What are some team-building exercises for work?

The following team-building games are great for small groups, but they can be used for larger teams as well. Many other fun team-building activities are not mentioned here, but these are our favorite. 

Team-building exercises for work are great for building trust, promoting engagement, and allowing your employees to have fun. #itvibes #teambuilding #connection
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1. Scavenger Hunt
2. Mini Golf
3. Team Sports
4. Escape Room
5. Team Movie Night
6. Game Night

1) Scavenger Hunt

Who doesn’t like scavenger hunts? Scavenger hunts can allow your employees to enjoy searching for clues, and it fosters teamwork. The winners of the scavenger hunt can win anything from a trophy to simply bragging rights. 

But how do you set up a scavenger hunt? Well, you have a couple of options. SnackNation has some options for setting up your own hunt, but you can also use geocaching as a scavenger hunt. Just download the geocaching app, split into teams, and the first team who finds five caches wins! 

2) Mini Golf

ITVibes loved doing this on our team-building day. We put a twist on it though. For each hole, our team-building hosts, (IPC), assigned a different object to be our clubs. For example, we had to use a stuffed animal for one hole, and a cup for another. 

Regardless of if you use real clubs or not, mini golf can be a great way to build teamwork. 

3) Team Sports

Team sports are another way to build decision-making and cooperation skills. Whatever sport your company likes to play, each sport lays down leadership building blocks in the context of a fun game. This bonding exercise tends to work better with larger groups that can form at least two teams, but it is a great way to bond with your coworkers. 

4) Escape Room

Escape rooms are great for groups that are anywhere from 4 to 8 people. If you have never heard of an escape room before, there are a  lot of companies that create these types of rooms. Your group would be “locked” into a room that has a series of puzzles. Solving these puzzles will let you out of the room. 

These rooms encourage teams to work together and allows them to practice their problem-solving skills. Escape rooms are also fun for people who like puzzles and mysteries. They make for an exciting and rememberable time.

5) Team Movie Night

Movie nights are always a lot of fun, and it is a great option for virtual teams as well as in-person teams. For virtual teams, there is a google add-on called Teleparty that allows multiple people to watch something together on Netflix, Hulu, and HBO. This allows your team to relax together and bond over whatever movie you all choose to watch.  

6) Game Night

Lastly, game night is a great way to bond with the rest of your team. There are a lot of different games you can play together from the classics (Clue, Monopoly, Scrabble) to more modern games (Exploding Kittens, Ticket to Ride, Secret Hitler) or even more involved games like D&D and other tabletop RPGs. All of these games bring your team closer together through competition, teamwork, and communication. 

Have Fun With Your Team

Making time to have fun with your team allows your team members to forge a closer bond which leads to better cooperation on work-related tasks. It also encourages connection in your team. 

Contact us to learn more about team-building activities! 

The post 6 Team-Building Exercises For Work first appeared on ITVibes.

Our team recently visited Incredible Pizza in Conroe and had a wonderful time! Take a look at some of the fun things we got to do!
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Teambuilding Experience

One of our favorite things about IPC’s team-building experience was the competition! Our team was split into two groups of three and we competed against each other in five different categories. By the end of the day, all of our points were counted up and the winning team claimed the trophy!

Laser Tag, Go-Kart Racing, Arcade Games, & More

Thank you, IPC!

Between the great food and fun games, Incredible Pizza provided the perfect setting for us to take a break from the office and enjoy some time together! Thank you, IPC for your hospitality and for giving us a day we won’t soon forget!

The post Teambuilding Day at Incredible Pizza-Conroe first appeared on ITVibes.

Looking for ways to work better with your virtual team? Here are a few considerations to improve communication and collaboration across time zones.
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How to Get Your Point Across to Your International Team

What are you doing to take advantage of the opportunities that come with working with teams around the world? How are you navigating the difficulties? It’s important to stay connected and be understanding of diverse backgrounds and experiences when collaborating with coworkers in other countries. 

1. Get on the Same Page
2. Consider the Time Zones
3. Embrace Different Cultures

1) Get on the Same Page

Good communication with remote employees starts with face-to-face virtual meetings or conference calls. It’s important for everyone to be on the same page so people working aren’t doing the same tasks or missing opportunities and letting things fall through the cracks.

Pro Tip: Zoom or Google Hangouts are awesome platforms to connect with your remote team.

2) Consider the Time Zones

If you’re working across multiple time zones, when you’re eating breakfast, your team could be going to bed. Respect other timezones by only calling team members at appropriate times. While an email serves as a dropbox for messages, instant messages and calls could wake up remote workers in the middle of the night. When managing a global team, team leaders need to be respectful of personal time across various time zones even when working from home. 

3) Embrace Different Cultures

Another essential consideration is the diverse cultures. It takes unique communication skills to embrace other cultures while meeting remote teams were they are. Rather than trying to get your point across from your background and culture, try to understand where your team is coming from. While this is a major communication hurdle, you also want to be sensitive to different holidays and religious values. 

