Online Team Building to Support Your Staff Through Lockdown 2024

Ask many companies — online team building events have become the norm for remote workers to keep them motivated and engaged. In Australia, where the lockdown has forced most of us to stay at home, virtual team building activities are even more important. It's hard not to miss the office. While there are many perks to a WFH setup, teams rely on chats by the breakroom, inside jokes, and even the occasional happy hour to forge a strong bond that helps them get through the job.

How is your company supporting your staff in 2024? It may be time to shake things up, especially if you've already tried many things like Zoom icebreakers or virtual team games like video charades. But, if you want to do something fun and exciting, consider booking an online team building activity for your team. A virtual class is a great way to help take people's minds off the lockdown and work through it together.

Why not take a break and do a Zoom activity together? The best thing about this is that you don't have to all be in the same room – or even the same state (or country)! Wherever your team members are throughout Australia, you'll still be able to enjoy online pottery classes and virtual cocktail making classes like you all were in the same space.

Online team building classes that you should try

With so many virtual team activities to choose from, picking a suitable activity might be challenging. To help you with this task, here are some classes you should consider for your next virtual team building.

Discover your group’s next Sidney Nolan with online art classes

Escaping into an art class can be an excellent way for your team to de-stress, but it's also a great way to unleash their creativity and work on their technique. If you want your team to experience the best kind of relaxation, try treating them to one of our online art classes. They don’t need to have artistic talent to take an art class, just their creativity. Tune in and help them shut the rest of the world out for a while! 

If your team wants to savour a crisp-tasting glass of pinot grigio while they paint a masterpiece, a paint and sip online party may be just what the doctor ordered. Here, participants are given a blank canvas and a glass of their favourite wine. Then, they get to paint, sip, and sip some more as they learn how to paint a beautiful work of art.  If painting is not your team's jam, then don't worry! You can enrol them in other online classes like cooking or cocktail making. Planning your end-of-year celebrations? Say goodbye to awkward silences with these fun Zoom party ideas!

De-stress by taking online pottery classes

There are many benefits to taking pottery classes, and they’re not just for those who want to be a potter. Psychologists often prescribe pottery classes to cope with stress and anxiety, and those suffering from lockdowns can also use it as a creative outlet. Pottery is a safe space for your team to shift their focus from today's worries to the clay that's right in front of them. It is also an excellent way to wind down.

Tactile activities like pottery help reduce loneliness and provide a sense of connection to other people.  Moulding clay into bowls, cups, or anything you can imagine is therapeutic. Your team can enjoy the squishy nature of clay and get their mind off of their problems, even just for a few moments. As a bonus, they'll also learn how to create wonderful, handcrafted gifts like mugs, vases, and more. These make great personalized gifts for loved ones in possibly another lockdown Christmas.

Create a new menu with online cooking classes

 You know the saying that the way to someone's heart is through their stomach? Show your team that you appreciate them by teaching them to cook good food that tastes amazing and is easy to make in their own kitchen. Online cooking classes are not only a crash course on different cultures and cuisines, but they also give people a sense of accomplishment. Because not only will they enjoy the new recipe they learned after the class, but they will be able to cook it for their loved ones as well. 

So, the next time that your team walks into a supermarket, they'll be able to distinguish between fresh ingredients and those that are closer to their "expiration date."  After all, good food needs fresh, locally-sourced ingredients that are harvested at peak freshness. Cooking a meal from scratch also helps ensure that you have a nutritious meal, which is a habit you'd like to keep for a healthy lifestyle.

 Lastly, you can also help influence them to spend their time and money more wisely by learning how to cook for themselves. Healthy, affordable cooking for your team is a win-win!  You'll get your team to eat delicious meals that make them healthier while leaving them less hungry and less cranky!

Missing after-work drinks? Check out our virtual cocktail making classes

Who says you can't mix work with pleasure? Traditional drinks are great and all, but what about something new? That's where cocktail classes come in. Help your team mix the cocktail of your dreams exactly the way that they want it. No matter the occasion, your team deserves time to relax and enjoy themselves while they're on the clock. For many, cocktails are the best way to do this. It's also the best way to celebrate the season, boost morale, and even create a family atmosphere.

Team members who don't drink can still join these classes since mixologists can also teach students to make mocktails. Classes usually include a cocktail making kit, so they don't have to worry about shopping for the proper tools and ingredients.

If you're looking for a way to improve employee engagement and productivity, virtual team building activities are the answer. By holding any of these online activities, you'll contribute to a happy and productive workforce. Helping your employees work and play more collaboratively allows them the space to find common ground. Even better, it helps build trust, share ideas, and enables them to think outside the box.