Many teams and companies are currently struggling with the same question: how to build and maintain team spirit? One concrete problem is the problem of Christmas parties. According to a recently published study, teleworking does not so much reduce productivity, but team cohesion and innovation suffer. Something should be done together to create the right atmosphere, but how do you close the year together at the height of the season?

Tip 1: give the event an appropriate name (probably not "Christmas party").

The name matters, it sets expectations and downloads. The "Autumn Closing" Zoom, which exceeded expectations, is better than the lame remote Christmases that fell short of expectations. Therefore, in many cases, it may be wise to either postpone or not hold the party and organise a joint closing party under a different name for a busy autumn. In this way, the event is looked forward to with open eyes. Of course, there are also situations and communities where the name "Christmas party" also works well for a remote party.

Tip 2: think carefully about the time of the event. 

Expectations and demands are much higher in the evening. In most cases, it is worth considering running the programme at least mainly during working hours, so that, for example, family or hobbies do not compete for time and attention. In addition, you can offer the possibility of "extensions" for those who are interested.

Tip 3: it is usually not worth informing people in detail about the programme in advance. 

A lot of things are really nice when you start doing them after drinking in a shared mood. When you read the instructions alone beforehand, it's easy to get preconceived and disappointed. Some things are still worth telling in advance - such as whether you expect the video to be on during the remote meeting, from what time the event will run, whether you need to book refreshments or how and when they will be delivered - but usually not the exact content of the programme.

Tip 4: "It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it" as the song says. 

It's usually not about whether origami folding is fun in itself, but whether you feel like you're getting enough instruction, what the atmosphere is like, and whether it's connected to something interesting (like origami from our departments or projects vs. origami just because). If you're not sure how to lead into a topic, ask someone with experience in the field for help.

Tip 5: An outsider helps sell the new activity to participants

There are two reasons for this. We have ideas and expectations of each other, it is difficult to see a familiar person in a new role. Secondly, being a guest helps: the outsider is listened to more carefully and can be brought into the group more easily. It could be someone from another department or a professional presenter, but a little bit of an outsider brings an exotic atmosphere that often makes people more willing to try something new.

Tip 6: Story and pace are important!

The best jugglers can throw a lot of bowls, but even three balls can make for an even more entertaining show when it's connected to the story and progresses in an interesting way. That's why it's probably worth doing that fun drawing exercise you've come up with about something significant, like company strategy or a Christmas carol at a board meeting. Whatever we do, it's worth linking it to something of shared significance. It's good to move the situation along at a pace that doesn't allow participants to look at the clock or get bored. Pace is a demanding issue with a group: on the one hand, you have to be calm, but on the other hand, it is not good to be slow.

Tip 7: Boundaries facilitate creativity. 

It is usually easier to quickly name five animals than five nouns. It is easier to think of many ways to use a chair to commit a crime than to think of how to use a chair. If you are asked to do something creative, don't be afraid to draw boundaries.

Tip 8: Don't pretend you're doing the perfect event. 

On the contrary, you can joke at the appropriate point that, considering the expectations, this is going well, or whoops, that went like that, and the next one will be a really good thing. This is a demanding question: on the one hand, the presenter or host of the situation must present things with full force and with the feeling that this is a good thing and now this is being done, without apologising - on the other hand, sometimes a little self-criticism can do a lot of good and put the presenter on the same side as the others.

Tip 9: Use meta-speech (appropriately), depending on the situation. 

If you notice that some people are getting bored, you can, for example, verbalise your comment and say that we're going to pick up the pace. That way you're with the group.

Tip 10: If you have common items, open the packages together 

If you deliver something to the participants in advance, please instruct them to open the package at the same time at the event. This is the best way to maintain the atmosphere. Contrast this with a situation where, for example, decorations sit on the corner of your desk for a week without you knowing what they are for.

Below you will find a list of 48 things you could do!

According to many guidelines, the outdoors is much safer than the indoors. The challenge, of course, is the possibility of horizontal sleet, so clothing should be appropriate and/or the time spent outside should be reasonably short.

Below are some outdoor ideas. Most of these can either be done by you or commissioned from a programme company to suit your style and budget. I have linked below to some experience providers, mainly in the region of Pirkanmaa and PK, especially when they have a good idea. I appreciate their development work and want to share information about them in addition to presenting the idea. I don't know most of these providers, but I generally encourage them to use their services and support me in the middle of the interest rate.

