Fun Friday: Virtual Activities & Games for a Remote Team

The pandemic has sent work online, and we’ve all had to adapt. Remote work presents a lot of new possibilities, but it’s also challenging. You’re probably not the only one asking yourself how to improve teamwork and communication when everybody’s working from home. This is because there are huge differences between online and offline teams. In this article, we’ll be talking about the importance of Fun Friday virtual activities and games in a remote setting.

What are Fun Friday Virtual Activities and Games and Why They are Important?

Remote team members sometimes work in various geographical locations. Leading a multinational team comes with a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Cultural differences are also often at play. Even though it could be logistically difficult due to time zones, social connection still matters. In fact, even more so for remote teams. That’s why team building activities are crucial: the team needs to find common interests in order to work together.

For that reason, our Exadel Agile experts provide Fun Friday virtual games and activities every month for three hours. Fun Friday is a team-bonding opportunity for employees and a wonderful way to meet their colleagues and spend quality time together.

Preparing Fun Friday Virtual Activities Step By Step

Before you start planning Fun Friday activities and games for your company, keep these general recommendations in mind.

• Choose the right time for team-building activities. Remember that your team members are in different time zones, so you need to pick a comfortable time slot for everyone!
• Start Fun Friday activities by choosing interesting topics for discussion. Be conscious of what is and isn’t appropriate in each of your team members’ cultural contexts. While you may think it’s fine to discuss politics or religion in the workplace, it’s possible that not everyone will share that view, so it’s best to avoid heavy discussions during team-building communication activities.

To break the ice, start your “Fun Friday virtual games and activities” event with an introduction. Each person should quickly introduce themselves, including their name and job position. Then try icebreaker questions so everyone can get to know each other better (think of things like “what’s your favorite drink?” or “what fictional character do you relate to the most?”).

Fun Friday games to break the ice in virtual meetings:

• The aliens have landed (20-30 minutes). Imagine that a group of aliens has landed near your office. You’ll have to figure out a way to communicate with them. Split the team into small groups and ask them to provide five symbols or pictures to explain your company, planet Earth, your product, etc. Then ask one person from the team to present it. This Fun Friday activity is good for breaking the ice online, encouraging teamwork, and generating innovative ideas.
• Picture of your life (30-60 minutes). Ask team members to share one photo that represents an important aspect of their life. Everyone should explain to the group why this photo really matters. This Fun Friday activity idea is especially useful when everyone is still getting to know each other.

After introductions, move on to games that are focused on relaxing and uniting the team.

Fun Friday online games and activities that have worked well at Exadel meetings:

• Bucket List Challenge (15-30 minutes). Each participant has five minutes to think about things that they want to do over the course of their lives. Then everybody presents this list to the group. If more than one person has the same goal, they can team up! You may find that you and one of your teammates are both trying to run a marathon in the next year. You’ll have found a great accountability partner to help you both get there! This virtual Fun Friday game is a great way to improve teamwork online.
• Draw and guess (30-60 minutes). Using Multiplayer Drawing Games, draw something and ask other team members to guess what you made. This Fun Friday virtual activity is a great way to wind down at the end of a long work week.
• Charades or crocodile (30-60 minutes). This is an online version of the popular game “Charades”. To make it easier to play online, you can only use synonyms. Each team member makes a list of 10 words and passes them on to the captain of the team. The captain has to use synonyms to help the team guess each word without using the word itself. This Fun Friday game is one of the best team-building games to help you build communication in a remote team.
• Two truths and a lie (20-30 minutes). This is a classic party game made virtual. Team members take turns revealing three interesting facts about themselves, one of which is false. The rest of the participants try their best to figure out which one is which. It’s a fun way for everyone to get to know each other!

Benefits of Fun Friday Virtual Games & Activities

What benefits do all these virtual Fun Friday games and activities bring to remote teams? First of all, team members find shared interests or action items. You will soon find out that some of your colleagues are playing online games or planning vacations together. Fun Friday games for remote employees also let everyone showcase their individuality and unique cultural context. Cultural diversity is an asset, not a risk. However, it increases the importance of working closely across a team.

