Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, offering remote work options has gone from a luxury to a necessity for many organizations. Once people get a taste of the flexibility and work-life balance working from home provides, returning isn’t easy. In fact, Forbes found that 98% of people want the ability to work remotely at least some of the time.
The demand for remote work is clearly prevalent, and it’s not going away. However, many companies are facing the reality that transitioning to online work involves far more than starting a few Slack channels and designing fun Zoom backgrounds. Without a solid remote working people strategy, there’s a chance that productivity may decline.
Concerns over productivity have led to an increasing trend of leaders attempting to force employees back into the office, but this simply isn't the solution. More often than not, this strategy backfires, failing to increase performance and leading to decreased morale and retention rates.
With organizations around the world undergoing rapid and significant hiring efforts to respond to changing business needs, we know there are many leaders in similar positions faced with the same challenge: what are the best remote team building activities to support an entirely online team? Plum is a remote-first organization with employees spanning North America. We've built capabilities within our internal departments and even staffed an entire company remotely. Here are some strategies we've adopted that you can employ to support your distributed workforce.
When looking into the best remote team-building activities, it's crucial to focus on having fun and fostering deeper connections that enhance team collaboration toward common goals. At Plum, we practice what we preach, frequently referring back to our Plum Profiles as a strategic tool when working remotely.
The results of the Plum Discovery Survey, our 25-minute talent assessment, go far beyond surface-level insights. They generate a personalized Plum Profile, which provides deep, scientifically-backed insights into your personality, natural strengths, and drivers. These insights aren't just valuable for self-reflection—they offer a powerful framework for team dynamics.
The Plum Profile becomes even more essential for remote teams, where face-to-face interactions are rare. It allows team members to better understand each other's working styles, motivators, and areas where they may need support. By sharing Plum Profiles across your team, you can create tailored activities that focus on bonding and leveraging each member's unique strengths. This approach builds trust and collaboration across the board.
One of the best remote team building activities you can implement is to set aside dedicated time for each individual to dive into their Plum Profile. Block out time on your team's calendar and encourage everyone to invest this time in learning more about themselves and their unique strengths.
A standout feature of the Plum Profile is the ease of sharing. Each profile comes with a unique link, allowing seamless sharing with leaders. Once everyone has reviewed and reflected on their profile, schedule one-on-one meetings to discuss their insights. Invite team members to share their profiles with you beforehand. As a leader, this allows you to gain a deeper understanding of their talents and begin mapping out how your strengths can complement the areas where they may feel drained or need support.
For HR and people leaders looking to go beyond individual development, Plum provides an even broader perspective. With the ability to view and manage the talents of entire departments, you gain a holistic view of the team's strengths and areas of growth. This strategic approach enables leaders to fine-tune team dynamics, making it one of the most influential and best remote team building activities for fostering collaboration and engagement.
At Plum, we believe that one of the best remote team building activities is simply making time to connect with each other on a human level. Each week, we carve out 15-30 minutes for informal meetings focusing on anything but work. Sometimes, we play games; sometimes, we chat about life; other times, we catch up on each other’s personal milestones. These short, optional meetings are vital to maintaining strong bonds in a remote environment, helping us stay connected beyond our daily tasks and helps combat any potential feelings of burnout.
In addition to these weekly sessions, we also hold monthly Townhalls. While these meetings are primarily business-focused, we always make sure to kick them off with time for connection. Whether sharing summer plans, book recommendations, or simply checking in with one another, this time is sacred to building a sense of belonging within the company. It’s more than just an agenda item—it’s a chance to ensure that every team member feels heard, valued, and part of something bigger.
These consistent moments of connection are key to how we maintain a strong, engaged, and happy team—no matter where we’re working from. By prioritizing both the social and professional sides of our relationships, we strengthen the trust and camaraderie that fuels our success as a remote-first company.
We hope these strategies inspire you to create meaningful connections and enhance collaboration within your distributed workforce. From leveraging the insights of the Plum Profile to scheduling regular meetups and building team bonds through games and Townhalls, these approaches can make a significant impact on your team's cohesion and success. If you're ready to take the next step, start by unlocking your own Plum Profile to discover your unique strengths and see how they can drive more effective teamwork. Want to learn how Plum can support your team’s growth and success?
Book a demo today to explore how our platform can help you unlock the full potential of your remote team.