Having coworkers in offices across the country or around the world — or at individual desks, in the case of remote staff — makes team building challenging. When there’s no single, shared break room or proverbial water cooler to gather around, team bonds have to take hold in other ways.

The key is intentionality. When you make team building a priority, it’s easy to find moments both big and small to foster a sense of community at work. Here’s how.

1. Create a forum for friendly communication
   Start a Slack or Teams thread where employees can share appropriate personal updates, like photos of their pets or recent travels. By providing safe spaces to share non-work news, you can help coworkers find common interests and bond.
2. Post an engaging question of the week
   Each week, post a fun or thought-provoking question on your company’s Slack or Teams co-working thread. Invite employees to post their responses throughout the week, as their work schedules allow. Ask questions like, “What was your favorite toy as a kid?” or “What was the most impactful piece of advice you ever received?” Giving staff the opportunity to show their true personalities can help teams build an affinity for coworkers that extends far beyond job duties.
3. Build a staff music playlist
   Create shared Spotify or YouTube playlists for various workday moods — think themes like “Get Energized” and “Crunch Time” or “Chill Concentration.” Invite staff to contribute song suggestions to each list as inspiration strikes. Employees can bond with coworkers over shared musical tastes or explore entirely new music styles through others’ recommendations.
4. Plan fun Zoom socials
   Your teams are likely accustomed to hopping on video calls for staff meetings or project updates. But what about mixing things up with a virtual ice cream or popcorn party? Or a sip-your-favorite-regional-soft-drink social? A few times a year, break up the Friday workday with a fun, 30-minute virtual get-together and invite staff to enjoy a snack or (nonalcoholic) drink break together online. Switch up the snack theme for each social, and rotate the start times so staff in every time zone, whether U.S.-based or international, get a turn ringing in the weekend.
5. Schedule a digital team-building game
   Several companies and apps offer digital team-building games that can help staff build community even when they’re not working together in person. Think digital escape rooms, trivia games, virtual scavenger hunts, karaoke and more. These experiences offer a great opportunity for small groups of coworkers to have fun and connect — without the time and travel expense of an in-person corporate retreat.

This is just a start, of course. Creating a team-oriented mentality across time zones requires commitment and creativity. Throughout the year, look for new and unexpected ways for staff to positively engage with one another online, beyond deadlines and bottom lines.

When employees see administrators intentionally creating safe digital spaces where everyone can get to know one another, team building tends to come naturally — regardless of the physical distance that may separate desks.