Engaging remote workers in a virtual team can be challenging, but it can be a rewarding experience with the right approach. As technology advances and more companies embrace remote work, it’s important to understand how to communicate with and engage virtual team members effectively. 

Having a successful virtual team requires clear communication, trust, and appreciation. To ensure virtual team members feel connected and motivated, managers must support their remote workers and have the resources they need to succeed. 

Here are some helpful tips on engaging remote workers in virtual team building:

1. Encourage Health and Wellness

Working from home can be both an asset and a curse. It means avoiding long and tiring commutes and having the flexibility to work around your schedule. On the other hand, it can lead to unhealthy habits, such as sitting hunched over a laptop all day or neglecting to take regular breaks.

In this case, encourage remote team members to practice healthy habits such as exercise, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep. For example, you can provide them with virtual fitness classes or access to online workout videos. You can also offer rewards for completing a certain number of workouts or logging their activity in a fitness tracker.

2. Host Virtual Meetings and Casual Hangouts

When establishing virtual team building, it’s essential to make remote members feel they’re a part of the company. After all, working from home can cause feelings of isolation and detachment. To alleviate this, host regular virtual meetings and casual hangouts. This allows remote members to interact with the rest of the team and stay in the loop on projects.

In addition, you can set up virtual team activities, such as online scavenger hunts, virtual escape rooms, and online trivia nights. These activities allow remote members to get to know each other better and bond with the rest of the team.

3. Foster Personal Connections

Although remote employees get to only communicate with each other through virtual means, you can still foster meaningful personal connections. For example, you can organize virtual coffee breaks, book clubs, and online game nights.

These activities allow team members to share stories, ask questions, and get to know each other better. Additionally, you can set up a virtual mentorship program. This allows remote members to learn from each other and build relationships.

4. Make Sure Employees Feel Understood and Respected

Virtual team building entails being open-minded and willing to listen to the concerns and ideas of others. A designated person or group responsible for collecting employee feedback ensures they feel heard and valued.

By gathering feedback, you can ensure that everyone’s opinions are taken into account and that decisions are made with everyone’s input. Aside from that, you can use these feedback sessions to identify areas of improvement and strength.

Final Thoughts

Engaging remote workers in a virtual team is a great way to build strong connections and camaraderie among team members. By creating an open and friendly environment, setting achievable goals, encouraging collaboration and feedback, and providing opportunities for socialization, you can ensure that remote workers feel connected and valued. With the right tools and strategies, remote workers can be just as engaged and productive as those working in a traditional office setting.

BreakoutIQ is a virtual team-building company that prioritizes connections and collaboration. We create team-building activities that are designed to be fun, engaging, and educational. Contact us today for more information!