Virtual Escape Room: Creating a Challenging Environment for Your Team
That’s why it’s essential to give your staff interesting challenges that push them out of their comfort zones, providing opportunities for growth
Gameplay Walkthrough: Solve the Murder Mystery at Buckley Manor in Oxfordshire
You’re about to settle down for your noon tea when you receive a telegram from Lord William Bainbridge, inviting you to the next League of Bast meeting
How Do You Create a Great Company Culture Through Virtual Team Building?
When someone new joins your team, they will have some indication as to whether they will enjoy their work through the company culture. Workplace satisfaction leads to improved productivity and greater results. Most of all, it’s an incredible feeling having staff brag about how fantastic it is working for your business.
Did you know you can enhance the culture of your company through online team building? Let’s show you how.
What is great company culture?
Great company culture isn’t only reflected in the activity of the business, but also the mood and behaviour of the employees. Besides being friendly and motivating colleagues, they also have high morale. You can trust them since they show responsibility for their actions, plus they show initiative with their creative ideas.
These attributes have some excellent benefits for your company. You will have employees who are here to stay for the long-term that are loyal to you and each other, and you will attract new talent that have similar personalities. You will also notice how they become more involved in workplace activities, and you don’t need to force them to participate.
Building company culture
Would you like all the incredible advantages mentioned above? Improving the culture of your company is easy with just a few simple steps.
1. Start with the foundation
Do you remember when you started your company and had to develop a business plan with a vision, mission and objectives? These building blocks are essential throughout the life of your company and building a great company culture. When everyone aligns to the same goals, it creates motivation and a streamlined approach to gaining results. Your employees will also find cause for celebration when they complete tasks together.
Team building and team work needs to sit at the core of this in order to make headway as an organisation and come to a common consensus about what they value and how they should put to practise their mission and vision.
2. Create job satisfaction
Many people have the misconception that workplace dissatisfaction and satisfaction are dependent on each other. To reduce the former, you need to increase the latter. However, these are actually two separate activities that you will need to focus on to enhance the company culture.
When you eliminate dissatisfaction, it significantly improves the mood and attitude of the staff. Some examples include raising salaries, changing how the workplace looks, working on relationships between employees, and amending work policies with your team in mind. However, you can also create satisfaction, such as looking for new ways to achieve goals, engaging employees through virtual activities and socialising, and making the work more enjoyable to perform.
3. Virtual socialising
Creating a friendly atmosphere in the workplace where employees feel like they are part of a community would go a long way in making employees feel engaged, fulfilled and happy. This is one of the key building blocks of great company culture. Create opportunities for employees to interact with each other, get to know each other and enjoy socialising and having fun together.
Custom virtual games are also a great way to integrate a company’s mission, vision, business and projects into games for employees to understand their organisation better. If you are an international enterprise with regional offices, organising virtual games would allow teams in different countries to connect and learn about other teammates and their cultures.
4. Caring for your employees
When you show your employees that you care about them, they end up caring more about their work. You can create a collaborative environment so that everyone feels included and puts in every ounce of effort they can muster. Developing a balanced work environment also assists in making your staff value you and each other, leading to a healthier company culture.
However, it can be challenging to achieve this when your team works remotely. You will need to find innovative ways to improve their mood while working from home. One such way is via online virtual team building. Not only can they work together to solve puzzles in murder mysteries, but you can encourage some healthy competition with games like the Amazing Race.
Build culture with Making Teams
As you can see, creating the right culture for your company is essential if you want your business to succeed in the long run. Not only does it decrease stress for you, but your employees will strive to meet the business goals you set out to achieve.
Making Teams has created several custom games, including Amazing Race for corporations such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Hitachi and Microsoft. Let us help you bring your staff closer together with our customised virtual team building games that cater to your defined company culture and vision.
Online Team Building: Travel the World Through a Virtual Amazing Race
Journeying across several locations worldwide can be an incredible experience, especially if you visit exotic countries in the east. There are so many cultures, people and food you’ll come across, and it adds to the spice of life. Let’s show you how online team building with the Virtual Amazing Race can be just as exciting for you and your colleagues!