Conclusion

The IIoT has led to many teams working together around the world. Whether your company hires freelancers in other countries or has an entire team working from another timezone, there are bound to be communication issues. It’s key to be understanding and respectful of various backgrounds and cultures while staying in contact on a regular basis. 
Looking for more remote work tips? Connect with our team on social media for the latest updates from our creative digital marketers!

The post 3 Effective Communication Tips with Your Global Team first appeared on ITVibes.

The idea of remote work comes with some misconceptions, but the reality of #workfromhome life might shatter your expectations! #ITVibes
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What are some remote work expectations that aren’t the reality?

If you’re expecting working from home to be a breeze compared to a 9 to 5 schedule at the office, you could be setting yourself up for failure. Let’s take a look at some of the misconceptions of remote work and how to set realistic expectations for the following:

1. Work Schedule
2. Time Spent Working
3. Work-Life Balance

1) Work Schedule

Expectation: “There’s no need for an alarm clock when you can start the day when you want!” 
Reality: Remote jobs still have set office hours! There are still project deadlines to meet and work hours to respect which makes it efficient for remote workers to collaborate with each other. Conference calls and virtual meetings still have a place on the calendar during these hours.

2) Time Spent Working

Expectation: “You can stop working whenever you want, finish your favorite Netflix show, and pick up where you left off at any time!”
Reality: You won’t be working one day a week and calling it a day. In fact, when you work remotely you’ll probably find yourself working from early hours in the morning to late at night. Tasks that aren’t completed from the day before can end up becoming work to tend to over the weekend. Get a solid grasp of how you can maximize productivity while working from home.

3) Work-Life Balance

Expectation: “There’s no way you could get burnt out while working from home!”
Reality: Burnout can happen to anyone, even when you work from home. It’s important to tend to your family and personal life for your wellbeing. While remote work comes with many conveniences, it can be easy to slip into overworking without a change in scenery.

Pro Tip: Create an effective dedicated work-space in your home office space so that you can separate work from the distractions of home life. 

Setting Remote Work Expectations to Thrive in Reality

Your work from home life can be a great experience if you set the right expectations and priorities. Remember to communicate effectively with your remote team and set a consistent schedule that works for you and your business. 
Join the conversation for more remote work tips from our digital marketing team!

The post Work From Home Life: Expectations vs. Reality first appeared on ITVibes.

Looking to throw a fun and spooky Halloween party with your coworkers this year? Here are some ideas for an office party to remember!
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How Can You Have a Fun-Packed & Office-Appropriate Halloween Party?

Get into the Halloween spirit with your coworkers this year by throwing an office party they won’t forget. Let’s take a look at some spooky team building games and activities that will be fun for the whole team.

1. Costume Contest
2. Halloween-Themed Feast
3. Cubicle Decorations 
4. Pumpkin Carving
5. Trick or Treating

1) Costume Contest

Encourage people to wear their best (as long as they’re office appropriate!) Halloween costumes for this event. A costume party is great for team building; get together with some coworkers to come up with a group costume idea. The most creative costume should be rewarded–candy is a suitable gift! Don’t forget to post your pictures on social media to add to your team’s culture page. 

2) Halloween-Themed Feast

Encourage employees to bring their own favorite Halloween-styled dish or drink. If people are game for bobbing for apples, it’s always a hit at Halloween parties! Check out Food Network for some Halloween recipes and see which scary snacks suit your taste.

3) Cubicle Decorations

We went wild with the office decorations this year! Spider webs hanging from the cubicles, skeletons at each desk, and the lounge decked out with creepy paraphernalia for our guests to be spooked by. If you have the materials to do so, set up a photo booth with some props for employees and guests to take pictures during the party.

4) Pumpkin Carving

Pumpkin carving contests get people’s creativity flowing and sometimes the competitive side comes out of people! Play some horror movies in the background and use this as an enjoyable team-building exercise. 

5) Trick or Treating

Try going door to door of the other offices in your workplace building and saying “trick or treat!”. You might not get a response from everyone, but bring some candy with you to hand out and get people in the Halloween spirit!  

Pro Tip: Halloween isn’t just a day anymore; it’s a season. 

Eerie Good Times with Your Favorite Coworkers

Get into the Halloween spirit with your work team and let the good times roll! By trying these ideas, you’re sure to have an impressive Allhallows Eve at the office. From all of us at ITVibes, we hope you have a happy Halloween with lots of candy and fun memories.
Looking for more office party ideas? Join the conversation to party with the ITVibes team!

The post 5 Ideas for a Spooky Halloween Office Party first appeared on ITVibes.

BOO! Which one of these 11 #halloween costumes will scare your co-workers?!
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Who are you going to be?

The options are endless, but in the workplace, Halloween costumes have to be appropriate. If you’re planning to dress up this spooky season, start with these 11 ideas to take your place in the office to the next level. 