1. To the campfire for hot pot coffee, to make salmon, etc. You can rent a lodge in different parts of Finland. The programme can be adapted, speeches, presentations, whatever you want.
2. Fire cooking challenge: food, fire and wood for groups.
3. Outdoor competition, with an Olympic theme
4. Intriguing forest adventure
5. Llamava walk in the forest sounds very strange, but I have heard a couple of good experiences with it. So everyone has a llama to lead.
6. Guided (stick) walk and outdoor dining - you can also hear new stories about your hometown on a guided tour, for example in Tampere.
7. Hillclimb, you can also find other activities on the same page.
8. Frisbee golf is a low-threshold sport to try, and it's also easy to keep your distance from others. Here, as in many other such activities, it's worth having guidance from someone who knows the sport. You can practise throwing and also go around in groups for at least a short lap.
9. Urban navigation, possibly electronically assisted, for example in small groups, with something to do together at the end.
10. It depends on the weather whether the ski resorts in southern Finland will open before the Christmas period, but they often do. For those who don't ski, there is usually a sledging option, and in both cases it is important to cater.
11. ADDITION ON THE BASIS OF THE RETURN I RECEIVED ON 9.11.: Pussiglögit aka Glössipukit. Glögg from the shop, either heated and in a thermos or just cold. The style may involve transporting the supplies in a plastic bag from the shop. This can also be applied to the terrace of a restaurant: a heater and professional service can improve the service, but the underground atmosphere suffers.

Safely inside - each employer, and each region, has its own rules on whether to meet inside at all, whether to wear masks, what size crowds and at what distances.

12. At the moment, you can book an exceptionally large event space if you are organising something inside. Now there are a lot of cancellations, so the spaces are empty. So you can find a disproportionately large space for a group at a reasonable price.
13. Indoor activities over long distances can be combined with outdoor activities, e.g. start with an outdoor activity and have a common talk in a safe space indoors.
14. If small groups meet each other at work anyway, but you don't want to have a company-wide meeting because of the interest rate, you can do a hybrid mini party: small groups are together in the same room, but part of the programme is shared via Teams/Zoom/Meet. 
15. Indoor sports can be studied from the point of view of distances "with that eye", for example curling can be played while maintaining distances when the brushers agree on the division of labour and do not brush at the same time. Curling can also be coached in several locations.
16. On weekdays during the day, you can book the rink for skating practice. It is advisable to take a skating, figure skating or ice hockey coach.
17. To the ski slope to ski. If you can book a tube for yourself on a weekday, it's quite easy to keep safe distances.
18. If you end up inside and need to wear masks, you can stock up on unscented water-soluble markers for your hands to decorate your own mask. This will lighten the mood nicely. .

It is challenging to organise something new remotely when so much has already been done. Here's a list of different possibilities to stimulate you.

General activities at a distance

19. Shared meals, even a little more special. Exceptionally, the tax authorities now allow catering services paid for by the employer to be provided remotely, without any tax advantage for the employees. If you are holding your party at a distance, it is probably worth taking advantage of this.
20. Decorating a cupcake or gingerbread. Send everyone a package with decorating supplies and a treat to decorate. Each person draws a colleague to decorate for. A little time for decorating - and then guess who everyone has decorated for and hear the background and explanations. "I decorated for you like this because..." You can also use materials from home. You can put other things you have in common and a possible Christmas present in the same package. 
21. Folding origami (or other crafting) remotely, using a normal A4 sheet as a starting point. As the tips say, it's worth tying in the theme of creative making to something common.
22. Writing poems, for example haiku, on work-related themes. A clear format makes it easy to do. This, like many other creative activities, needs a skilled facilitator to help overcome obstacles.
23. Mindfulness or yoga at a distance. Of course, only if the group is generally interested in the topic. On a couple of occasions I have been involved in a very successful mindfulness tea session. At best, the implementation is concise and at the right point in the programme. 
24. An evening of remote talent. If there are people in the group who are brave enough to show off their skills, this can work. I've been involved in a workplace remote project where the musicians were found within the group. This requires asking in advance, it's very rare that performances come about spontaneously. 
25. Who's most likely to... ask a question, each person writes an answer and press enter in the chat at the same time. For example, who has the most Christmas lights, who has the biggest veggie ham, who puts off buying presents until later, who travels the furthest on their holiday, who sleeps the longest on Christmas holidays, etc. Pick the most guessed person from each round and give them a title and a small prize.
26. A Christmas package or remembrance can be thought of in terms of a programme and opening the packages can be part of a joint activity. In a distance environment, one possibility is to get a different gift for each person. In this case, it's a good idea to brainstorm in a group, so that everyone can suggest gifts for each other. This is more work than buying a bottle of wine or a Christmas basket, but presenting the package on camera can bring some soul to an otherwise remote Christmas.

