Team Bonding Activities
First of all – team bonding doesn’t always have to mean happy hour. For instance, there are tons of successful morale-boosting activities that you and your team can enjoy – even remotely! Let’s dive in.
Benefits of Team-Building
Next, performance isn’t the only thing that increases alongside morale. For instance, research has shown that employees are likely to have less stress. Additionally, employees miss less workdays and have higher productivity than their low-morale counterparts.Â
Morale-Boosting Merriment
First, fancy or Formal Dress Fridays were a little easier to manage when we still went to offices. However, with video conferencing software like Zoom and Slack, it isn’t impossible! Consider setting up a weekly team meeting on Fridays and those interested can put together their own “freaky” or funny outfits to show to the team.
Next, hosting virtual social time is a great way to combat the feeling of social isolation. With a scheduled social time, you can get to know your coworkers better. It’s not the same as chatting at the water cooler, but it’s a great way to keep it casual.
In the hope that employees stay active, consider setting up exercise challenges or competitions. For example, you can see who records the most steps in a week. On the other hand, you can try a new sport you’ve not done before.
Despite being in different locations, you can still have a team trivia game. Create a slide deck of trivia that your employees will be familiar with. If your team is global, be sure to include cross-cultural questions.
While it isn’t the same as going to a movie theater together, hosing a Netflix watch party allows team members to watch films together digitally. Also, you can instant message one another and share your thoughts on the movie (which is less of a disruption than if you were chatting in real life!)
Thanking your team is a simple act that can go a long way. By showing gratitude, you can show your appreciation for a job well done.Â
One perk that you can offer your employees is a set time for mental health. For instance, one can read a book, take a brisk walk, or meditate. Check-in with others to see what positive benefits they begin to notice after a few sessions.
While a lot of us only keep the essentials on our desks, some individuals like to add their own style to the mix. Granted, not everyone has as much desk space as they may in the office, but that doesn’t mean they can’t fill it with a couple knickknacks. Show off your favorites and ask your teammates to do the same.
Slack makes it easy to share memes with your team with Giphy. You can also have a contest between the team to see who can create their own funny meme to share.Â
Ice-breakers and skill-driven activities are games don’t always have the best rep. In contrast, volunteering as a team will help your team feel connected to your community. Additionally, it makes people feel good.Â
Remote Team Wellness
Altogether, Remote Team Wellness offers three different packages for remote and (hopefully in the near future) in-office wellness.Â
First, the startup package includes the following:
- Two live group sessions (limited to Move & Mindful classes)
- Weekly mindset affirmations
- Work From Home (WFH) health recommendations in every session
- Email access to teachers
Second, the Holistic Corporate Wellness package includes:
- Four live group sessions (all class types: Move, Mind, Nutrition, Emotion & Purpose)
- Customized wellness recommendations for classes each month
- Monthly Team Wellness guide via email
- One team challenge per month
Third, the top tier package – the Chief Wellness Officer Package – includes:
- Unlimited group sessions
- Dedicated wellness manager on your team
- Monthly private session credits for the team (10 x 30 min sessions)
- 2 full-day virtual retreats per year
- Weekly office hours with CWO for employee check ins and custom recommendations
On the other hand, if you’d rather “try before you buy”, Remote Team Wellness offers one-off virtual retreats and events. To learn more, check out their website. As you can see, team bonding has never been easier!
Team Bonding Takeaways
In conclusion, there are many ways to improve morale in your company. Before the pandemic, volunteering together, seeing films, and going to dinner together were commonplace. Now, in a remote, socially distant world, it looks a bit different. At any rate, it’s always a good time to take some time for your team!
Resources & Further Reading
Cider, J. (2017, September 11). 10 Fun-filled Activities to Help Boost Team Morale. Retrieved December 26, 2020, from https://www.zippia.com/employer/10-fun-filled-activities-help-boost-team-morale/
Leonard, L. (2020, April 27). 17 Ways to Boost Employee Morale During COVID-19 That Aren’t Happy Hours. Retrieved December 26, 2020, from https://blog.namely.com/ways-to-boost-morale-during-covid-that-arent-happy-hours
Murphy, J. (2020, November 24). 19 Proven Morale Boosters That Won’t Break The Bank. Retrieved December 26, 2020, from https://snacknation.com/blog/morale-boosters/
Whitney, C. (2016, October 13). 10 Affordable Ways To Improve Team Morale at Your Company. Retrieved December 26, 2020, from https://justworks.com/blog/boosting-team-morale-on-a-budget-the-ultimate-top-10-list