1. Sailor
2. Copycat
3. Superman/Superwoman
4. Mary Poppins 
5. Facebook
6. Coachella Festival Attendee
7. Rosie the Riveter
8. Houston Astros Player
9. Instagram Filters
10. Wednesday Adams
11. Unicorn

1) Sailor

Win your office costume party with this costume for men and women! With a horizontal striped shirt, navy skirt or pants, and a white sailor cap, you’ll definitely sail past the competition.

2) Copycat

If you’re looking for a last-minute costume, this punny idea will have all the marketing experts and computer geeks turning their heads. Dress up as a cat, then make a shirt or sign with the CTRL + C command.

3) Superman/Superwoman

Everyone loves a classic. Whether you buy a t-shirt or complete the look with tights and a cape, dressing up as a superhero is a sure way to go.

4) Mary Poppins

For all those old-fashioned Disney fans, Mary Poppins might be the costume for you. Complete your outfit with a floor-length  coat jacket, stylish bowtie, feminine gloves, and a black boater hat. Add an umbrella for a magical touch. 

5) Facebook

All of the social media experts will love this idea. Instead of spending money on costumes and fake blood, you can put your face on display. With a sharpie or eyeliner, simply write the word “book”. Voila! You’re now Facebook. 

Pro Tip: Finding a costume doesn’t have to be crazy difficult. Look around your office for an easy costume idea by making puns come to life. 

6) Coachella Festival Attendee

The trendy sunglasses, flower headbands, sandals, and airy sundresses will all be welcomed into your office. With a couple of bangles and glitter lotion, you’ll be next year’s Coachella influencer.

7) Rosie the Riveter

There’s nothing more American than the feminist icon, Rosie the Riveter. A red headband and jean shirt with rolled-up sleeves will have everyone in the office taking your orders. 

8) Houston Astros Player

Show your H-Town pride with an Astros jersey and baseball cap. If you really want to strike out the competition, add a black strip under your eyes.

9) Instagram Filters

How we portray ourselves on digital media can come to life with this easy-to-make idea. Pick some of your favorite Instagram photo filters to make photo props your whole team will enjoy.  

10) Wednesday Addams

She’s creepy and spooky in a style all her own. With braids parted down the middle, a black ensemble, and extra pale makeup, you could be the next member of the Addams family.

11) Unicorn

Let’s face it, we’re all unicorns. This idea is one of the easiest to replicate. You can go all out with sparkly pink attire and a tutu. Or, make it easy and wear a horn-shaped crown for the day.

Altogether Ooky

This Halloween season, don’t be afraid to share your personality with your co-workers. Whether you’re dressing up to be funny or to show off your favorite celebrity, don’t forget to adhere to your company’s policy. If not, you might find yourself in a mysterious and altogether ooky predicament that will have you screaming anything but, “Happy Halloween!”
Have more fun office ideas? Connect with us to learn how we can help build your team and improve your company’s morale.

The post 11 Halloween Costume Ideas for Work first appeared on ITVibes.

The post Team Building: Visiting the Pumpkin Patch in Spring, TX.  first appeared on ITVibes.

Where Team Building Goes Wrong  

One of the biggest reasons businesses provide team building opportunities is to get results. Through a series of fun, casual group events, teams build skills like communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution. Effective team building activities help foster genuine connections and mutual respect. So where does it go wrong?

1. Disorganization
2. Over-Scheduling
3. Disregarding Employees
4. After-Hours Activities
5. Making More Work
6. Ignoring Employee Limitations

1) Disorganization

The only thing worse than a trust fall activity is a disorganized trust fall activity. If you haven’t carefully planned the day’s events, your employees will know it. Waiting around while someone figures out what’s going on is no one’s idea of fun.

2) Over-Scheduling

On the opposite spectrum of team building preparation is over-scheduling. When every moment of the day is planned for, there isn’t much time for employees to relax and mingle. Your event should be a balance of scheduled activity and casual, unstructured time.

3) Disregard Employees

What do your employees want to do? If you haven’t asked, you’re doing it wrong. Give your staff several options, and ask for suggestions if they have something else in mind. Taking their interests into account when you plan your activity will only help make it a success.

4) An After-Hours Event

Don’t take it personally, but your employees do not want to hang out with you or their colleagues after-hours. They want to be at home, watching Netflix. Make sure your team building activity is during working hours.

5) Making More Work

Don’t mask work with the label of team building. Ordering pizzas during a rigorous brainstorming session is a nice gesture, but a team building activity it is not. Don’t bring work into the equation at all unless it comes up naturally.

6) Ignore Employee Limitations

Not all your employees can (or want to) participate in physically demanding activities. Make sure you take the limitations of your staff into account when planning a team building event. Not sure? Refer to point 3.

A Positive Experience

Getting your employees to collaborate, communicate and get to know each other better is a noble goal and a smart business move. Don’t overthink it, plan but don’t go nuts and above all, get feedback from your employees to ensure they’ll actually want to do.
Contact Us to learn more about building a strong company culture. (Just don’t bring up the last ITVibes laser tag competition. The author maintains that the points were incorrectly tallied.)

The post 6 Ways to Plan a Team Building Activity Your Employees Will Hate first appeared on ITVibes.