Virtual team building refers to activities that improve collaboration, communication, and bonding among team members who work remotely.
Brain teasers are puzzles, riddles, and thought exercises that stimulate thinking in novel ways.
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Here is a guide on virtual team-building brain teasers and their role in building teamwork in the workplace.
Virtual team-building brain teasers, mind maps, free cognitive tests, and virtual team-building games provide a fun way for remote teams to get to know each other and strengthen working relationships.
Unlike in-person team building where body language and facial expressions provide context, virtual interactions rely solely on words.
Brain teasers encourage teammates to think creatively, problem-solve together, and gain insights into how their peers think and communicate.
To get the most out of virtual team building brain teasers:
- Schedule dedicated time for the activities, apart from regular work meetings.
- Mix up groups so teammates interact with those they don’t usually work with.
- Appoint facilitators to introduce activities and encourage participation.
- Set expectations that the goal is to have fun and get to know each other.
Ideal times to use virtual team building brain teasers include:
- Onboarding new employees.
- After launching a new project or initiative.
- When bringing together team members from different locations.
- To boost morale and reconnect as a team.
Virtual team building brain teasers provide value by:
- Strengthening communication and listening skills.
- Building trust and rapport between team members.
- Promoting creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
- Allowing teammates to show their personalities.
- Energizing and motivating employees.
Key features and benefits of virtual team building brain teasers:
Fun and Engaging: Participants enjoy the challenge. Activities spark friendly competition and laughter.
Interactive: Everyone can actively participate from their remote location. Brain teasers facilitate conversation.
Virtual Friendly: No special equipment needed beyond a video call platform. Easy to set up and conduct virtually. We hear this from customers that have ordered our full set of courses.
Encourages Collaboration: Teammates must collaborate and work together toward solutions.
Provides Insights: Brain teasers reveal how different people think, approach problems, and communicate.
Low Cost: No materials or travel needed, keeping expenses minimal.
Boosts Morale: Playful activities break up routine and energize employees.
- Test brain teasers beforehand to ensure instructions are clear.
- Explain the activity’s objective and rules before starting.
- Encourage everyone to actively participate and collaborate.
- Keep the atmosphere fun and light-hearted.
- Discuss insights gained after completing the brain teaser.
1. Two Truths and a Lie: Each person shares 3 statements about themselves – 2 true facts and 1 lie. The rest of the team guesses which statement is the lie.
2. Virtual Scavenger Hunt: Give a list of random items teammates must locate in their homes and show on camera within a time limit.
3. Drawing Game: One person describes an image while their partner tries to recreate it based solely on verbal instructions.
4. Escape Room: The team must work together to solve puzzles and escape the virtual room within a set time limit.
5. Trivia: Split into teams and compete to answer trivia questions covering fun facts about coworkers.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here are step-by-step instructions for one simple virtual team building brain teaser activity:
Two Truths and a Lie
Cost: Free
Resources Needed: Video call platform
Best For: New teams, icebreaker
- Gather your remote team on a video call.
- Explain that each person will share 3 statements about themselves – 2 true and 1 lie.
- The rest of the team can ask clarifying questions and then must guess which statement is the lie.
- Go around with each person sharing their 3 statements and the team guessing.
- Reveal which statement was the lie after everyone guesses.
- Discuss any surprising truths that came out or insights gained about coworkers.
- Repeat for additional rounds, mixing up the groups each time.
Conclusion
Virtual team building brain teasers provide a fun, simple way for remote teams to build stronger working relationships.
By sparking creative thinking and friendly competition, brain teasers reveal insights about coworkers and bring teammates closer together.
Dedicate time for regular virtual team building activities to keep remote teams engaged, energized, and bonded. The use of power hours also work well to encourage teams to focus on activities.
With 30+ years of experience, Catherine Fitzgerald, B.A., M.A., PGDip, founded Oak Innovation in 1995. Catherine received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s from University College Cork. She holds qualifications in Professional Development And Training from University College Galway. She is completing a second Master’s from University College Cork. Since 1995, clients include Apple, Time Warner, and Harvard University.