Remote external performers or programmes

27. Virtual cartoon workshop - learn how to make cartoons. This can be both fun and useful. (Note: I was a co-founder of Pussycats, so I may be biased).
28. Christmas card drawing workshop, also from Tussikers.
29. Stand-up comedians can work well remotely, especially if they tailor their performance at least to some extent to the group and the situation. 
30. A speaker to give a speech remotely - for Christmas parties, the topic could be lighter. For example, there are plenty of speakers on the Speakers' Corner.
31. A remote gig by a band or musician. Support the artists at the same time!
32. Improvised music from professionals, with the possibility of including content from the company and the group. So the audience can ask for songs about a current project, IT systems or anything else. There are many improvisational theatre groups and a few specialised bands in Finland, e.g. Katriinamies-improduo, where I have good experience.
33. Virtual cooking course 
34. Remote chocolate tasting (or any other remote tasting).

Remote electronic exercises and games

35. Alongside the rest of the programme, "bullshit bingo" remotely, on topics such as teleworking vocabulary.
36. Scripts competition. The competition can be taken as a relay, where several people are in the same team. 
37. For spreadsheet art (all colors and characters allowed), you can make a base with cells in a square shape.
38. Can you hear me? One of the team members takes a random picture. His/her task is to describe the picture, and the others draw it. There are constraints on the description, such as only being able to use geometric shapes and their positions. You can also limit the time or the number of words. Drawing can be done on paper or digitally. The pictures are presented and the illustrator chooses the most appropriate picture to be drawn next. This is a great way to practice effective online communication!
39. Guessing your favourite emoji. Most instant messengers (Slack, Teams, etc.) group the user's most frequently used favorites separately or first. Team members guess from each colleague which are their most used emoticons.
40. Guess who's on the mothers. Preparation: take a screen shot of the smiley faces in the instant messenger and name the rows and columns as you would in a spreadsheet (e.g. B5 is a specific smiley face). One team member starts. His/her task is to show one smiley face, leaving the others to guess what it is. The first guesser plays the next one. Usually this can be done by free speech as in Pictionary, so no limit on the number of guesses etc.
41. "Virtual cocktail event". Split into groups (e.g. Zoom breakout rooms), free to change groups, with topics assigned to each group. For example, bad jokes, account of autumn events, "you're a good guy" group, i.e. positive feedback to colleagues, etc. So it's reminiscent of the Open space facilitation technique, in a very simple way. Works for example towards the end of an event.

Team discussions about us, work, etc. in a relaxed atmosphere

42. SmoothTeam has eight simulations, three of which can work for Christmas. Not only is the simulation fun, but you also get to know your colleagues. The simulation breaks the ice for discussions about who we each are. The best way to celebrate a Christmas party Team strengths(This and the next two are from us, feel free to ask for more.)
43. Similar to the previous one, SmoothTeam's Agility Simulation is also cheerful in nature and suitable for a Christmas party.
44. SmoothTeam management team simulation also works for non-management teams when the work of the team is self-directed in nature. This is another option to try, especially if the team has already played the two simulations mentioned above.
45. Stories about us, for example: everyone puts a few words on a virtual sticky note about their own history, with a headline about a story that others don't know but could tell. So it's up to each person to choose whether the story is personal or work-related, funny, touching or whatever. Short stories will be discussed. 
46. Quiz how we know our colleagues (or the history of the company or something else). kahoot.com works well as a real-time quiz, even remotely, and is used a lot in schools. For example, each team member can be asked one question about his or her background, with four options (of course, everyone can answer his or her own correctly, but that's OK, the questioner can't participate, he or she can just plot the situation).
47. A facilitated unwinding of a year or a mood, focusing above all on positive experiences. Warn in advance that everyone will be thinking about praise for their colleagues. Go through the feedback verbally or ask for short videos from everyone beforehand.
48. OPENING 9.11. Closing of the season and joint evaluation of the work and achievements of the past season. I link here to a video by Karoliina Jarenko, where she goes through questions and ways to deal with them at the end of the season, e.g. at Christmas parties. Karoliina also gives a good articulation of why it is worth having a Christmas party even at the height of the season and what can be achieved.

All of these are stimuli to use as a basis for your own brainstorming and to mix and match!

If you want, you can read about how SmoothTeam works at Christmas. You can also find information on SmoothTeam simulations for non-Christmas purposes on our website.

Can you think of more ideas? I'm happy to add to the list! Send an email to aleksis.nokso-koivisto (at-merkki) smoothteam.net