32 Best Virtual Team-Building Activities to Increase Teamwork in 2024

Team, teamwork, team building- the ‘T’ word dominates the business world of the 21st century. Every organization is built around teams. The better the health of your teams, the better the health of your company. Simple!

Team building is a process that refers to the tactics and actions you or your business takes to turn a group of individuals into a cohesive team. In simple terms, a team is a group of people coming together for a common purpose. According to Wikipedia: “Team building is a collective term for various types of activities used to enhance social relations and define roles within teams, often involving collaborative tasks.”

Why should you organize virtual team-building activities?

Virtual team building activities improve the atmosphere and team cohesion between the members of remote teams. As a result of successful virtual team building, professionals will feel more connected to their colleagues and collaboration between team members will improve. Here are just some of the benefits of team building:

• Benefit #1: Team building improves your employees’ soft skills.
• Benefit #2: Team building improves communication and collaboration.
• Benefit #3: Team building boosts employee engagement and job satisfaction.
• Benefit #4: Team building improves productivity.
• Benefit #5: Team building develops connection and respect among coworkers.

When you organize team-building activities, it acts as a breath of fresh air and gives a good break from work. Similarly, it also encourages employees to bring out their creative side and helps teams to get to know each other better.

Team Building Trends and Statistics

Over the past decade, new collaborative tools and technologies have changed how we think about employee team building. Here are some important statistics related to teamwork and alignment:

• 75% of employers rate teamwork and collaboration as “very important.”
• 97% of employees and executives believe lack of alignment within a team impacts the outcome of a task or project.
• 37% of employees say “working with a great team” is their primary reason for staying.
• 2500% increase in interest in online and virtual team building activities worldwide.

Virtual team-building events you can try out

To dial down the cringe factor and make virtual team building enjoyable for everyone, here is a list of virtual team-building activities you can try out with your coworkers:

1. #1: Critical thinking virtual icebreaker
2. #2: “Big talk” virtual icebreaker
3. #3: “Name that emoji song title” virtual icebreaker
4. #4: Something in common
5. #5: Personality tests
6. #6: Tiny campfire: 100% virtual campfire
7. #7: 5 Finger showdown
8. #8: Pancakes vs waffles
9. #9: Virtual pub trivia
10. #10: Virtual escape rooms
11. #11: Virtual Happy Hours
12. #12: Virtual scavenger hunt
13. #13: Virtual bingo
14. #14: Water cooler channels in your business communication app
15. #15: The birth map game
16. #16: Slipper dilemma
17. #17: Remote team cooking challenge
18. #18: Theme photo contest
19. #19: MTV Cribs: remote team edition
20. #20: Guess the artist
21. #21: Virtual movie club
22. #22: “Who da baby”
23. #23: Virtual book club
24. #24: Whose office is it anyway?
25. #25: Employee virtual wellness session
26. #26: Virtual card games
27. #27: Video game night
28. #28: Virtual coworking day
29. #29: Virtual talent show
30. #30: Playlist creation
31. #31: Virtual tasting
32. #32: Two truths and a lie

How to organize virtual team-building activities?

Virtual team buildings require careful planning — you should allocate a budget, discuss what activity would be the best, and choose the right time for scheduling the event. Consider the following tips for success:

• Tip #1: Incorporate virtual team building in every meeting.
• Tip #2: Don’t forget the introverts.
• Tip #3: Follow the 2.5 rule.
• Tip #4: Organize real-life meetings from time to time.

By organizing regular virtual team buildings, you increase job satisfaction in your company and let your teammates bond and build trust.