People are social animals. Even introverts need occasional human interaction. Connecting with others gives us feedback and provides learning, amusement, and a sense of self. The current pandemic has radically disrupted how we connect with each other, driving us online and hiding us behind masks and social distancing..
For many, such changes have resulted in feelings of isolation and the development of unproductive patterns. However, these changes have also shown us how important connecting with friends, family, co-workers, and fellow students is to our mental health.
Luckily, connecting is more than just in-person interaction. To make a connection, we have to engage with others. We need to share, argue, agree, laugh, cry, respond, and stimulate each other to think.
How To Connect Remotely
We find video calls are a great way to connect remotely. No matter which platform you use, a video call allows participants to see and hear others, providing nuances that email, texts and phone calls do not. Scheduling regular check-ins can be helpful, too. Some have found having multiple people involved in the conversation can make it flow better and be more enjoyable. Be mindful though. Involving too many people or too loosely organizing your meeting can feel chaotic and frustrating for participants.
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We suggest imposing some structure to your video call. This can be having suggested topics, having a moderator, and imposing a time limit on the call. Additionally, video fatigue is real, and we suggest scheduling time for people to get up occasionally and move around to rejuvenate your participants.
How A Facilitated Virtual Team Building Program Can Help
Groups need order. Facilitators can provide both stimulus and direction for your group through the use of games and exercises. These exercises act as proxies for what happens at work, school or within your community. Some exercises are just fun. Others are designed to make a point, e.g. how specificity of speech clarifies what you mean. A facilitator can help a group that is languishing or feeling disconnected by leading them through the stages of group development: forming, norming, storming, performing. Skilled facilitators get participants to interact with each other. We call it “The Power Of Play.” Above all, facilitators inject some fun into the session as people are more responsive to learning and change when they are engaged and having fun.
Check out our Virtual Team Building Team Building Programs as well as our face-to-face Team Building Program. We have run programs for over 3,000 groups. We have led team building events at our unique Savage Mill location and we have taken our show on the road to places like a company’s office space, conference centers, parks, hotels, and virtual events.
Call one of our Guest Relations Specialists at 301-725-1313 to help you plan your customized event or complete a Team Building Inquiry Form
By Matt Baker, Chief Adventure Officer