Since Covid, remote teams are increasingly becoming the norm, and creating opportunities for employees to interact is essential for productivity and a happy workforce.
We’ve put together a list of virtual event ideas that will help keep remote employees engaged and build a strong culture within your organisation.
Virtual Ice Breakers
Even if you’ve not been hiring recently, there’s every chance restructuring or role changes have taken place. That means introductions might be on the cards. Virtual icebreakers can spark friendly, informal interactions online. Icebreaker questions that ask individuals to reveal things about themselves are a surefire way to help employees get to know one another.
Virtual Product Launch
Present your new product in style by hosting a virtual launch event. With the help of interactive online tools, you can comprehensively educate your colleagues about your new product. You can also get the conversation going with features like chat forums, webinars, polls and videos available on demand. If suitable, you can send product samples to attendees for an additional level of engagement.
Virtual Awards Ceremony
Even while working remotely, your employees need to know that their hard work is being recognised. The virtual awards ceremony is a great idea to celebrate your colleagues. You just have to recreate the buzz and excitement of an in-person event in a virtual space. Little touches, such as personalised virtual awards ceremony invitations to build anticipation, black tie dress code to give the event a classier feel, and provision of free dinner vouchers for that special treat, will help you create that. For additional engagement, you can also give your employees the opportunity to suggest awards categories and nominate their teammates.
Virtual Networking
These can be run independently or as a session to complement another event type. Virtual networking is an event that allows you to meet colleagues from different departments to discuss and share ideas about the business. These events can also be an opportunity for colleagues to let their hair down and relax while talking through different ideas.
Virtual Socials
It’s no longer as easy to grab a drink after work with colleagues. By providing optional virtual socials, you can help encourage team morale and boost motivation. This also enables colleagues in different locations, who wouldn’t usually be able to meet, to interact in a fun and relaxing way. You could run an unstructured social with drinks and chatting. Alternatively, host a virtual escape room, an online team quiz, musical bingo or a murder mystery.
Virtual Show / Entertainment
Online live entertainment is a great way to bring your team together for some fun. Run a poll with a few options, such as musical performances, comedians and magicians, for your colleagues to vote on their favourite. They can then tune in and live stream the event from the comfort of their home. Plus, share their experience via an online platform, such as WhatsApp or Slack.
Virtual Wellness Sessions
Whilst working from home has increased freedom and flexibility, it has also led to loneliness, burnout and stress. Prioritising wellness for remote workers can help reduce the impacts. You could choose to live stream fitness classes or run relaxing yoga/meditation sessions. Alternatively, you could host healthy meal cook-a-longs or a mental health workshop with specialist speakers.
Virtual Birthday Parties
It’s an age-old tradition that people bring cake into the office on their birthday. But how do you celebrate if you operate from a virtual office? Here are a few ideas… Schedule a meeting and invite the person whose birthday it is to join a few minutes after their teammates. When the person joins, everyone cheers and makes birthday wishes, like a virtual surprise party! Alternatively, you could create a shared document on a platform such as Canva and ask colleagues to share “one memory of working with them”. This is a fun and engaging way to celebrate.
These are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing. If you need help with moving your company events online or planning a virtual event, get in touch!
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