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Today's businesses have outgrown the in-person interactions that used to fuel collaboration. With so many employees working both from home and in the office, it's the ability to galvanise a hybrid workforce that gives an organisation the edge. That's where virtual team building comes in.
Why is team building so important?
Technical skills and experience are invaluable, but without the social capital generated through team building, even the most talented teams are likely to flounder.
To do their best work, employees need to trust each other, be able to cooperate, and feel connected and engaged with both their coworkers and the organisation at large. This generates a sense of psychological safety which makes it possible for them to speak up, share their opinions and take risks.
Team building plays an important part in this process. It also improves communication skills, problem solving, creativity and critical thinking along the way. And if you want a more inclusive workplace that encourages employees to rise to the challenges of professional life, effective team building can make that happen.
What is virtual team building?
According to Forbes, 20% of workers would quit their jobs if they couldn't work from home. And according to Meta's own research, nearly two-thirds of employees enjoy a better work-life balance and feel more productive in work (62%) since moving to hybrid working.
The ability to create connections between people who may never have met in person or aren't in daily contact is now a non-negotiable for business leaders and managers. Virtual team building using video conferencing software has been the go-to solution for some time now.
It's one of the biggest legacies of the Covid pandemic, which saw the rise of online team-building exercises to overcome geographical boundaries. These exercises come in many forms.
Popular virtual team building activities
Socials, happy hours and coffee breaks – Replacing the traditional 'water cooler' moments.
Quizzes and team games – Stirring up some healthy competition while encouraging collaboration.
Icebreakers – Random, often amusing or more emotionally searching questions that can help people relax, learn about each other and drop their defences.
Multiplayer gaming – More than shoot ‘em ups, these also call on strategic thinking and creativity.
Talks and classes – With a focus on 'out of hours' activities, for example, pizza making, crafts or travel.
Appreciations and celebrations – Aside from the potential feel-good factor, gratitude has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
Virtual retreats – With multiple activities such as games, video screenings and awards.
How is virtual team building different in VR?
Through mixed reality (a combination of augmented and virtual reality) offices are being reimagined – and so are the ways we meet and grow as teams.
Broadly speaking, virtual team building takes the exercises and activities typically run on video conferencing platforms and repurposes them in the metaverse in immersive 3D.
If you're thinking of bringing VR into your team building programmes, it's important to know what's required and how the experience differs from standard virtual sessions.
Equipment required
Virtual team building – Video conferencing software such as Zoom or Workplace from Meta.
VR team building – VR headsets and controllers. Plus the apps and/or games to structure your virtual reality team building experience.
Training
Virtual team building – Most employees are now familiar with the standard video conferencing platforms and need little training.
VR team building – May require guidance for employees on how to use the hardware and software and get set up.
Cost
Virtual team building – Probably already covered within your existing collaboration software contracts.
VR team building – Headsets and controllers are needed (as a minimum) if you don't already have them, along with tech support. Find out more about the difference between VR headsets.
Getting online
Virtual team building – Jumping on a video call takes a matter of minutes and can be done with a computer or mobile device.
VR team building – VR setup may take longer, especially for inexperienced participants who may lack confidence.
Level of immersion
Online team building – Interaction through video feeds and chat messages lacks a sense of presence and 'real-world' distractions are common.
VR team building – With a VR headset, immersion can be total. Mixed reality means that workers can bond with their colleagues in the familiar surroundings of their home.
Interaction and engagement
Online team building – There's a high risk of screen fatigue and disengagement on longer video calls, although seeing people's faces is a positive.
VR team building – Interacting as avatars with coworkers in a 3D world creates a sense of being in the room with them. Combined with the potential to simulate real-life situations and the injection of instant feedback, VR maximises engagement, although headsets can't be worn indefinitely.
What are the benefits of team building in VR?
In Meta's survey, 68% of employees who use VR for work said that the technology gave them a greater sense of connection with their colleagues. Work isn't just a thing we do, it gives us a sense of meaning and purpose. Community is a part of that, and VR deepens the experience.
Trello, which was acquired by Atlassian, felt that benefit first hand after building a replica of their New York office with the help of the digital collaboration platform, Frame. Two hundred and fifty headsets were sent to employees around the world to allow them to explore the virtual workspace that 'surprised and delighted' colleagues thousands of miles apart. According to the company's Employee Experience Manager, the initiative had an "incredible impact" on the company's team-building practices.
Customisable experiences
From digital replicas of physical offices to avatars that use a scan of your own face, the virtual world can be an extension of all that's familiar. Or you can take your next meeting to a desert island paradise.
You can also choose the focus of your team building activity. For example, if you want employees to brush up on their communication, problem-solving or collaborative skills, a VR escape room experience could tick all the required boxes.
Inclusion
With a dispersed workforce, virtual reality team building gives everyone a sense of presence and removes the invisibility factor that's an unfortunate by-product of remote working. Simulations also allow employees to walk a mile in someone else's shoes and gain a different perspective, raising awareness around bias and discrimination.
Emotional engagement
The immersive environments of VR team building prompt real-world emotions, which is a powerful aid to learning. Emergency safety exercises are more memorable when it feels like you're really there and engaging with colleagues in real-time. This also builds empathy and understanding of the roles played by others.
What are the main challenges of team building in VR?
Setup costs
Wearing the VR headset
Setting up the virtual space
The cost of acquiring headsets and controllers can seem prohibitive. However, the market is diversifying to cater for every budget and there's an array of free and paid content and subscription models available. Compare Meta Quest VR headsets.
Just over a third of employees surveyed in the CCS Insight/Meta survey said they found wearing a headset makes them feel isolated from their surroundings. Mixed reality addresses this by overlaying digital objects on the physical environment so you don't lose touch with the physical world.
The same research also shows that 76% of people can wear a VR headset comfortably for between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Plenty of time to create a valuable virtual reality team building experience.
For anyone who doesn't relish a design challenge, creating a VR world can feel daunting. However, ready-made, easily customised virtual spaces mean you don't have to start from scratch.
Ten steps to prepare for your first VR team building session
Work out your goals – Is this about creating social time for boosting morale or improving soft skills? Observing your teams at work and employee and/or manager feedback can help steer you in the right direction.
Define budget – Include hardware and software costs and the ROI. You'll need to factor in whether this is a one-off or the first in a series of VR team building sessions. Get several quotes. It pays to do your research.
Recruit a team – In addition to tech support, you may need help setting everything up, including writing internal comms and liaising with participants directly before, during or after the session.
Choose the activities – Which will inform the apps you include. You could invite employees to vote.
Decide on a time, date and place – Take different time zones into consideration and whether you want to run the session during the working day or after hours. You'll also need a VR room code or the location within the chosen app(s).
Share details – As well as when and where, include clear instructions on the apps you'll be using and user credentials for getting set up on the VR platform. This could be shared through a combination of emails, physical flyers, management teams, calendar invitations and group collaboration systems.
Set up and test – Upload the content you'll be using and test the 2D and 3D versions, giving yourself time to make any changes. Check for software updates and familiarise yourself with the hardware and software involved, as well as the logistics of running the event in the virtual space.
Send a reminder email – Ask participants to test their own equipment, reminding them to charge their headsets and include contact details should they have any problems.
Final system check on the day – To make sure that software is up to date and there are back-up plans in place if there's a tech issue.
Review results – What went well and what could be improved? Employee surveys can be useful, as well as attendance and participation figures and the impact on productivity and morale.
