On a positive note, one thing we have seen emerge is the focus on mental health and employee wellness.

Remote working blurred the lines of the work-life balance and staff took strain, fearing illness, coping with sick loved ones, and dealing with the financial impact that came with the pandemic. Employers realized they had to take a step back, as people under extreme stress cannot be productive.

Leadership has evolved and become more people-centric. As a result, staff buy-in is valued more than ever before, and newfound flexibility is steering the approach away from the traditional rat race.

But what about keeping a positive team dynamic? It’s challenging when we no longer have the face-time that we are used to when implementing teamwork and team-building. Virtual corporate events don’t offer the same opportunity to mingle and network and there is a sense of distance when staff collaborate on projects.

Keeping the Team Alive

“Interdependence is and ought to be as much the ideal of man as self-sufficiency. Man is a social being.” – Mahatma Gandhi

With many companies opting to remain remote or phasing-in a hybrid system, the concept of team-building must be reinvented.

Employees need to feel seen, even if they are not physically present, and they also need to know that their safety is a priority. Before they can even begin to consider team-building strategies, employers need to have the following things in place:

• Staff that is working remotely must have access to everything needed to perform at their best. A COVID- friendly contingency plan must be made in case of internet or power issues (nature has a tendency toward hostility every now and again, doesn’t it?).
• Training methods need to be redefined to ensure equal opportunity for remote workers. When it comes to upskilling, working on-site should not be more advantageous than working remotely.
• Opportunities must be afforded for staff to be recognized openly and praised for their achievements. Human beings thrive on praise, and it’s easy to forget about the team at home.
• Employers need to provide ongoing opportunities for virtual meetings and remote team-building. Creating a sense of connection is possible, but it takes conscious effort. 
• Employees should always feel that they have access to management. This way, they feel seen and heard. It also fosters a sense of support and stability.

Virtual Corporate Events

Human beings were not designed to survive in isolation.

We are social creatures, and even the most introverted of us still need human connection. And we are not robots, built to keep the cogs turning in the machine. Remote working can make us feel that way when we’re putting in the work, but not attaining that innate sense of being part of something bigger.

A sense of belonging is created when we join to meet a common goal, and this can easily be lost when we don’t interact physically.

Additionally, Zoom fatigue has made us resistant to virtual engagement, so this can make team-building seem like a chore. Instead, employers need to find innovative ways to host virtual corporate events and team-building exercises so that employees feel energized and motivated to participate.

Here’s the key: For virtual team-building to succeed, employees need to feel separated from work.

The focus should be on fun — letting people relax and wear their social hats. This is how human beings bond. We learn more from each other in these settings than during the formal workday and are more willing to share pieces of ourselves that are a part of our core personalities. 

When having fun in a structured way, we can pinpoint each other’s strengths. We recognize who has natural leadership skills, who the problem solvers are, who the planners and strategists are, and how we can combine these skills to collaborate as a powerful team.

This intimate knowledge and experience will naturally carry over into the business space. The data shows exactly that.

Employees feel more motivated when they are a part of a team, especially if they feel that their team members genuinely know them and understand what makes them tick. We also tend to reveal more about our personal lives in a social setting, nurturing empathy and understanding between staff.

Additionally, employers get to know their team on a deeper level, recognizing them as human beings they are.

One of the enormous benefits of virtual corporate events and remote team-building is that everyone can be included, regardless of location. As a result, national and global companies can integrate their staff and team dynamics in ways that were never even considered before the pandemic.

So, how can it be done?

There are a lot of suggestions out there.

Some are innovative and will be met with enthusiasm, while many remain cringeworthy, failing to move with the times. You need to know your staff well enough to choose a team-building event that will succeed.

And food — the ultimate link for all of humankind — does that best.

Sure, we all must eat, but most of us also love to eat. Reality TV is flooded with cooking shows, whether learning from a celebrity chef or everyday people competing in bake-offs, cook-offs, and culinary challenges. Our social media is flooded with videos demonstrating delicious meals to try at home. Even the most reluctant cooks have ventured out of their comfort zone, keeping creative during lockdowns and isolation periods.

