Quick Team Building Activities to Do via Conference Calls: Strengthening Connections in the Remote Workplace

The shift to remote work has changed the dynamics of team collaboration and communication. While the flexibility of working from home has many benefits, it also brings challenges, particularly when it comes to maintaining a strong team culture and fostering relationships. For Australian companies like Redwolf + Rosch, supporting remote teams and ensuring they feel connected and motivated is essential for long-term success.

One of the most effective ways to strengthen team bonds, enhance collaboration, and improve morale in a remote work environment is through team-building activities. However, with employees scattered across different locations, it can sometimes be challenging to organise traditional team-building exercises. Thankfully, conference calls and video conferencing platforms have made it easier to connect with remote teams and engage in interactive activities that foster team spirit.

In this blog post, we’ll explore some quick and effective team-building activities that can be easily executed via conference calls. These activities will not only break the ice but also promote communication, creativity, and collaboration among your team members.

Why Team Building is Important in a Remote Environment

Before we dive into specific activities, let’s take a moment to understand why team-building activities are so important for remote teams. While in-person teams naturally build relationships through everyday interactions in the office, remote teams face the challenge of building rapport and trust without the benefit of face-to-face communication. Team-building activities provide opportunities to foster stronger bonds, improve communication, and boost morale, which are crucial for remote work success.

Some of the key benefits of team building for remote teams include:

• Improved Communication: Regular team-building activities help team members become more comfortable with one another, promoting open communication and trust.
• Increased Engagement: Engaged employees are more motivated, productive, and committed to their work. Team-building activities can help keep remote employees engaged and connected to the company’s mission.
• Boosted Morale: Positive team-building experiences help employees feel valued and supported, leading to higher job satisfaction and a positive work environment.
• Enhanced Collaboration: By participating in team-building exercises, employees learn to collaborate more effectively and work together to achieve shared goals.

Now, let’s look at some simple yet impactful team-building activities you can conduct via conference calls.

1. Two Truths and a Lie

Duration: 10-15 minutes

Two Truths and a Lie is a classic icebreaker game that’s simple and fun, making it ideal for remote teams. Each participant shares three statements about themselves – two truths and one lie. The other team members then have to guess which statement is the lie.

This game encourages employees to get to know each other on a personal level and can lead to fun, surprising revelations. It also helps to break the ice and create a relaxed environment for the team to engage with each other.

How to play:

• Each participant takes turns sharing three statements (two true and one false).
• The rest of the team guesses which statement is the lie.
• After everyone guesses, the participant reveals which statement was the lie.

This simple game is a great way to warm up your team and foster a sense of camaraderie.

2. Virtual Show and Tell

Duration: 15-20 minutes

Show and Tell is a nostalgic activity that allows participants to share something meaningful to them with the group. In a remote environment, this can be done easily over a conference call, and it’s a great way to learn more about your team members’ interests, hobbies, and personalities.

Each person can take a few minutes to show something significant to them – whether it’s a personal item, a hobby, or even a pet. This activity encourages open conversation, builds rapport, and promotes a deeper connection between team members.

How to play:

• Set a theme for the show and tell, such as “something that makes you happy” or “an item from your childhood.”
• Each team member takes turns showing their item and explaining why it’s significant to them.
• Encourage everyone to ask follow-up questions to spark conversation.

This activity can also lead to some light-hearted moments, as team members share unique and personal stories.

3. Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Duration: 20-30 minutes

A virtual scavenger hunt is an exciting and energising activity that can be done via a video call. It’s a fun way to get people moving and thinking creatively, all while competing in teams. The organiser can prepare a list of items for the team to find around their homes or offices, and participants must race to find the items and show them on camera.

This activity not only promotes teamwork but also helps break the monotony of daily work routines.

