Companies from across the globe are now using virtual meet-ups because of the emergence of hybrid and virtual work. People can now work at home or anywhere outside their workplace. Thus, virtual happy hour is perfect for businesses with virtual employees as they can still get personal and know them even when such employees don’t physically report to the office. If you’re hosting one, make it fun by considering these tips:
Select A Theme
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You can make a virtual happy hour more fun by having a theme. With this, everyone will look forward to what others have prepared relating to the happy hour theme. Without a theme, the participants may conclude that it’s another corporate meeting—a formal one, with minimal interactions and pure work-related discussions.
Change this concept by going for unique themes. Although the party’s virtual, you can still make it enjoyable by setting a theme such as At-Home Disco, Retro, or Home-cation. The participants will then have to comply with the theme, wear an outfit, decorate their background, and talk about related topics.
During the live virtual meet-up, allow each team member to showcase their preparations. Doing this will make everyone relax from work-related stuff, even for just a while.
Use A User-Friendly Platform
A virtual catch-up isn’t complete without a platform that everyone can access. When choosing, consider the type of participants. You can use a free communication tool accessible to everyone. However, some of these tools require having a registered email account to access them. So, be sure everyone prepares and logs in to their accounts before the event.
There are also paid business communication tools with excellent options, a great app interface, and easy to download. You may also go for digital conferencing apps that allow you to play games while video chatting with each other.
Prepare Icebreakers
You should also prepare some icebreakers you can use in case one of the presenters goes offline or has a bad internet connection. Icebreakers can ask challenging questions to challenge the participants’ critical thinking skills.
You can also start the happy hour by throwing fun icebreakers to set the mood right. If you have a spooky theme, you can ask some participants to share their scariest experiences. With such, you can get the conversation flowing while smoothly transitioning to the following activities of the game.
Show Off Your Favorite Drinks
Happy hour isn’t complete without drinks. These drinks include a cocktail, a glass of wine, and a beer. The participants should have one of their faves and make it more fun by asking them to take a pose with their drinks. Or you can ask them about the beverages—why they choose them and how often they drink them. Even better is when you make them concoct their drinks and describe the process and taste during the call.
What’s important is to allow everyone to talk since happy hour’s main goal should be engagement. You can set a timer for each member to speak to ensure no one is missed. It may also be better to allow one or two other people to create a follow-up question, as this can nurture bonding among the team members.
Go For An Ice Cream Float Experience
Hosting a virtual happy hour can also be a non-alcoholic option. Instead of making participants bring alcoholic beverages, let them show off their favorite ice cream. You may also want to let them go to an ice cream parlor in their area. Or, if your company allows it, send an ice cream float kit containing materials and ingredients to help every member make ice cream.
During the call, everyone should be ready to make ice cream while discussing any topics. You can set the topic or focus on tips regarding the activity. You can even ask some team members to sing, dance, or act to make the activity fun.
Wrap up the happy hour by adding homemade ice cream to their chosen drinks, such as cherry soda, orange soda, and root beer. Say ‘Cheers’ and capture a photo to remember the day.
Conclusion
An enjoyable virtual happy hour allows your team to gather as they can in a physical setup. The tip is to use the time to bond by talking about personal stuff or any work-related topics. Doing this can foster a healthy life and work balance since you’re giving time off to your employees, especially if this is a paid session. It can also strengthen your team because they can learn more about their colleagues even when they’re miles away. Try out the tips above for your next virtual happy hour!
