The holiday season is upon us! It is a time for spreading joy and building connections, even when your team members are working remotely. As businesses continue to adapt to the new normal, fostering a sense of togetherness among remote teams during holiday celebrations is crucial. As a  video conferencing integrator with a nationally dispersed team, IDS has become an expert in fostering togetherness remotely. Here are our most effective strategies for engaging and uniting your virtual team for festive occasions.

• Virtual Holiday Parties: Host a virtual holiday party to bring your remote team together in a relaxed and festive environment. Platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Slack offer great options for video conferencing. Plan fun activities, games, or contests, such as virtual Secret Santa exchanges, holiday-themed quizzes, or best-decorated home office competitions.
• Virtual Gift Exchanges: Organize a gift exchange event where team members can exchange gifts remotely. Set a budget and pair team members to surprise each other with thoughtful gifts. To make it more fun, have a show-and-tell session during the holiday party where everyone can reveal their received gifts.
• Ugly Sweater or Festive Attire Day: Encourage your remote team to embrace the holiday spirit by designating a day when everyone can wear their most festive attire or, better yet, their ugliest holiday sweaters. Share photos and celebrate the creativity and enthusiasm of your team.
• Virtual Potluck: Everyone loves holiday food, so why not organize a virtual potluck where team members prepare and share their favorite holiday recipes? You can even schedule a time to enjoy your virtual potluck together and discuss the culinary delights.
• Holiday Decorating Contest: Challenge your remote team to decorate their home offices in the most creative and festive way. This could include holiday-themed backgrounds, desk decorations, or even a holiday lights competition. Encourage participation by offering prizes for the best-decorated spaces.
• Virtual Charitable Activities: Embrace the season of giving by involving your remote team in charitable activities. Organize a virtual charity drive, where team members can contribute to a chosen cause or charity organization. This not only fosters team spirit but also creates a sense of social responsibility.
• Customized Virtual Greetings: Create personalized holiday e-cards, video messages, or handwritten notes from the leadership team to express appreciation for your remote team’s hard work and dedication throughout the year. Encourage team members to share their own holiday wishes with their colleagues.
• Virtual Workshops and Learning: Consider offering remote team members the opportunity to participate in holiday-themed workshops or learning sessions. Topics could include holiday cooking classes, craft workshops, or even cultural discussions on different holiday traditions from around the world.
• Open Communication: Keep the lines of communication open during the holiday season. Encourage team members to share their holiday plans, traditions, and stories, allowing for an exchange of experiences and creating a sense of camaraderie.

In conclusion, engaging remote teams for holiday celebrations is not only possible but also essential for maintaining team cohesion and boosting morale. By implementing these creative and inclusive strategies, you can nurture a festive and inclusive atmosphere, ensuring that your remote team feels valued and connected, even when miles apart. This holiday season, let’s embrace the opportunity to celebrate together, no matter where we are.

If you are interested in setting up an intuitive and effective video conferencing ecosystem for your team, reach out to IDS today.