How to play:

• Prepare a list of items or themes to find. These can range from everyday household items (e.g., a spoon) to more creative requests (e.g., something that represents your favourite movie).
• Share the list with the team via chat or on the screen.
• Set a time limit (usually around 10-15 minutes) for participants to find as many items as possible.
• The person who finds the most items or completes the list first wins.

Virtual scavenger hunts are a great way to energise your team and inject some fun into the workday.

4. Pictionary or Charades

Duration: 20-30 minutes

Pictionary and charades are classic team-building activities that can be adapted for virtual conference calls. These games encourage creativity, quick thinking, and teamwork, making them perfect for remote teams.

In Pictionary, players take turns drawing a word or phrase while others try to guess it. In charades, players act out a word or phrase without speaking, and the rest of the team guesses what it is.

How to play Pictionary:

• Use a drawing tool or share your screen to draw the chosen word or phrase.
• Set a time limit (e.g., 30 seconds) for each round.
• The team guesses the word based on the drawing.
• Rotate the drawing duties so that everyone has a chance to participate.

How to play Charades:

• One participant acts out a word or phrase without speaking.
• The team tries to guess the word or phrase within a set time limit.
• Rotate the acting duties so everyone gets a turn.

Both games are excellent for building creativity and teamwork, and they provide a good balance of fun and friendly competition.

5. Themed Trivia

Duration: 20-30 minutes

Trivia games are a great way to engage your team while also learning something new. You can tailor the trivia to focus on a specific theme, such as pop culture, history, or even facts about the company or team members.

Trivia promotes friendly competition and teamwork as people collaborate to answer questions. It also helps break up the workday and gives everyone a chance to unwind.

How to play:

• Create a series of trivia questions related to a specific theme.
• Split the team into smaller groups and have them collaborate to answer each question.
• Ask a mix of easy and challenging questions to keep everyone engaged.
• The team with the most correct answers wins.

Trivia is an excellent way to stimulate team collaboration, and the variety of topics ensures everyone can participate.

6. Virtual Coffee Breaks

Duration: 10-15 minutes

Sometimes, all it takes to build stronger connections is a simple conversation. Virtual coffee breaks are an informal team-building activity that allows team members to chat about non-work-related topics. These short breaks can help foster camaraderie and create a more relaxed and supportive atmosphere.

How to play:

• Schedule a virtual coffee break during the day where everyone logs into a conference call with their favourite drink.
• Use this time to discuss anything other than work – hobbies, current events, or just casual catch-up.
• Keep it light-hearted and encourage everyone to share a bit about their day or something fun they’ve done recently.

This activity can be done regularly to maintain personal connections and ensure your team feels supported and valued.

7. Online Escape Room Challenge

Duration: 30-60 minutes

For a more engaging and immersive team-building activity, an online escape room is an excellent option. Many companies offer virtual escape room experiences that challenge teams to solve puzzles, find clues, and work together to “escape” within a set time limit. This activity is perfect for fostering teamwork and problem-solving skills.

How to play:

• Choose an online escape room provider that offers virtual team challenges.
• Split your team into smaller groups and work together to solve the puzzles.
• Set a time limit (usually 30-60 minutes) to complete the challenge.

Online escape rooms are a great way to simulate real-world collaboration and problem-solving in a fun, low-pressure environment.

Conclusion

Team building doesn’t have to be restricted to in-person activities or expensive events. With the rise of remote work, there are now countless ways to strengthen your team’s bond and foster collaboration through conference calls and video meetings. Whether you’re playing games like Two Truths and a Lie, organising a virtual scavenger hunt, or solving puzzles in an online escape room, these quick and effective activities will help your team feel more connected, engaged, and motivated.

At Redwolf + Rosch, we understand the importance of building strong, cohesive teams – even when working remotely. Regular team-building activities are an excellent way to maintain morale, encourage collaboration, and create lasting relationships among team members.

So, the next time you’re planning a conference call, consider incorporating one of these team-building activities to make it more interactive and enjoyable for everyone. Your team will thank you for it!

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