How Can I Create Team Building Opportunities and a Sense of Unity for My Location-Scattered Team?

Whether you’re a hybrid, remote, or fully in-person employee, most professionals can agree that COVID-19 has had a large impact on workplace culture and community. In fact, a commonly asked question for those in the ecommerce profession is how to foster relationships and a unified cultue at work, especially for employees who may be responsible for planning and executing events for a location-scattered team.

We asked Claire Deal who is an employee at a remote-first organization. She said that she is the glue that keep her team’s spirits high and the gears well-oiled. Picture her as a mix between a nurturing mother hen and a quirrky sitcom neighbor, always ready with a plan (and a punchline) to keep the culture vibrant and cohesive.

1: Embrace Virtual Team-Building Activities

She turned their virtual space into a playground of connection and laughter. No run-of-the-mill team-building here; they’re all about creativity and a touch of delightful madness.

• Monthly Book Club: They dive into books with the enthusiasm of detectives on a mystery case, sparking lively debates and laughter.

• Weekly Calm Sessions: Using the Calm app, they transform into Zen masters, finding their inner peace amid the digital chaos.

• Coffee and Connect: Their virtual coffee breaks are like a sitcom episode, full of laughs, shared stories, and the occasional pet cameo.

• Coworking - Body Doubling: To fight off the remote work blues, they pair up for virtual coworking sessions, boosting productivity and banishing loneliness.

2: Nurture a Supportive Digital Workspace

In their digital realm, effective communication is their superpower. They use tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams not just for work, but to keep the team’s camaraderie thriving.

• Weekly Team Meetings: Every Monday, they gather on Google Meets/Teams/Zoom. It’s part pep rally, part strategy session, and a whole lot of celebrating their wins.

• Communication Guidelines: They’ve set clear communication expectations, balancing prompt responses with respecting personal time. It’s about being a team, not a 24/7 work machine.

• Recharge Days: Encouraging regular recharge days, they remind everyone that it’s okay to step back, relax, and return re-energized.