Five Team Building Activities for Zoom
Who could have predicted that in the year 2020, roughly 75% of our social interactions would take place in video chat rooms? 100% if you live alone. (These aren’t actual percentages, but you get my drift.) In addition to my presentation business, I also founded Proximity, an events-focused social organization in NYC. And when the quarantine hit, we had to quickly pivot our 700-member organization to online events so it wouldn’t fold.
Now I have been hosting in-person events since I was 16. But I had no idea how to host an “online event”. And I barely knew how to use Zoom. But like everyone else, I had to quickly pivot and learn fast - and I did! We ended up hosting 12 virtual happy hours in all and it was a hit. Honestly, I had no idea if it would work. But turns out, if you gather people anywhere - whether online or in person - they connect! Real friendships formed and people organically hung out in person as a result. (Six feet apart I’m sure!) We are now phasing back in in-person events, since NYC is in Phase 4. But at least we know we can always fall back on Zoom happy hours if needed!
With that, I have compiled a list of the activities and tactics that have worked for us. Loneliness and depression are at an all-time high right now, I encourage you to add in team building exercises to keep your team’s spirits raised. Here are a few examples:
1. Start every meeting with an ice breaker. Fun examples below:
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done? (Almost all of our responses had to do with going somewhere with a stranger in a foreign country. I thought I was the only one! Sorry, Mom.)
How much coffee is too much? (This opens up a discussion about people’s coffee habits, its awesome.)
Where’s the most interesting place you’ve ever slept?
If you were a wrestler, what would your wrestling name be?
What is one thing that’s brought you joy this week?
2. Get personal.
Encourage openness with how people are feeling. Our business and personal lives are completely meshed right now, so don’t be afraid to dive into people’s emotions. One of the most powerful forms of therapy is to know that you are not alone. So with the ice breaker, encourage people to give a “check in” with how they are doing that day. Remember, they are human beings first and employees second. (And if they are mothers or fathers, work comes third in that equation.)
3. Play a game together. Here’s a few that have cracked us up:
The runway game: Each team member models what they are wearing while another member commentates on their outfit, like on an actual runway. And the commentator also gets to pick their walk-up song. (No time to change outfits!) It’s HILARIOUS.
Two truths and a lie: Always a classic. Each person shares two truths and one lie about themselves, and everyone has to guess the lie.
Charades: Yes, this good ‘ole fashioned game still makes people laugh. Divide up into two groups and each person acts out a person, place or thing without saying any words. Then their team has to guess what it is. Its perfect for Zoom.
4. Split up into breakout rooms for different activities.
Our last event was our second anniversary, so we wanted to make it feel extra special. So we split into two breakout rooms, one for karaoke and one for a game. It went so well! We even had folks from the UK join and they sang karaoke until 3am their time. It was wild!
5. Pair up people to get to know one another after the meeting is over.
This season has been really tough on everyone. And you want to make sure that none of your team members are getting in a dark place at home. I’d advise pairing up men with men and women with women, to prevent any awkwardness with their significant others. If its a larger meeting, pair up people from different departments or who don’t normally work together. I actually got this idea from my Bible study and now have two really close friends. It’s been a huge blessing!
You have no idea where people are at mentally right now, so be sure to keep tabs on your teammates and cultivate community as much as you can. Cause this is far from over, and we’re not going to get through this alone.