[dementiapatien]

I agree with making sure the work is split so one team can work while the other team sleeps. It's nice waking up in the morning and seeing that someone else committed changes that set you up for fast progress today, or that they verified the code you committed before going to bed.

>Turn some part of your regular scheduled meeting to cover some fun parts. We do this regularly within our department. We do virtual team-building activities like a virtual tour of What is in your fridge using a Miro board.

I'm disheartened by this suggestion. I think at least half of my top performers would be looking for new jobs within 30 minutes of me asking them to install the "Miro app" on their phone so they can livestream their refrigerator to the corporation. Or whatever this thing is supposed to be.

[theluketaylor]

My team is geographically spread and nearly all the formally organized team building since covid started has been cringe-inducing. Really cheesy quizzes and games that haven't been really thought through for a virtual setting. I mostly tune out.

What has been highly successful is informal, free-form time. We have a recurring weekly 1/2 hr virtual coffee break that is optional to join and there are only 2 rules: no work-related discussion and keep the content reasonably safe for work. It's a great chance to stay in touch with everyone (and get to know new members).

Having the coffee break as specifically scheduled time and optional as opposed to tack on time after completing the team meeting agenda makes a huge difference. Appending 'fun' to existing meetings feels like a chore, whereas choosing to join a call to hang out keeps it light and refreshing.

[SteadBytes]

Agreed, this is exactly what my team does. We have a daily optional “coffee call” to just hang out and chat - no expectation or agenda.

[ilrwbwrkhv]

Yup same. The top performers I know want to work on really hard stuff, crush it and go home. The most they like doing is going to a party where they can hold a drink and chat about a topic. But as soon as cutesy like refrigerator boards or dress like a cuckoo starts happening, they will look elsewhere.

[lastangryman]

Hard agree. IME this type of stuff is almost always the extrovert types getting carried away and failing to realise not everyone comfortable with such things.