. Plan an evening for team members to watch a movie together virtually. Use online platforms like Rave, which sync the movie for everyone so team members can chat and react in real-time. This setup recreates the experience of a group cinema outing and allows team members to share their thoughts as the story unfolds!
#7 Virtual karaoke night
Nothing brings people together like music, and a virtual karaoke session can be a high-energy, entertaining team-building experience. Choose a mix of well-known songs so that everyone can sing along, or let team members request their favorites for a personalized touch. This is an excellent option for adding a lighthearted, fun activity to the team’s calendar. Schedule a karaoke night over an online karaoke app or screen-share the lyrics. Set a playlist beforehand and let team members sign up for song choices or duets.
#8. Airbnb online experiences
Airbnb offers a variety of online experiences hosted by local experts around the world. These live events include virtual tours, cooking classes, history lessons, and interactive games. These activities not only entertain but also provide a chance for the team to learn new skills or facts in a fun way.
Browse Airbnb’s online experiences and choose a session that would interest your team. Book in advance, share the details, and make sure everyone is clear on the time and any preparation needed. After the session, consider hosting a follow-up chat to discuss the experience and share insights.
#9. Virtual book club
And the last creative idea for team building is a virtual book club. Create a club to discuss and share insights about books, fostering a culture of reading and discussion. We recommend using an online planner to keep track of book choices and meeting dates. You can use the online “random number” tool to choose a book from the list and create a task to read it till the end of the week and discuss it afterward. But what books to read? The host can ask all participants about their favorite books and create a list of them or read some popular books. We also want to share with you some charming books you might like:
Team bonding and connection activities
Now, let’s move on to more warm and bonding activities that will help create a friendly atmosphere within the team:
#10. Gift exchange
Organize a virtual gift exchange where team members send and unwrap presents together via Zoom or Google Meet call. Set a budget for gifts and a mailing deadline. Encourage everyone to choose small, thoughtful gifts that can be easily shipped. This simple activity brings joy and adds a personal touch, allowing people to learn more about each other’s tastes and interests. Schedule a virtual meeting where everyone can unwrap their gifts on camera, sharing reactions and stories about them.
#11. Secret santa
This classic holiday tradition works great in virtual settings, too. In a Secret Santa gift exchange, each person is anonymously assigned a colleague to surprise with a gift. The anonymity adds an element of excitement as team members try to guess who their “Santa” might be. Use an online Secret Santa generator to match team members, and the same goes for gift exchanges and unwrap presents together over a virtual meeting or Google Meet call!
#12. Letter exchange
Bring back the charm of handwritten letters by organizing a digital letter exchange. Choose an app that mimics accurate letter delivery and ask each team member to write a message for their assigned partner. Apps like Slowly allow team members to write letters that arrive like traditional paper mail, creating a thoughtful and nostalgic way to stay connected. When the letters arrive, team members can enjoy reading a unique, personalized note from a colleague.
#13. Language learning together
Encourage team members to learn a new language or share their native language with others. Using platforms like Duolingo for Teams or Tandem, team members can collaborate, track progress, and even participate in friendly language-learning challenges. This activity builds skills and enriches cultural understanding within the team.
Interactive problem-solving activities
One of the most essential skills that can be developed through team-building is working effectively as a team and solving complex logical problems. What interactive activities and virtual team-building games
are suitable to boost collaboration and problem-solving abilities:
#14. Online bingo
Play Bingo based on phrases and themes relevant to your team meetings, encouraging participation and excitement.
#15. Trivia quizzes
Use virtual trivia game apps to host quizzes and games that strengthen team spirit while providing entertainment.
#16. Jackbox games
Engage in fun video games on different platforms, using integrations with Google Meet and Zoom for seamless play.
#17. Virtual escape room
Participate in a virtual escape game led by a host, requiring teamwork and problem-solving skills.
#18. Virtual treasure hunt
Create a digital scavenger hunt using the Scavify app, challenging team members to work together.
#19. Thriver virtual events
Join cooking classes and other interactive events through Thriver to explore new skills together
#20. Zoom event marketplace
Organize online events through the OnZoom platform, fostering interaction and engagement among team members.
