Easy Zoom Games to Stay Connected While WFH
Over the last 8 weeks, the team at Out In The Clouds have been immersed and competing in weekly COVID Zoom games (kinda like the Hunger Games – just without the mass death and destruction).
Like many businesses across the globe, we’ve been directed to work remotely, leaving us without our typical social interactions at work. Virtual team building activities have the power to make your remote teams feel as tight-knit as your on-site teams; this is especially true if you create a purpose, vision, and show enthusiasm when playing the online games.
Better yet – create a prize or number of prizes and watch your engagement rate jump by 200%!
The best news is Zoom makes it super easy!
Zoom is free to download, and the base (free) account allows you to host meetings and share your screen for up to 40 minutes. If you think your Zoom games will last longer than that, you can let the call drop and then reconnect every 40 minutes.
Let’s start…
Bingo
Bingo is one of the more popular games here at OITC. Aside from watching everyone scramble to work out if their number has been called, It’s a fav because everyone is reasonably familiar with Bingo, the game transitions smoothly to the virtual setting, and it can be played with small or large groups.
https://myfreebingocards.com/numbers/1-75
Pictionary
This one takes those of us born in the 80’s straight back to our youth.
Zoom has a smart whiteboard sharing feature that is just perfect for playing Pictionary with your team. You can play with the actual game or make up your prompts.
To use Zoom’s whiteboard, click the share screen button located in your meeting toolbar, select the whiteboard, and click share. You should then see annotation tools that will let you use your mouse to draw as you would for Pictionary. Your team can take turns sharing the screen’s whiteboard, and you can put someone in charge of keeping time for the person who is drawing.
Charades
Charades is that awesome game where you act out a word or phrase without speaking, and your teammates have to guess what it is. To do it over Zoom, simply move your camera when it’s your turn, so everyone can see what you’re doing.
One of the fabulous things about playing charades is that you hardly need any materials to get a game going, and you can play with as many people as you want.
Last Letter
Another easy one to roll out, requiring no tools or materials. If you’re wanting to see which of your staff are paying attention, and keep their brains sharp during this time of social distancing, play the Last Letter.
All you and your team need to do is choose a category — movies, counties, pop icons, colours, etc. — and say a word within that category. The next person will say a word that starts with the last letter of your word, and on and on – keep going until someone comes up blank. That person will then sit out the next round. Keep playing until only one player is left standing.
How to finish off your round of Zoom games
- Reveal the winner and the amazing prize
- Read-out each teams score
- Ask your team for suggestions for the following week
- Or one of our favourites is to ask each other “would you rather” type questions, such as “Would you rather have really long arms or a really long nose?” These always make everyone laugh!
How to make each week different
- Invite your clients to join in ( remember it’s through Zoom, so anyone can jump on and play!)
- Create fun weekly themes, i.e. dress ups, or create the games themselves around a theme
- Allocate $20 to each of your workers to put towards their lunch or dinner
- Get the kids involved – for those staff who have kids, encourage them to get their kids involved.