Rockoly is a leader in offering virtual team-building events and workshops that bring together the social connections we foster over food. These team-building events and workshops are designed to meet various budgets, tastes, and dietary requirements. Here are some of the experiences offered from Rockoly:

Online Cooking Workshops

There is quite the variety of menu options. Menus include mouth-watering street food, gourmet dishes, and sweet treats that are fully customizable and adapted to suit all dietary requirements. The most popular menus create some Italian staples and Mexican favorites — but you can choose from a wide range, from healthy comfort food to tapas menus to appetizers. 

Themed menus

These are created to suit holidays and festivals throughout the year, providing a richer and more authentic cultural experience. Additionally, there is also a large swath of menus dedicated specifically to cuisines around the world.

Classically-trained chefs

Rockoly has a selection of specially trained, expertly equipped chefs who guide participants to create their culinary delights.

And more!

For something different, try one of Rockoly’s wine-tasting courses, presented by an expert sommelier. Rockoly can combine cooking and wine-tasting workshops to create a unique wine pairing experience.

Or fancy yourself a mixologist? Happy Hour is a collaborative workshop that will teach your team to become experts in the art of cocktail making. 

Rockoly caters to any individuals who are on a gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian diets.

Although they may seem complicated on the outset, these delicious and awe-inspiring menus are easy to create. Even the most reluctant cooks will feel that they are in safe waters, especially alongside their fellow team-members. They’ll have no problem whipping up the meals up in their kitchens and enjoying them with everyone else on the call.

Online Team-Building Done Right

Rockoly workshops are super convenient and have all the bases covered for companies, executives, and managers.

For example, there is no need to head to the supermarket for groceries, as all the ingredients are sourced and delivered upfront. This ensures that all the participants have everything they need to fix a great meal alongside their team and chef.

The workshops are designed to connect people, even if they are spread out all across the world. Rockoly delivers throughout Australia, the UK, Canada, Sweden, Ireland, Germany, South Africa, Mexico, India, Philippines, and more. Flexible scheduling allows you to decide what fits in with you and your calendar. 

Additionally, workshops are available on several meeting platforms and can easily accommodate up to 300 participants, although a deeper level of connection occurs in more intimate settings. Some companies will have small workshop events and then combine to larger ones — the options are almost limitless on how these activities can be utilized.

Lastly, what if you would like to add a competitive spin?

Consider a few smaller groups creating different menus. Then, turn it into a challenge by creating a cook-off, where winners from each group can compete in a grand finale. It’s always fun to identify your competitive employees in a less formal setting. You may be surprised!

Ultimately, virtual corporate events and team-building are here to stay. With shifts in the team dynamic settling down and showing their true colors, employers need to remain on their toes, looking for fun and innovative ways to motivate staff and build a positive company culture.

Rockoly’s fun, interactive online cooking classes and workshops encourage connection, foster socialization, and boost morale. All while having fun and enjoying scrumptious food.

Successful team-building in a remote world is more than possible. It is a new way of life.

Click here to get started with a customizable Rockoly event for your team!

The post How Rockoly’s Virtual Corporate Events Are Changing the Game appeared first on Rockoly.

Many of us turned to the kitchen during lockdowns to keep ourselves busy and allow ourselves to remain creative. Social media was flooded with recipes and techniques that kept us gawking for hours and inspired us to wear our amateur chef hats. More banana bread was probably baked in 2020 than in the history of time, and TikTok videos showcased hilarious inventions and tongue-in-cheek gourmet surprises.

Food is also an excellent way for us to come together. We identify our heritage through food and drink. We share traditional recipes — passed on for generations — and proudly create and serve them to guests. We seek out the flavors of different worlds when we visit the vast array of restaurants that pop up everywhere we turn — and when we travel to a new country, one of the first things most of us do is seek out the local cuisine.

The Value Of Team Building

Team building is one of the most valuable investments you can make in your business. Unfortunately, there are many cliches out there about the value of teamwork, such as “there is no ‘I’ in team” or “The dream works when the team works.” Still, the truth is that when a team works well together, collaborates, and values each other, you have very little to lose.

Managers have realized that team building needs to be something their employees enjoy and feel energized by. In days gone by, the mere mention of team building would often elicit sighs and eye-rolls as employees envisioned passing water balloons from neck to neck or playing an awkward game of charades.

