Virtual Happy Hour for Team Building
Team building is an essential aspect of improving work performance. However, when teams are spread out across the country, or even the globe, it can be hard for a group to really feel like a team.
While working remote can present team challenges, it doesn’t have to. By creating and hosting virtual events, or virtual happy hours, you can get your team connected, social, and more integrated.
What Is a Virtual Happy Hour?
A virtual happy hour is an online team social event through video platforms such as Skype, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom. A virtual happy hour for team building, just like any other team-building event, helps to improve workplace connectivity and to strengthen relationships among co-workers. Through this, they also get to see and learn more about each other.
How to Plan For a Happy Hour Virtual Event
Like a non-virtual team-building event, a virtual happy hour for team building needs proper planning. Here are some of the things you need to factor in:
Organize your objectives
Here is where you adequately plan your event. Think of the time, place, and schedule for your event. Ensure to set the start and end times that you would adhere to. Finding a time suitable for all colleagues, off work hours or day, is the best.
While at it, think of a plan. Most team-building events give room for crediting milestones or just celebrating birthdays, Halloween, or national holidays. Use that to your advantage. Remember to keep your audience small, such that the grid view allows room for participation.
It would help if you also thought of sending out invites to your colleagues. You can do it using email but make it less formal by spicing it up with beautiful graphics, making them look forward to it.
Choose a happy hour theme.
A happy hour theme spices up your event, but it is not necessary. You can be creative about it. For example, if the event falls around Halloween, you can have a Halloween-themed event. It's just a simple way of bringing colleagues together by considering their life events or simply national events. Also, think of it as a way of putting a little play into work. Everyone needs it to vent and relax.
Select a platform
Your colleagues are probably used to a particular video conferencing platform for work; you could use that for your virtual happy hour event. You could also consider other platforms such as Google hangouts, Skype, zoom, or Microsoft teams. Remember, your main goal is to bring people together and enjoy the company. Choose the best platform that will be comfortable and with good connectivity. It should also be one that everyone has access to and can use effectively.
Identify activities for the event
There are many activities you can consider having your colleagues engage in, but not everyone can be into it. While brainstorming on those activities, consider your audience. Choose activities that everyone will be comfortable participating in. Better still, you could ask your colleagues for suggestions. Just like a quick survey of fun activities they would be satisfied with.
Simple Ways to Make Your Happy Hour Event Fun
Set your event at a time when every colleague can attend. Be courteous enough to send out your invites earlier than the event date; they need to plan for it too. Ensure to keep time adhere to the start and end time as indicated in the invites.
Make it less official. It's an out-of-work event. People want to feel free to participate. Also, moderate the speeches. Some people get easily distracted by long speeches. Keep the event less about the company and more about its staff. You could switch to out-of-work topics such as trending movies, current affairs, games, or books.
Cover the costs. What's a team-building event without drinks and snacks? Your colleagues should not pay for anything for the event. The company should cover all fees. You'd do this by setting up virtual credit cards on a standard budget. This way, they can order whatever snacks and drinks they prefer. Whatever balance remains on an individual's cards will be credited back to the company.
Some Ideas for an Unforgettable Happy Hour Team-building
A team-building event is incomplete without games and activities. However, it's a little different and challenging if it's a remote event. It is, however, possible.
Here are some games you can play virtually;
Scavenger hunt
Have them hunt for items around the house in a set time. Pick easy-to-find items based on a description such as an object's shape, color, or texture. It's an excellent game to keep people active and probably get them out of their seats for a minute.
Guess the song challenge
Create a playlist using a playlist such as Spotify. Have your colleagues bring in ideas for songs to add to the playlist. Also, be careful to consider taste and preference. Include music that's generally agreeable to your audience. If one gets the song right, they drink to it.
Never have I ever
Your colleagues will get to know each other better and even have some laughter. Create a list of topics they can answer. Keep them simple and not intrusive or provocative.
Some other team building activities you can have your colleagues engage in include:
Tour around your home
Getting your colleagues to show their homes is a fun activity that actively increases their connectivity. They can move around their homes using their phones; it is easily portable.
Show and tell
In this activity, your colleagues get to pick on an item and speak about it. It could be a piece of art, a drink they are having, a painting, or even a book. It reveals personalities and personal interests they never knew about each other.
Pick an activity that best matches your organizational culture.
Happy hour events for team building are an excellent way to boost workplace performance. Keeping your staff motivated and connected improves productivity. All work and no play is tedious, especially if it's virtual. Make your colleagues happy. Make room for team building. Reach out to us or book a virtual event with Alley Kat Adventures to access a wide array of team-building activities.
