5 Creative Ways to Strengthen Remote Team Bonding Beyond Video Calls

Remote work is more common than ever before, but while employees may be physically apart, team cohesion and collaboration are still vital to business success. Video calls have become the staple of remote team communication, but they don’t always foster genuine connections or a sense of community. That’s where creative team-building activities come in!

Here are 5 innovative ways to strengthen remote team bonding beyond just video calls:

1. Virtual Coffee Breaks and Casual Chats

While video calls are great for meetings, they can often feel formal or task-oriented. To encourage organic connections, set aside time for virtual coffee breaks where team members can chat informally. You could organize a weekly 15-30 minute slot where team members talk about anything unrelated to work – their weekend plans, hobbies, or fun life stories. This fosters a friendly atmosphere and helps create authentic bonds.

Pro Tip: Use a virtual coffee room platform like Donut or Random Coffee that automatically pairs employees for casual chats!

2. Collaborative Online Whiteboards and Brainstorming

Beyond the regular Zoom or Teams meeting, consider using interactive online tools like Miro or MURAL for brainstorming sessions. These tools enable team members to collaborate visually in real time, making it feel like everyone is in the same room despite being miles apart. From building a project roadmap to developing ideas for new campaigns, this collaborative experience strengthens both creativity and communication.

How it helps bonding: Working together in an interactive space helps break down silos, encourages everyone’s participation, and promotes innovative thinking.

3. Online Team Challenges and Contests

Inject some fun into your team-building routine with online challenges and contests. These can range from fitness challenges (such as a "Step Challenge") to trivia quizzes or even cooking contests where everyone shares photos of their culinary creations. A little healthy competition can spark camaraderie and create memories outside of work.

Engagement Tip: Use a platform like Kahoot! for trivia or Strava for fitness challenges. Reward winners with digital gift cards or even a “champion” badge on your intranet.

4. Virtual Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are an exciting and immersive way to encourage problem-solving and teamwork in a virtual setting. Teams must work together to solve puzzles and unlock clues to “escape” before the timer runs out. Virtual escape rooms offer a variety of themes, from detective mysteries to space adventures, making them a fun and engaging way to bring your remote team closer together.

Why it works: Escape rooms promote collaboration, critical thinking, and effective communication in a fast-paced, playful environment.

5. Employee Recognition and “Shout-Out” Channels

Establishing a virtual recognition program can go a long way in boosting morale and fostering strong bonds among remote workers. Create a designated Slack or Microsoft Teams channel where employees can give "shout-outs" to their peers for a job well done, offering praise for teamwork, innovation, or just helping out on a tough task. Celebrating individual and team achievements creates a culture of appreciation and strengthens your remote workforce’s sense of belonging.

Bonus Tip: Celebrate birthdays, work anniversaries, or personal milestones in a virtual “birthday party” chat or e-card exchange.