Health and wellness activities
Making time for fitness and exercise is essential to maintaining good health, but juggling full-time work can make this difficult. It might be hard to keep oneself motivated to be active, but it gets simpler when you’re not alone in your objectives, and health activities are a team effort. Here are a few ideas for remote workers:
#21. Aaptiv fitness challenge
Over time, participate in fitness contests to encourage coworkers’ cooperation and well-being. Try out a fitness challenge using the Aaptiv app, which provides audio-guided exercises for varying fitness levels. Over time, team members can engage in friendly tournaments and select from a range of exercises, such as strength training, yoga, and jogging. To begin, create a shared challenge and team account on Aaptiv so that members may monitor one another’s progress, exchange inspiration, and strive toward shared fitness objectives.
#22. Meditation sessions
Team members may improve attention, lower stress levels, and promote mental health by scheduling regular meditation sessions. Invite everyone to participate in virtual meditation sessions that are scheduled every week or every two weeks. Platforms like Zoom and applications like Calm or Headspace, which provide a variety of relaxing techniques tailored to various requirements, can be used to arrange a guided meditation. Even 10 to 15 minutes can have a significant impact, so these sessions don’t need to be long. Frequent meditation promotes a more calm, concentrated team culture and helps teams manage work-related stress more effectively.
#23. Healthy cooking challenges
If your team enjoyed cooking masterclasses, take a step further with a healthy cooking challenge!
The organization is similar to our advice on hosting cooking masterclasses. It can follow a similar format with one key difference: your prepared recipes should be healthy and well-balanced. With one significant exception—your prepared dishes should be balanced and healthy—they can follow a similar structure. Have team members prepare and share their dishes according to a weekly or monthly theme, such as “low-carb meals” or “vegetarian options.” Here are some easy recipes for beginners to get you started:
In order to promote wholesome eating habits, you may also hold a competition where team members cook and discuss nutritious meals.
#24. Group walks or runs
Encourage team members, especially if they are working remotely, to join in on group runs or walks. Through fitness applications such as MapMyRun or Strava, team members may record their runs or walks, exchange updates, and encourage one another. This activity can be done individually but creates a collective team experience as everyone works towards shared distance or time goals. It’s a fantastic way to keep healthy, get outside, and interact with coworkers wherever they may be.
#25. Online group workout
Join live-streamed fitness courses that everyone can follow to plan an online group exercise. Zumba, Pilates, and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) are just a few free or inexpensive alternatives accessible online. Send a calendar invite with the class URL at a time that works for everyone. This activity fosters team camaraderie, energizes everyone, and helps maintain a regular exercise routine.
Tips for organizing virtual events
Even if your team works remotely, planning virtual events may be a fruitful approach to unite them. Take into account the following advice to make sure your activities are both successful and pleasurable:
1. Set clear goals
Before you plan any activities, please decide what you want to achieve. Do you want to build team spirit, improve communication, or just have some fun?
2. Consider team interests
Ask your team what they like. Surveys can help you determine which activities they enjoy the most.
3. Create a schedule
Regular events keep people engaged. Decide how often you’ll hold these activities so everyone can plan to join. Leverage Bordio’s team task tracker to create an explicit virtual team building activity schedule, ensuring everyone knows upcoming events and their goals.
4. Stick to time limits
Make sure the events don’t take too long. Keeping them to 1-2 hours is usually enough to hold everyone’s attention and interest.
Final thoughts on virtual team building activities
Building a virtual team is essential to keeping distant workers connected. These exercises foster better communication, increased trust, and a productive workplace. Through entertaining virtual game show experiences, imaginative challenges, or social gatherings, the ideas exchanged may include your team.
Consider organizing a virtual dance party or a series of virtual meetings to enhance engagement. Also, explore the best virtual team-building options available that fit your team’s interests and needs. Remember to incorporate virtual team games to add fun and excitement during team meetings.
To ensure their effectiveness, plan these activities carefully and consider your staff’s interests. Keeping activities within a reasonable time range and scheduling them often might help increase participation.
Virtual team development ultimately produces shared experiences that boost morale and fortify bonds, resulting in a more effective team. Regardless of where your other team members are situated, embrace these actions to create a better work environment.
Jacob Udodov 
Ksenia M. 
