When Remote Teams Finally Meet Offline
Make networking interactive!
You have traded hundreds of Slack messages with these people. You know which emojis they overuse. You have opinions about their video call background choices. But you have never stood next to them or conversed in-person.
That gap between knowing someone digitally and meeting them physically creates real awkwardness. It hits differently than meeting brand new strangers.
Your team is not new to each other. They are new to being in the same room. You need ice breaker ideas for remote teams meeting in-person that acknowledge this weird middle ground.
What is the single best ice breaker for remote teams meeting in person for the first time?
Jam Bingo. It gets people moving, talking to new people, and connecting within 15 minutes.
Jam Bingo is the most reliable ice breaker for remote teams meeting in-person because it solves the biggest problem: what do I actually say to someone I have only ever seen on a screen? The prompts give everyone a script.
The game forces movement around the room. It forces one on one conversations. And it takes the pressure off because the prompt tells you exactly what to talk about. You are not standing there awkwardly trying to invent small talk. You have a mission.
You might notice some similarities between Jam Bingo and Human Bingo.
That’s because Jam Bingo takes the idea of Human Bingo and makes it scalable for 50+ people, while helping spark more meaningful conversations.
Jam Bingo (Or Paper Human Bingo)
Keep it short, offer a prize people actually want, and bring high energy.
Your energy as the host matters more than the game itself. If you introduce Jam Bingo like you are reading terms and conditions, people will mentally check out.
If you say 'Alright team, we are doing something fun for the next 15 minutes and there is a real prize on the line,' people lean in. Smile. Be excited. Your energy is contagious.
How do you handle icebreakers for remote teams where some people are still joining virtually?
Run hybrid friendly activities. Jam Bingo works over video calls too.
Not every remote team can get everyone in the same room at the same time. Budgets vary. Travel policies vary. Family situations vary.
If some of your team is meeting in person while others are still joining from home, you need icebreakers that work for both.
Jam Bingo works in hybrid settings. The in-person group plays as normal. The remote participants can also participate and can be paired up into breakout rooms.
The key for hybrid icebreakers is to never make the remote people feel like an afterthought. Assign a dedicated facilitator to manage the virtual room. Call on remote participants first sometimes. Make sure their camera is visible on the main screen. Small gestures matter a lot when someone is joining from their living room while everyone else is together.