Wanderlust during COVID-19
Since the pandemic hit the world two years ago, many countries have put travel restrictions in place. The inability to explore other locations has left many people feeling anxious, lonely, frustrated and depressed. COVID-19 hasn’t stopped people from wanting to travel, though. The adventure creates beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. It takes you out of your daily routines, shedding the frustration and fears you face at home and working remotely or in the office. It also enriches you with new experiences that you can’t find in your country.
Enter the Virtual Amazing Race. You don’t need to fear missing out, as you can still experience travelling to various locations worldwide without leaving your home or office. The scenes are so realistic that you’ll feel like you’re right there! Let’s take a look at how the virtual team building game works and which countries you’ll visit.
Navigating Singapore
You’ll start in the stunning Asian city of Singapore, situated on a beautiful island on the southern end of the Malay Peninsula. While you’ll explore Changi Airport, there’s so much more to see in this gorgeous location. There are friendly people all around, featuring members of the Chinese, Indian, Eurasian, and Malaysian communities.
When you visit Singapore, there are some amazing landmarks you don’t want to miss. Merlion Park is by far the most popular and is described by many as the pride of the city. You’ll also want to see Supertree Grove in Gardens by the Bay, which integrates technology with nature in a superb way.
You should also get a taste for the food and the culture, some of which will be described in the Amazing Race corporate team building game. Some dishes you’ll hear about include chilli crab, Hainanese chicken rice, char kuay teow, and barbecued stingray. While you won’t be able to eat the food via the game, we encourage you to try the recipes where possible for a more exhilarating experience.
Experiencing Thailand
The next step in the race takes you to Bangkok in Thailand. It features a live activity where you and your team will attempt to learn about a local meal and the ingredients. The challenge is that you’ll need to decipher how to do it in the Thai language with a native cook guiding you along the way.
Of course, there are so many exotic landmarks you can visit in Thailand. The top spot you’ll want to see is the Grand Palace, but you can also make your way to Wat Phra Kaew in the same complex. When you’re done sightseeing in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, why not check out the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market where you can see boats taking people to the local trade stores.
Immersing in Hong Kong
Finally, you’ll find yourself in the wondrous land of Hong Kong in China. You and your team need to navigate the busy streets where you may notice a mix of cultures from the east and west. The roads may be crowded, but the pleasant smiles and towering buildings will leave you amazed.
There are so many landmarks in Hong Kong you won’t want to miss out on. Some of these include the Peak Tram, Avenue of the Stars, Big Buddha, Bank of China Tower, and so much more. You’d also be surprised to hear that Cantonese is the main language spoken in Hong Kong and not Mandarin. If you’re looking for exciting meals, you can try dim sum, roasted goose, and soft tofu pudding.
Go on an adventure with Making Teams
As you can see, the Virtual Amazing Race provides you with a pleasurable experience in the heart of Asia. You don’t need to leave your home to obtain the feeling of travelling to these incredible locations, and you’ll even have the chance to make a foreign meal. So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today to see how we can customise the game for your team. Or watch a video to understand how our Amazing Race works and what you can expect when you play!
5 Ways For Managers to Improve Communication at Work with Staff
In this day and age, where most businesses are working remotely, it’s essential to maintain and improve communication in the team. It eliminates any issues brewing under the surface that no one may be aware of while also streamlining work processes. Most importantly, it sets clear goals, and everyone understands their role in projects.
Here are a few ways to improve communication with your team, whether they work in an office environment or from home.
1. Set up an open-door policy
Your employees and colleagues should feel comfortable contacting or speaking with you when they want to address a matter. Inform them that they can reach out whenever they need someone to talk to, especially when it involves their projects. If they don’t feel they can approach you, they may struggle to complete their tasks on time.
The challenge is ensuring that you’re available when they need you. We know how busy managers can become, especially when you have online meetings all day long. Instead of telling them you have no time for them, schedule an appointment to discuss the issue.
2. Have weekly team huddles
It’s helpful to have weekly team huddles to discuss strategic matters and address key performance indicators and milestones. If you’re handling several projects simultaneously, it is also a good opportunity to check if they’re on track for the deadlines.
It’s essential that you’re dedicated to the weekly meetings; otherwise, your employees won’t take it seriously. You should also put more emphasis on the “how” instead of the “why”– looking for solutions instead of excuses. Ensure that no one goes off-tangent so you can focus on the main discussion points.
