The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the way we work, and remote work is now the norm for many employees. While remote work has its benefits, it can also be challenging when it comes to building relationships, fostering team spirit, and promoting collaboration. One of the challenges that remote teams face when trying to build strong relationships is that they often don’t have the same opportunities for casual conversations as their in-office counterparts. That’s why it’s essential to use icebreakers to help your remote team connect on a personal level. In this article, we’ll explore some fun and effective icebreakers that can help remote teams get to know each other better, build trust and collaboration, and have some fun along the way.
The Personal Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt is an excellent way to get team members interacting and collaborating, but we’re not talking about a traditional picture scavenger hunt. Instead, create a list of personal items or information that your team members should find. For example, ask team members to find a picture of their favorite childhood toy, the last concert they attended, or an interesting fact about themselves. You can create a shared document where everyone can upload their findings or invite them to share on your team’s chat. This icebreaker will help everyone share personal details about themselves, encouraging stronger connections, and can spark conversations and bond over shared experiences.
Two Truths and a Lie
A classic and well-known icebreaker, Two Truths and a Lie is a great way to learn fun facts about your colleagues. Ask remote team members to introduce themselves by sharing three statements about themselves, two of which are true and one is false. The rest of the team can then try to guess which statement is the lie. This game encourages creative thinking, promotes open communication, and allows team members to share personal stories, interests, and experiences.
Virtual Mind Map
A mind map is a graphical tool that helps visually organize information. Virtually, you can create a virtual mind map as a creative icebreaker. Create a topic in the center of the mind map, such as “My Favorite Things,” and ask team members to add their favorite things as branches stemming from the center. Encourage people to add anything they like, from their favorite food to their favorite hobby. Once everyone has had a chance to contribute, explore the different branches and encourage discussion. This exercise will help team members learn more about each other and possibly even find new shared interests.
Pictionary
Pictionary is an enjoyable and classic game that can easily be adapted to support remote teams. Split the team into pairs, and have one team member draw a picture of a word or phrase while the other tries to guess what it is. Encourage players to be creative and use their imagination; it’s not about being an expert artist but rather about having a good time and working together. Pictionary helps promote creativity, cooperation, and teamwork, all of which are key skills that remote teams need to succeed.
Virtual Team Trivia
Team trivia is a fun way to build shared knowledge and teamwork. Create virtual trivia games and quizzes that focus on your team’s areas of expertise, or create a general knowledge quiz that can challenge everyone. You can share your screen and present the questions or use a quiz game platform. Encourage individuals to work together in teams and compete against each other. This icebreaker will challenge your teams, help them learn more about each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and offer a chance to foster teamwork.
Virtual Escape Rooms
Escape rooms are popular physical activities where teams work together to solve puzzles and riddles to escape a room. Virtual escape rooms are now gaining popularity, and they can provide a fun, challenging team building activity for remote teams. Virtual escape rooms are perfect for remote teams since they can access them from anywhere. You can search for online escape room games, or even create custom games designed specifically for your team. Working together to solve clues and escape will help to build team spirit, foster communication, and provide a fun and exciting experience.
“What’s Your Superpower?”
This icebreaker is a great way to learn more about what makes individual team members special. You can ask everyone to think about a superhero or fictional character who inspires them and then ask them to share what superpower they would want for themselves. Then, the team can discuss how each person’s superpower can be an asset in their work and in their personal lives.
Virtual Scrum
If your team is remote, chances are you’re already using agile or scrum methodology. Why not turn one of your scrum meetings into a fun virtual scrum? Each team member can take turns presenting their update in the form of a short skit or a dramatic performance. Not only will this icebreaker help team members feel more comfortable speaking up during scrum meetings, but it could also lead to some hilarious memories and inside jokes.
“What’s In Your Bag?”
This is a simple yet enjoyable icebreaker that involves asking team members to show what’s in their bag or backpack. This could be anything from office supplies to personal items or even a pet. Team members can take turns sharing what they have in their bags, explaining why they carry each item, and what they use it for. This icebreaker is a great way to find out more about your colleagues and their unique interests or hobbies, which can help you build deeper relationships with them.
