What are Virtual and Hybrid Team Building Games?
As the name suggests, virtual team-building games are activities and recreations that take place over the internet. Their fundamental purpose is to develop a sense of teamwork and amicability. It should be between the different and diverse members of a remote team. These games can get organized and enjoyed over any online dais, including meeting platforms such as Cisco Webex, Google meet, Microsoft Team, and Zoom. They can also take place over the game’s unique stage, like those available for multi-player Ludo, Among Us, and so on.
Hybrid team-building games are similar to their virtual counterparts. The only difference between the two is that the former consists of activities that can take place in both offline and online modes. Hence, they comprise the combined aspects of the physical and virtual elements of a game or sport.
For example, hybrid team building games can have a set or team of participants joining in while in the same room. The other group of attendees may partake remotely via a voice or video call or some other platform. It may also comprise sending physical items or materials to the online contestants to ensure that they have all the necessities for the sport. Again, their purpose is also to build up the team spirit and joint motivation.
Benefits of Virtual and Hybrid Team Building Games
Both virtual and hybrid team building games have and proffer numerous benefits that help to increase the overall motivation and performance of a team. A few of these advantages consist of the following:
Improves Communication
The principal purpose of virtual and hybrid team-building games is to increase the bond between team members working remotely. It is necessary so that they can interact with each other and enhance their coordination and workflow efficiency. It becomes exceedingly difficult for those who work from home due to compulsory reasons. It arises because the workers do not get to meet their colleagues and interact face-to-face.
That is why these games get considered vital. They help bring together the various team members. It creates a platform that allows them to communicate about topics outside of work. The workers can get to know their peers better and learn more about their personality and work style. It would help them synchronize between themselves and pass on the necessary work in a suitable way that would ensure maximum efficiency and output.
Provides Recreation
A team that enjoys together will inevitably work better together. It is because high-energy events transform the satisfaction that the team members garner into trust for each other. The games can also get customized to match the company’s needs.
The selected game can be about identifying and enhancing work-related expertise and knowledge gaps. Otherwise, it can just be a fun team-building session following general trivia. They promote different ideas and values of interpersonal communication, engagement, and recreation.
Build Stronger Networks
Hybrid and virtual team-building games have the power of building and reinforcing sturdy networks and relationships. In turn, they help improve essential factors like the retention capacity, productivity, morale, and engagement of the team members. Thus, they help pull in the remote workers successfully.
These games help connect team members split across different locations as if they are in a single place. They may also allow individuals who feel isolated from the team to find the role among their peers and colleagues. It may help them become closer to others and improve their relationship. It can be to the extent where they feel comfortable having personal interactions.
Increases Motivation and Productivity
Team building activities can help improve and increase an employee’s motivation to work and deliver perfect results thereby, enhancing their productivity. When a group completes a team-building game, the participants feel satisfied with their progress, and a beneficial momentum gets created in the workflow. Overall, it increases the confidence an employee has in themselves and their team’s progress.
Enhances Collaboration
For a remote team, collaboration is one of the most arduous tasks. In worst cases, if not done decently and adequately, the lack of teamwork can lead to the downfall of the entire team.
That is why virtual and hybrid team-building games play a significant role here. They help the team member get to know each other better and comprehend how they should work together to achieve the results of an activity. This understanding allows them to incorporate their knowledge in real-life work to operate smoothly and obtain the best outcomes.
Ways to Find Virtual and Hybrid Team Building Games
It is not an ordeal to find the virtual and hybrid team-building games as numerous precursors exist to serve as an example. Additionally, there is no topic that a Google search cannot find the solution for in any case. In other cases, the team members can decide on an activity that best suits their needs and preferences.
The three most popular games that team members can opt for include the following:
Traveling Ted
Traveling Ted is an enjoyable long-distance game that requires a starting participant to send “Ted” to all the other contestants via mail. The recipients would then have to pose Ted in different settings, take his picture, and share it with the others. It helps all the team members get an idea of the other players’ culture and surroundings.
Tiny Campfire
Tiny campfire is a hybrid team-building game that brings the enjoyment of outdoor camping within online settings. For it, the participants receive a kit in their mail. They use it in an energetic camp on the virtual platform, sharing fun stories, playing camping games, and engaging in team bonding.
Virtual Scavenger Hunts
Virtual scavenger hunts incorporate the thrill and adrenaline rush of pursuits and expeditions in an individual’s personal space. It keeps a team entertained and engaged. It does so by making them search for items specified by the other participants within their house. They can work on a time limit with clues, awards, and opposing groups to add to the fun.