3. Incorporate anonymous employee feedback portals
Another way to improve communication with staff is to let them submit anonymous feedback on work and the company. These are usually known as Staff Satisfaction Surveys. You can set what you want them to evaluate, but you should leave a section where they can leave comments about how they feel.
There are some platforms that make this process easier, such as Officevibe. This innovative platform helps employees engage with you and colleagues to overcome challenges. You can also arrange a one-on-one with each team member to discuss their feedback and resolve any issues.
4. Listen more, speak less
Communication works both ways, and sometimes employees just want to be heard. If you spend all of the time speaking, you won’t be able to hear all of the concerns properly. Listening closely also gives you time to assimilate and process what they’re saying before providing a response.
5. Organise team building activities
Finally, you can organise online team building activities for your staff. It opens the way for effective communication in order to solve problems. For example, the Virtual Escape Room requires everyone to work together to unravel clues so they can make it out of the enclosed environment. This can not only improve communication between your team members, but also sharpen their problem-solving skills as they discover what they can achieve as a team.
Organise fun team building games with Making Teams
If you are looking for a corporate team building company in Singapore that offers fun activities that improve communication among your team members, look no further than Making Teams. Our virtual games are specially designed to assist companies with building teamwork and rapport while working remotely. These games are fully customisable according to your specific requirements, so please feel free to reach out to us for more information.
Ice Breaker Ideas for New Staff Members
Joining a new company can be daunting. On top of adjusting to new responsibilities, it can take some time for employees to warm up and bond with colleagues. With remote working arrangements becoming the norm, welcoming new hires into the team becomes even more challenging, especially since staff can’t interact face-to-face.
But just because your staff are working from home in Singapore, doesn’t mean you have to pause ice breaker activities! Simple corporate team-building exercises such as fun virtual games and events are an excellent way to welcome new team members and help everyone get to know one another.
In this article, we’ll dig into how you can make new staff members feel more at home while working from home and share exciting ice breaker ideas you can try!
Why is it important for new employees to fit into the company?
Regardless of working arrangements, effectively integrating new employees into the company is vital. A good fit can boost their morale, productivity and confidence, as they feel happier about their job environment and colleagues. It motivates them to commit to contributing to the company and increases job satisfaction all around for both new and existing staff.
What can you do to make employees feel welcome?
Here are a few ideas to ensure your new staff have a great experience in the first few weeks and make a smooth transition to their new role:
- Have a virtual onboarding lunch: Things don’t have to be formal when meeting the employee for the first time. Arrange an online lunch so you can discuss how the company works over a meal. You can even arrange to have a nice meal delivered to their home.
- Introduce the colleagues: Set up a meeting for all team members to meet the recruit. You should also encourage the team members to have regular discussions in the first month to check in with how they’re doing.
- Pair them with a mentor: It helps to have someone more experienced in the company guiding them along the way and showing them the ropes.
- Ensure documents and processes are well-organised: Nothing is more confusing than starting a new job with a company that’s disorganised. Ensure all the paperwork and standard operating procedures are in place, so the employee completely understands how things work.
How can you facilitate communication amongst new employees?
It’s often the case that new employees don’t feel comfortable speaking up and sharing ideas when they join a company. They may have a wealth of experience and knowledge, but they’re not sure if it’s welcome in the new environment. Your team needs to make them feel like they can communicate at any time.
One way to improve communication is to plan regular corporate team-building exercises throughout the year. It takes them out of the isolated remote working environment and encourages them to brainstorm new ways of doing things.
What type of bonding activities can you arrange?
If you’re wondering which type of activities to organise, why not engage a virtual team-building company like Making Teams? As Singapore’s top provider for online team-building events, we offer a vast range of fun virtual activities that serve as excellent ice breakers for new staff and remote teams. For example, you can send them on an online Treasure Hunt, or they can unleash their inner Sherlock Holmes and work together to complete a Murder Mystery game.
If your team is good at following clues, you can customise a virtual Escape Room that matches your company’s objectives or brand. For a more adventurous undertaking, you can send them on an Amazing Race online across several international destinations. No matter which activity you choose, your new employees are sure to have loads of fun!
Make new employees feel welcome with Making Teams
There’s so much you can do to make new employees feel at home, no matter where they work. In the long run, you’ll see improved communication, boosted staff morale and better performance. We have a host of virtual games you can have a look at for your team. Find out more about our virtual games and activities, and feel free to reach out to us for more information.