“This or That”
This icebreaker is a great way to learn more about team members’ likes and dislikes. Simple ask a series of “this or that” questions, such as “Coffee or tea?” or “Summer or winter?” Team members will need to choose between the two options, and then explain why they made their choice. This can be a great way to find commonalities among the team or spark conversations about different interests.
“The Bucket List”
This icebreaker encourages team members to think about their life goals and bucket list items. Each team member can share at least one item from their bucket list, explaining why they want to achieve it and what they hope to gain from it. This can be a great opportunity for team members to inspire each other and support each other in working towards their individual goals.
Virtual Movie Marathon
Watching a movie or TV show together can be a fun way to bond with colleagues, even when you’re working remotely. You can organize a virtual movie marathon, in which each team member chooses a movie or episode of their favorite TV show. The team can then watch the show together, sharing their reactions and thoughts in the chat. This is a great way to learn more about each other’s taste in media and can help team members feel more connected, even when they’re miles apart.
Virtual Talent Show
A virtual talent show is a creative way to showcase the unique skills and talents of your team members. Encourage everyone to find and share something they’re passionate about, whether it’s playing an instrument, singing, drawing, or even making a funny face. This can help foster an environment of creativity, and can encourage team members to feel more comfortable sharing their unique abilities.
Virtual Book Club
A virtual book club is a great way to encourage learning and dialogue among team members. Choose a book that aligns with your company’s values, or let team members take turns selecting the book for each month. Each member can read the book on their own time, and then you can organize a virtual meeting to discuss the ideas and themes of the book. This is a great way to encourage team members to think critically and learn from each other.
Online Charades
Charades is a classic game that’s easy to play even in a virtual setting. Divide your team into groups, and have each group take turns acting out words or phrases that are shared in a chat or on a virtual whiteboard. The other members of the group have to guess what word or phrase is being acted out. This can be a fun way to encourage creativity and collaboration, and can encourage team members to work together to solve challenges.
“Show and Tell”
This is a fun icebreaker that encourages team members to share something about themselves. Each team member can take a turn showing something special or meaningful to them while explaining why it’s important. This can be anything from a beloved family photo to a significant piece of jewelry. This icebreaker is a great way to encourage team members to get to know each other on a personal level, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie.
Virtual Cooking Challenge
A virtual cooking challenge is a fun way to encourage team members to bond over food. Choose a simple recipe that everyone can make at home, set a designated time for everyone to start cooking, and then have a virtual “cook off” to see who made the best version of the meal. This challenge can encourage team members to work together, learn new cooking skills, and have some friendly competition.
“How Do You Like Your Coffee?”
This icebreaker is a fun way to learn more about your colleagues’ daily habits and personal preferences. Essentially, you’ll ask each team member how they like their coffee and why. This icebreaker can be a great way to find out more about each other’s favorite drinks, as well as learn about the different coffee cultures across the world.
Virtual Secret Santa
A virtual secret Santa can be a fun way to bring some holiday cheer to your remote team. Simply use a virtual tool to randomly assign each team member a colleague to buy a small gift for. Set a budget limit, and then have team members ship their gifts to their respective recipients. Schedule a virtual event to open the gifts and find out who gave each gift. This is a great way to bring some joy to the startup and encourage team members to bond over shared holiday traditions.
Picture Sharing
This is a simple but effective icebreaker that involves asking each team member to share a picture of something that makes them happy, or they are grateful for. This could be a picture of family members, pets, beautiful scenery, or even a favorite meal. This conversation starter can help you get to know each other by sharing personal moments and perspectives.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many fun and effective icebreakers that remote teams can use to build stronger relationships, promote collaboration, and have some fun along the way. Whether your team is looking to get to know each other better or simply promote a more positive and inclusive work environment, there are many great options to choose from. The most important thing is to be creative and think outside of the box when it comes to fostering connections and building strong team dynamics. With a little bit of effort and ingenuity, you can help your remote team thrive, no matter where they are located.