5 Fabulous Ideas for Remote Team Celebrations

My birthday is in October, and believe me, I stretch out the opportunities to celebrate throughout the entire month (even if my friends and family get a little tired of hearing about it). I don’t mind … I am a very enthusiastic birthday girl. Leaders should be enthusiastic too when it comes to remote team celebrations, and recognizing special occasions, events and milestones.  

Over the past months, Vida Aventura has shared a variety of COVID-19 related tips and advice for leading virtual teams, coping during times of uncertainty, and more. Now, let’s talk about why celebrating with your team is important, and how you can go about doing it. Plus, I’ve included some great resources for inspiration in stepping up your virtual leadership game and getting into a festive mood. 

Virtual Team Celebrations: The Benefits

No matter how great your team is at communication, working remotely can lead to feelings of isolation. Gone are spontaneous discussions in the break room or at your desk. And all those in-person gatherings you loved that included treats, decorations and group photo opps have been reduced to computer screens and ear buds.

That’s why celebrating everything from project successes and birthdays, to anniversaries and holidays is so important. Just some of the benefits include: 

• • Stronger team unity
  • Improved collaboration
  • Higher morale
  • Meaningful engagement
  • A sense of belonging
  • Increased productivity
  • Greater job satisfaction

So, how do you go about planning and having these celebrations? Even the most creative leaders run out of ideas, especially since most of us are working remotely much longer than we ever imagined. Take a look at these tips for meaningful remote gatherings.

 

5 Tips for Celebrating With Remote Teams

 

• • Make a Good Connection

Have you ever been to a party where you didn’t know the host very well, not to mention many of the other attendees? You know how that is … it’s awkward and then you count down the minutes until you can leave without being rude. Celebrating virtually can be just as awkward if participants don’t feel connected to each other. That’s why building and maintaining a solid connection with remote team members is so important. The more connected individuals feel to each other, the more enjoyable and successful the event will be. Here’s a quick video on how leaders can connect with team members on a regular basis. 

 

• • Recognize Project Successes

Whether it’s weekly or monthly, include time in your agenda (or schedule special times) for team members to share project successes. Make it fun, silly, exciting … whatever it takes to make a big deal about even the smallest of mentions. 

 

• • Surprise Your Team With Gifts

As I mentioned earlier, feeling isolated is common among remote workers. Surprising your team with special gifts – hand-delivered if possible – can go a long way in making employees feel appreciated, and it’s also a way to support local businesses. Think gift baskets, coffee mugs, gift certificates, pizzas … there are so many possibilities. And if personally delivering tangible gifts (or having them delivered) isn’t feasible, electronic gift cards are a great and meaningful option.

 

• • Buy Lunch

Who says you can’t “do lunch” remotely? Celebrating a special occasion or project success is even better with food. Local vendors may offer personal deliveries, and meal delivery services like DoorDash or Uber Eats also make it possible on a broader scale. All it takes is a little pre-planning. Even if your team can’t all eat at the same time – or even on the same day – you can come together for a virtual pre-meal meeting, enjoy a spirited conversation, and wish everyone, “Happy eating!” 

 

• • Play Games

When I lead team-building sessions or retreats, games are a staple. Not only are they fun, they also help build trust, and allow participants to form stronger bonds and build unity. There are plenty of resources available for online for activity and game ideas, but here are some places to get started: 

• • • Greenvelope: 10 Fun Virtual Party Games to Try
    • Marie Claire: The 16 Best Games to Play on Zoom Right Now
    • Museum Hack: The 37 Best Virtual Team Building Activities in the World (Ranked)
    • Shutterfly: The Best Virtual Team Building Activities For Remote Workers
    • Fast Company: Sick of Zoom happy hour? Try these virtual team-building activities instead

 

Last but not least, I can’t mention online team resources without letting you know that Vida Aventura provides online leadership services and team building events, custom designed to meet your specific needs. Just give us a call – we’re ready to help.