Employees at LegalZoom enjoy a rousing game of bingo just as much as anyone else. But while the rush of getting five in a row can be invigorating, such games don’t really allow team members to get to know each other better, according to VP of Technology Chris Capriccio.
That’s why he prefers trivia-based alternatives. Recently, team members have been matching responses to questions about extracurricular interests and passions with the names and faces of new colleagues. While the idea started as an indoctrination strategy of sorts, it has become increasingly popular among long-time employees.
“We throw in some off-the-wall questions to make it funny and to create some lasting memories,” Capriccio added.
He and colleague Annouchka Yameogo-Stanzler, who is VP of creative design and UX, advise other professionals to make remote team-building a personal experience. At LegalZoom, that means ensuring transparency and trying not to tie any one person or group to a specific activity.
What’s the most fun, unique or engaging remote team-building activity you’ve done to date?
Annouchka Yameogo-Stanzler: It’s been surprisingly rewarding and productive to work remotely. With a team dispersed between Los Angeles, Austin and the Bay Area, we actually feel more connected now than ever before. I had to make a few tweaks regarding how I run and organize the team. I’ve been making sure that employees don’t feel disconnected by constantly checking in, having regular one-on-ones and hosting virtual happy hours.
Last week, we invited a couple of actors to do yoga and exercise with us. The previous week, we had a Zoom call with a company that rescues animals.
Chris Capriccio: We tried a lot of different team-building activities during the pandemic, from virtual happy hours to bingo. The most engaging activity was a “get to know your team members” game. The game involves sharing five to seven questions to the broader team while everyone tries to guess which new hire answered what.
We throw in some off-the-wall questions to make it funny and to create some lasting memories. Our teams had so much fun, we started doing the same with team members who have been with us for many years.
What advice do you have for other companies that are struggling to find team-building activities that their teams will actually enjoy?
Chris Capriccio: Make it personal and try different ideas until something sticks. Be aware that we all have personal reactions to the pandemic and can have our ups and downs. There will be people who want to participate and others who don’t. That’s totally fine. If something gets stale, change it up.
Annouchka Yameogo-Stanzler: We maintain our calendar, ensure transparency and create a common information space. We particularly like Slack and Asana for just this reason.