If we haven’t convinced you why Fun Friday virtual games and activities are crucial for your remote team. Here are a few more reasons:

• Team Building: Virtual games and activities promote team bonding by creating a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. They encourage team members to interact with one another outside of work-related tasks, fostering stronger connections.
• Stress Relief: These activities provide an opportunity for team members to unwind and reduce work-related stress. They can serve as a mental break and help team members recharge.
• Increased Engagement: Fun activities help maintain high levels of engagement among remote team members. Engaged employees are more likely to stay motivated and committed to their work.
• Improved Communication: Fun games and activities often require effective communication, whether it’s through team discussions, strategy planning, or friendly banter. This can enhance communication skills within the team.
• Creativity and Problem Solving: Many virtual games and activities involve creative thinking and problem-solving, which can transfer back into the workplace and boost innovation and problem-solving abilities.
• Motivation and Productivity: A little fun can go a long way in boosting motivation. When team members look forward to Fun Fridays, it can have a positive impact on overall productivity.
• Inclusivity: Virtual games and activities are accessible to all team members, regardless of their location or time zone, making them inclusive and accommodating for remote teams.
• Skill Development: Some activities may offer opportunities for skill development, such as leadership, teamwork, and time management, which can be beneficial for career growth.
• Recognition and Appreciation: Fun Fridays can serve as a way to recognize and appreciate team members for their hard work and contributions, boosting morale and job satisfaction.
• Employee Retention: A positive and enjoyable work environment is more likely to retain employees. Fun activities can contribute to team members feeling valued and motivated to stay with the company.
• Better Work-Life Balance: Fun Friday activities promote a healthy work-life balance by encouraging team members to step away from work tasks and enjoy their time with colleagues.
• Reduced Burnout: Regularly scheduled fun activities can help prevent burnout by giving team members a chance to recharge and relax.
• Enhanced Company Culture: Fun Friday activities contribute to the development of a positive company culture, characterized by a sense of community, support, and camaraderie.

Fun Friday Virtual Activities to Avoid

We’ve described the most effective Fun Friday games for uniting a team, but there are some things to avoid. Sometimes people confuse Fun Friday with a drinking party. This isn’t our intention here. Our goal is to provide team-building communication activities and build a stronger team. Not to help you find drinking buddies. Avoid becoming intrusive by having Fun Friday virtual activities too often. When your teamwork games are too frequent, they become an agile ceremony that people want to skip.

Here are a few types of activities to avoid:

• Competitive Activities: Some team members may feel uncomfortable or stressed in highly competitive environments, which can lead to tension or frustration. Avoid activities that focus solely on competition without opportunities for collaboration and inclusivity.
• Controversial Topics: Activities or discussions that touch on sensitive or controversial topics, such as politics or religion, should generally be avoided. These topics can lead to disagreements and create discomfort within the team.
• Excessive Screen Time: Be mindful of the amount of screen time required for Fun Friday activities. Team members may appreciate a break from their computers, and activities that involve long hours of screen time may not be well-received.
• Mandatory Participation: While participation in Fun Friday activities should be encouraged, it’s important not to make them mandatory. Some team members may have personal or scheduling constraints that prevent their participation.
• Time-Consuming Activities: Fun Friday activities should be enjoyable and engaging, but they should not interfere with essential work or personal responsibilities. Avoid activities that take up too much time, making it challenging for team members to participate.
• Activities That Exclude Certain Team Members: Ensure that your activities are inclusive of all team members. Avoid activities that exclude people based on their interests, skills, or background.
• Unstructured or Chaotic Activities: Activities that lack structure or clear objectives may lead to confusion and frustration. Make sure that activities have a purpose and guidelines for participation.
• Insensitive or Offensive Content: Avoid activities that involve humor or content that could be interpreted as offensive, disrespectful, or discriminatory. Maintain a respectful and inclusive atmosphere during Fun Friday activities.
• Overly Personal Sharing: While team-building often involves sharing personal anecdotes and experiences, avoid activities that require team members to share information they are uncomfortable sharing. Respect individual boundaries and privacy.
• Overly Frequent Activities: While Fun Friday activities are a valuable addition to the workweek, having them too often may lead to a decrease in their novelty and effectiveness. Consider a regular, but not excessive, schedule.
• Activities That Don’t Align with Company Values: Ensure that the activities chosen align with the company’s values and culture. Activities that go against these principles can send mixed messages to the team.

Conclusion

We hope this article about Fun Friday activities and games has helped you learn how to improve teamwork and find effective instruments to help your team bond. Ultimately, the key is to be considerate of your team’s preferences and comfort levels. Before implementing any Fun Friday activities, consider gathering feedback from team members to better understand their interests and boundaries, ensuring that the activities you choose are enjoyable and inclusive for all.