Online Team Building Activities

"Individual commitment to a group effort--that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." - Vince Lombardi

One of the positive silver linings of Coronavirus is the leap in accepting this shift to working remotely by using technology over 2020. Due to restrictions, lockdowns, gyms and school closures, this year change has come more rapidly than ever and getting connected online, no matter the distance, has become the norm. However, this means we have also had to get creative with online team building activities - which is still essential, even if we aren’t working together in reality.

The Power of Team Building

A lesson that we can take from 2020 is that by coming together and working with a common goal, we can accomplish more than we ever thought possible. The Coronavirus pandemic has shown us why being unified is essential to combat even the most severe situations.

Team building in a company is a key factor to keep work productivity high. It creates a sense of self-accountability and of working together efficiently for the success of the business. Most importantly, it helps employees feel more comfortable communicating with their colleagues which creates a better work atmosphere and a stronger sense of worth as an individual, needed to keep the business ‘community’ functioning properly.

And of course, it boosts the spirit of performance and provides motivation through fun competitions and events. Workplace collaboration is simply necessary for a productive output. So, what team building activities can be organized now in the online realm?

Lunchtime Zoom Calls

Ordinarily in an office environment, the only time employees really have to get to know each other is during their lunch breaks, but does anyone want to stay on a zoom call in their free time at home now?

It’s not likely and this is such a shame, as Kevin Kniffin, Professor of Economics at Charles H. Dyson Cornell University explains, "Eating together is a more intimate act than looking ​over an Excel spreadsheet together. That intimacy spills back over into work”.

As an employer, however, you can encourage these break time chats with the offer of a free lunch voucher provided with the lunchtime zoom call, once a week (or more!), so that everyone can enjoy lunch together. Or start the day right and host breakfast zoom calls - on the company! This approach can create better bonding and improve team playing qualities. 

Lunch together might even encourage your employees to discuss their project goals in a more relaxed setting - making the workspace all the more productive.

Book Clubs

Reading is so good for your health! It is proven to improve brain connectivity, reduce stress, lower blood pressure and heart rate, fight depression symptoms and even prevents cognitive decline as you age. All of these health benefits are great - but reading is also a wonderful idea as a team building activity. How? Books create conversation!

You can create team building online by starting up an opt-in book club in your business. Your employees are more likely to get involved if you gift Amazon gift cards to them every month so that they can purchase the book on you. This allows for everyone who has joined the book club to have a mutual conversation topic to discuss which will help grow friendships.

Group Fitness Classes

Physical activity and exercise are fundamental for a healthy life. By staying physically active, you can reduce the risk of developing several diseases like type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. It also has huge mental health benefits, as the act of exercising releases dopamine, serotonin and endorphins (all the happy chemicals).

Exercise increases blood flow and triggers the BDNF protein, which helps to sharpen one's awareness, focus and cognitive ability - increasing productivity in the workplace. According to research, exercise can improve time management and workload completion by up to 72%.

So, how can you encourage your employees to sign up and get involved in a group fitness class? By gifting employees who sign up to the class’s free workout clothes and gear. This is a great incentive for those that aren’t sure about working out, but can be enticed by the idea of a reward for being brave enough to join! Then they’ll discover all of the fun that comes with these online, group fitness classes with their colleagues - it will also give them another mutual goal or at least something to laugh about!

Don’t know where to start?

Here at Gifted, we have made all of the above easy for you. In just a few clicks you can send out multiple link option gift cards, specific to whichever of the online team building activities you choose to offer in your workplace, to all of your employees. All you need is their email address and you’re good to go! Are you ready to start? Click here.

United we stand, divided we fall"