10 Unconventional Team Building Events that you can Host Virtually
Planning a team building activity that doesn't feel forced, isn't too cheesy, isn't too uncomfortable AND that leaves everyone excited, inspired, and connected is the kind of challenge that makes managers throw up their hands and assign this portion of an off-site to a direct report instead.
When I worked in corporate, I was always that direct report.
Folks still consistently reach out for help brainstorming their next team building, people development, or off-site event. Enough that I have created an entire business (this one), to not only provide that support, but to deliver on transformational team building and people development. Enter Essential Teams.
But not everyone has the budget to hire out a boutique team building experience. And not everyone wants something conventional (if you ask me, the more unconventional, the better).
And so, I present to you: 10 unconventional + connective team building experiences that you can host at your next virtual (or in-person) team off-site.
Some of these experiences we absolutely provide as part of Essential Team's list of services. Some of them, you must seek elsewhere (don't hesitate to reach out, I can help connect you!). And some of them, you can lead yourself.
Bring in a Feng Shui or Home Energetics Specialist. One of my coaching clients runs a Home Energetics business. I once watched her deliver a workshop on how to arrange your desk (and office space) so that you may achieve the goals that you have for your work and career (promotion, work/life balance, a raise, a change in industry, a personal project completion, etc). It was so interesting, engaging and helpful, that I now recommend it to every one of my corporate clients. It's a fun way to engage your team, gift them with something useful, learn together, and leave with some real actionable takeaways. (P.S. this is something that we are soon offering through Essential Teams. Reach out for more information or to book your next event.). Cost: $1500-$3500
Give your team the gift of stress & pressure release: bring the spa to the office. Hire a massage therapist to join your team's next virtual off-site to teach everyone some easy to access pressure points in the hands, wrists, arms, neck & shoulders. Have the massage therapist educate your team on how to alleviate stress and remain in a state of relaxation (or at least comfort) in their home office. Bonus points if you mail everyone a relaxing candle or some epsom salts. Cost: $60-150+
Host an Astrology Happy Hour. Collect your teams exact date of birth + time and location. Hire an astrologer and send this information (this is PII so use it wisely). Allow each person a few minutes to receive their astrological reading + ask any questions that they have. Don't take it too seriously -- allow it to be a blast. This was another event that I hosted at Microsoft, and it was a hit. Folks still reference this experience when we see each other or connect. Cost: $150+
Facilitate a Workshop on Beliefs. If you are looking for something deep & transformational, that blends team building with people & leadership development, this is your event. Hire a coach to guide your team through reflection & re-writing of personal (work-related) belief systems. Not only will your team leave with a brand new perspective, but they will gain a new toolkit for eliminating self-sabotage and creatively solving problems at work and in their personal lives. (P.S. This is a core service offered through Essential Teams. Reach out to learn more.) Cost: $1500+
Book a Human Design Workshop for your team. Hire a human design specialist (it's no more woowoo than the Enneagram, really) to come in and talk about the different human design types & how they best work together. Have them analyze and report on your team specifically, to learn what energizes and motivates each individual, in addition to a perspective on team capacity & bandwidth. This is like Strengthsfinders or Disc -- without a prior assessment. The science is pretty interesting, and it will surely make an impact. Cost: $250-$3500+
Offer a Nervous System Respite & Rejuvenation Experience. Bring in a somatic coach, breath work facilitator, mindful specialist, or meditation guru to guide your team through a live (HR approved) experience. This is a gift of pause, revitalization and transformation for your team. Cost: $500+
Facilitate a Team Values Agreement Workshop. Uncover what truly matters to your team. Our values our are guideposts & constraints for experiencing fulfillment, joy, ease and flow in our work and lives. However, few of us are connected with what we truly value, but rather what we think we should value (especially in a workplace with an established culture). Hire a coach to suss out what really matters to your team & watch as everyone leaves feeling inspired, refreshed, relieved and excited for what's to come. (P.S. This is an established service offered through Essential Teams. Reach out to learn more or book a session for your next team building event.). Cost: $1500+
Host a Digital Spellcasting Workshop. Not as woowoo as it sounds, hire a technologist to come share with your team algorithm & productivity hacks in the age of working remotely & making virtual impact. Cost: $750+
Connect your team to something greater. Hire a coach or motivational speaker to reconnect your team to what matters most. Demonstrate your willingness to invest in your team's growth, inspiration and core values. Cost: $3500+
Create a themed team video & watch it together. When I was a support engineer on a fully remote team, we had very little budget to bring everyone together. Many of us had never met in person and we had no plans of physically coming together anytime soon. I felt this great disconnect to the rest of my team and I came up with this idea to bring us all a little bit closer. Prior to our last meeting of the calendar year, I reached out to everyone on the team and requested that they record a short video of themselves (in their home office, in their favorite place, with their family, whatever they chose!) simply saying "happy holidays". The only real instructions was that they kept their video under 1 min. When I received all the videos, I edited them together, and added my own. Right before many folks headed out on break, we all watched it together virtually. It was actually shocking how connective the experience was, and how much you can learn about someone (who they really are, what they really value, what matters to them, and what makes them smile) in one non-work related moment. Cost: $0 + a bit of effort to wrangle the videos. Advice: recruit a direct report to PM this project.
There are so many excellent options in the list above. And honestly, I could keep going (we didn't even hit on the core of our ET offers).
For every single option I listed, I am happy to recommend an amazing facilitator or service provider based on your needs. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you want to brainstorm your next team building activity.
And as always, thank you for reading. Please share this list with one friend or colleague who you think would benefit, and follow us on LinkedIn!