Employers value their employees’ buy-in more than ever. They are looking for ways to build morale while their staff genuinely enjoy the process. This is why there has been a significant shift towards team building strategies that involve adventure sports, escape rooms, and cultural experiences such as art and cooking classes. Building morale while having fun or acquiring a genuine skill goes a long way. People are looking for experiences that help them find meaning in their lives.

Shared laughter and enjoyable experiences build bonds. And incorporating fun into your team building strategies allows your staff to relax, be real around each other, and to feel connected. Team building fosters trust, improves communication, and helps people learn and implement conflict resolution. It also increases productivity, because when someone feels that they are a part of a team, they are more likely to share the load, ask for help, and feel valued.

Cooking With The Team

One of the more popular choices for modern team building strategies has been cooking classes and cooking contests. It is an ideal option because while it is fun, it requires team members to use and develop many skills that benefit them in the workplace.

Soft Skills Learned Through Culinary Team Building

• Planning – Looking at your resources, time allocation, human resources, the brief, and desired outcome are as much a part of cooking as it is in any job. Proper planning is essential on every level. Planning the menu, cooking process, the business day, and the entire business vision – it all stems from the same mindset.
• Communication – When employees let their hair down and have fun, they offer insight into their lives that usually remain hidden. When people know and understand each other better, they have empathy and value differences of opinion more openly.
• Motivation – When employees have a positive experience together, they bond and are more eager to spend time together during the workday. This makes them more motivated and energized to get the job done, with a sense of camaraderie.
• Time management – Getting as much out of the time you are given is invaluable. The same skill applies to an oven timer or a project deadline. Proper time management decreases anxiety and pressure because little is left to the last minute.
• Working under pressure – When there is competition, time limits, and team members to consider, it puts pressure on us. Working through them in a fun activity is a great way to laugh at ourselves and go with it, making us more resilient when it pops up in the workplace.
• Collaborating – Assessing each other’s strengths and weaknesses and splitting the work accordingly makes the task seem less overwhelming. ‘Many hands make light work’ is more relevant than ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth.’ If the work is spread out over the team’s strengths, every aspect of the activity is getting the best man for the job.
• Problem-solving and creativity – Challenges arise in all aspects of teamwork. Teams putting their heads together to creatively overcome them is a valuable skill, but it requires practice.

The Challenges of Team Building Strategies and Social Distancing

COVID-19, social distancing, and remote working have made team dynamics challenging. Many people have felt adrift, working in a bubble with little opportunity to connect. The work-life balance has also been affected, as people’s home lives have spilled into their workday and vice versa. Even as we find ourselves coming out the other side, the traditional office space will remain a thing of the past for many, with many employers opting for hybrid and remote working and downsizing office space.

So how do you ensure that your team still connects? Many activities that are designed to encourage team building virtually make people feel awkward. For example, it seems ridiculous to play games while managing virtual call issues such as mics not working, malfunctioning cameras, and interrupting toddlers. The challenge is to find activities where those issues are irrelevant, and participants can get lost in its fun. Online team building activities can navigate the issue of social distancing and can still be effective and fun.

Why Cooking Workshops are the Best Option

Choosing an online cooking workshop as your team building activity is a fresh, fun approach that can easily be done in the comfort of your employees’ homes. There are many meal options available, and the best part is that participants can be scattered around the world. Additionally, the chef running the activity can also be from anywhere in the world, allowing authentic ethnic cuisines to be facilitated from the very place that they originated.

Innovative team building facilitators have made managing all the preparation and admin painless and convenient. They will even deliver all the ingredients to the participants beforehand.

Rockoly is an excellent option and offers a variety of inspiring workshops. Pasta Making, Mexican Street Tacos, and Spanish Paella are just some of the options available. They have a menu for everyone, no matter the company’s budget, staff preferences, and dietary requirements.

In addition, their team building cooking workshops provide everything you need to build cohesion and connection within your team. Professional chefs use video conferencing to guide and motivate teams to create delicious, beautiful meals that the family can enjoy without leaving the comfort of their own kitchens.

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is a success.” – Henry Ford

Interested in cooking workshops? Click here to learn more about this wonderful team-building activity for remote teams.

The post Cooking Workshops Beat All Other Online Team Building Strategies  appeared first on Rockoly.