Creative Christmas Games for Remote Meetings and Festivals
As we’re all rushing to complete our to-do lists and tie up deadlines before the new year arrives, planning a corporate Christmas gathering can seem like a waste of time. In reality, however, it’s a much-needed boost to end the business year on a high note, especially if you and your team work remotely. We are not saying that you should put your work at the bottom of your priorities. There’s a way to celebrate with your team without sacrificing precious work hours, knee-deep in detailed planning. So, why not plan a last-minute remote Christmas party with funny games? The best part is that they require much less planning and resources than human affairs.
To get your creativity flowing, we’ve rounded up 6 of our Christmas remote games that are perfect for your next team meeting. Try them and see how morale rises before your holiday break.
Remote Game Gains
Christmas party games can act as a great morale booster for employees, increasing re-engagement efforts in remote work settings. So, if the stress is high and motivation is a little low, why not try to slow down and enjoy some holiday-themed group bonding? Here’s what you’ll get if you choose the Christmas remote game this year:
Friendly competition, teamwork, and casual collaboration allow team members to bond and build relationships, improving interdepartmental communication and collaboration.
Employee morale is the foundation of organizational health, not just a metric. When morale is high, especially in remote workplaces, so are productivity, engagement, and loyalty.
Remote control games can greatly improve creative problem-solving skills by encouraging new ideas and out-of-the-box thinking. This is especially true because they require different preparations than personal ceremonies.
- To encourage participation
Christmas party games provide an opportunity for everyone to participate individually and as part of a group, within an informal setting, at a level where they feel comfortable.
This season is a great time to learn more about different holidays outside of Christmas, creating ways to celebrate and highlight diversity in your organization and beyond.
6 Christmas Party Games Perfect for Your Remote Team Meetings
1. Christmas Trivia
What is the most recorded Christmas song of all time? Who created Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer? Think of how many holiday-themed facts you can find and use them to spark curiosity, entertain, spark conversation, and bring out the competitive spirit of your team. Trivia games are versatile and easily adaptable, encouraging knowledge sharing and catering to work groups of any size. They can also be tailored to focus on specific themes. For example, if your people are cinephiles, you can make a trivia game about Christmas movies. You have many options, but letting your creativity run free is a must.
2. Two Truths and a Lie
This popular ice breaker and party game is perfect for your next Christmas get-together. Participants give three facts about themselves, including one that is false but believable. This game is a sure way to bring laughter, especially when the whole team is struggling to find a false statement. It’s also a great opportunity to help your coworkers get to know each other on a personal level. Not to mention that some of these facts will produce very interesting and/or absurd stories and anecdotes, ensuring both entertainment and group bonding.
3. The Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest
Who has the worst sweater imaginable? This fun competition encourages your team to actively participate by choosing and playing in very short but festive costumes. If you want to have a live competition, invite everyone to wear their ugly sweater during your online meeting and start voting in a poll or in the comments section of your virtual meeting room. Alternatively, if you wish to invest more effort, ask everyone to wear the sweaters for the past few days and submit a photo. Put them together in a presentation and watch the laughter unfold when you witness all your serious co-workers wearing their funny outfits.
4. Kitschy Holiday Ornaments Contest
We love a good old fashioned Christmas kit. If a wicked Christmas sweater contest requires too much effort from your remote workers, this Christmas game is the next best thing. Even if you think your taste in Christmas decorations is wrong, think again. Every home has at least one solid decoration that they display every year. Time to make a contest for them! Ask your team to submit photos of their decorative pieces (from multiple angles, of course) or present them during the meeting (including background stories). The prize for the winner can be anything, really, if it’s not just a visual badge that says “Best Taste in Decor.”
5. Virtual Escape Rooms
Who doesn’t enjoy a good escape room? A favorite among team-building activities, escape rooms are a great game for your next Christmas get-together. Combining team building, problem solving, challenge, and lots of festival fun, virtual escape rooms are a must for groups looking for something extra special for their online festivals. Several resorts offer holiday-themed escape rooms, so you’ll have plenty of options to suit your group size, budget, and preferences. We’re sure your team will love every minute of this unique and memorable experience—even if it’s just to see who can solve the puzzle the fastest.
6. Holiday Charades
Playing this classic game guarantees a lot of fun, even from a distance. It’s probably even more challenging in this context as players can only use their hands and facial expressions to create prompts, giving this long Christmas game an extra kick. To play charades, divide your team into teams or let your players participate in pairs. Then, choose your holiday-themed prompts, using inspiration from Christmas traditions, holiday memes, or holiday movies, and choose a group or person to act out the message without speaking. After everyone’s had a turn, add some fun by voting—and re-enacting—your favorite impressions. It’s a great way to ensure the participation of the whole team and the best way to start an inside joke that remembers this fun visual event.
Tips for Successful Virtual Engagement
We couldn’t leave it without sharing a few tips to make your holiday gathering a success. Here’s what to consider before your Christmas gaming celebrations away:
Decide on the tools and platforms you’ll need ahead of time, based on your budget, group size, and chosen Christmas game. A few minutes of research will go a long way in ensuring a successful visual encounter.
Send your invitations as soon as possible. Even if you decide to have a meeting at the last minute, give enough notice so that your people can plan their work accordingly.
- Bring the festive spirit
Ambiance is important, even with videoconferencing. Choose a Christmas playlist, choose a fun background, and put on your Christmas hat or sweater to create a casual and fun atmosphere.
You don’t have to go over the budget to give a great prize to your Christmas game winners. Choose something small but memorable, or an extra day off. Rewards add an extra incentive to participate, introducing an element of healthy competition between team members.
The conclusion
What are you waiting for? Make this holiday season special for your long distance teams with fun Christmas games! It doesn’t have to take a lot of effort or a big budget—you just need some creativity, a spectacular meeting room, and a dash of holiday cheer. It’s a great opportunity to enrich the experience of your employees and bring some much-needed motivation before your Christmas break, even during an impromptu team meeting.
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