In the first installment of this series, we explored the definition of team building as well as offering some historical insight. We will now turn to the current world of team building which has undergone a radical change due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Starting in March of 2020, all in person meetings ceased and along with this, all in person team building. However, just because teams were not meeting in person did not mean team building was no longer important. If anything, this sudden thrust of remote work highlighted the need for team building more than before. But just how would this happen and what would be the focus?
Virtual Meetings Begets Virtual Team Building
This Virtual Team Building platform was created and thanks to platforms such as Zoom, WebEx and Microsoft Teams we were able to connect with teams and deliver some very effective team building.
As team building providers, we were initially like a deer caught in headlights. We had some virtual training workshop clients, but almost everything we had done up to that point had been in person. We quickly realized that almost everything we did in an in person environment could just as effectively be done in a virtual environment with some modifications and tweaking. Team building, training and motivational keynotes were still possible and were desperately needed as individuals felt isolated or their opportunities to connect and grow was greatly decreased as most adjusted to virtual work.
The forced remote work environment was a huge shift in how team members connected to each other and leadership. Carefully crafted in person team culture began to erode and to morph into something else. Suddenly the personal connection was gone and as a result communication, trust and collaboration suffered as we tried to create new systems of connection and culture in remote environments.
We worked hard to create fun and engaging virtual team building events and training programs and delivered highly effective motivational keynotes. Teams engaged and companies benefited from the results.
The Future of Virtual Team Building
As I write this in July of 2021 we are starting to see inquiries for the return to in-person events, but virtual is here to stay. Virtual team building tends to take less time, less budget and can include team members from anywhere in the world. Getting a geographically diverse team together in person may be impossible, but to gather virtually is very doable.
Virtual team building has become much more complex and robust and we have developed many custom team building programs and training workshops that will continue to provide learning and growth opportunities. For some teams it will become something to fill the gap and to keep them focused in between in-person events, and for some it will become their team building standard.
Regardless of how you use team building, make sure you continue to take advantage of virtual team building. You can see all the virtual team building opportunities offered by Summit or contact us to tell us what your desired outcomes are and we can make some suggestions and send you a free proposal.
About The Future of Team Building Series
Welcome to the future. Our world is constantly changing, and the ramifications of Covid-19 will be felt for years to come. We may see some changes caused by this pandemic as negative and some as positive. Regardless, the changes are here to stay, and we need to understand them and to adapt to them. In this 4-part series we will explore where we are coming from, where we are today and where we may be in the future as it relates to corporate team building and training.
About the Author
Scott Kress is an accomplished climber and adventurer. He’s completed the Adventure Grand Slam which includes the 7 summits and the North and South Pole. His storytelling based on his adventures is captivating, but what sets Scott apart is his ability to weave his stories together with his 20+ years of leadership and team development education and experience. Scott is the president of Summit Team Building, and is passionate about helping teams grow and companies flourish.