When employees feel connected to something greater than their individual position, awesome things can result. Building this type of camaraderie when team members work from various locations may seem challenging, but the bonds created during team building exercises are well worth the effort. Boosted morale and improved communication are just two of the benefits employers stand to gain.
Help your remote employees become a more cohesive unit with these three team building exercises:
1. Get to know each other.
Telecommuters will feel less like strangers and more like colleagues when they regularly interact with one another. Fortunately, modern technology offers a wealth of ways to make this possible.
“Every Wednesday, we schedule an online conference over Skype with the sole purpose of team interaction,” says Mahesh Kumar, spokesperson for Transcription Certification Institute. “It’s mandatory for everybody to show up and participate in the group conversation. We talk on random topics and share whatever we want to with each other.”
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To replicate the casual “water-cooler” conversation of a traditional office, some companies create Google Hangout or Slack channels where employees can chat throughout the day. Need an icebreaker to get people talking? Try this idea that worked at Timely: set up an online “kennel” where pet owners can share photos, stories, and advice.
2. Meet in person.
While not an option for every employer, companies that occasionally bring telecommuters face-to-face report outstanding returns.
“Time to time, we arrange for corporate events, team outings, team lunches, etc., where remote workers can interact and bond with their associates. We arrange for many fun activities at these meet-ups. The company has to bear the expenses, but it is truly worth the investment. It’s the secret ingredient of our strong team bonding,” Kumar says.
If several of your telecommuters reside near one another, encourage them to meet.
“Every Thursday evening, a group of seven of us emerge from our remote offices and descend on a local netball court,” says Sam Barton, sales specialist for Timely, who met his teammates through the company’s netball Slack channel. “This is a great way to build friendship amongst members of the team and through the whole company. Results are often publicly shared through the company, and people get on board backing the team.”
3. Learn and celebrate together.
Don’t for a moment think shared positive experiences only happen when groups are physically together. Get imaginative in mixing business and pleasure.
Shelley Hayes, vice president of customer solutions for Community Health Charities, gave each of her remote team members a $10 gift card to purchase lunch at a national restaurant chain. “They were provided a list of customer service aspects to pay attention to during their experience. We convened for a virtual lunch to discuss what we learned and how it can apply to our work with customers.”
Rewarding the group for a job well done reminds telecommuters that their efforts contribute to overall achievement. Meg Dowaliby, marketing manager at Geniuslink, reports that she and her remote colleagues “spend an afternoon playing (online) team games like League of Legends or Shell-Shock Live anytime we beat our goals on a monthly basis.” To celebrate a successful season, Hayes mailed her team champagne-infused gummy bears, which they opened together on video.
You may even want to get your remote employees involved in coming up with shared goals, team-building activities, and group rewards. Brainstorming itself can be a bonding experience!
Photo Credit: bigstockphoto.com
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