Maybe you receive another email from a name you can’t put to a face. Or one day you realize you don’t know what the person on the other end of the phone looks like despite talking to them everyday. If this is the case, it might be time to up your team-building game.

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IMing platforms are the perfect place for your team to socialize and share things about their daily lives and interests. A stronger bond between individuals means stronger bonds throughout the team. Here are some of the best remote team building ideas that can be done through Discord or Slack starting today.

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Start a water cooler channel

Create a channel designated for hanging-out. This creates a stress-free zone where you can stay in touch with colleagues outside of work (even if still from behind your computer). This is where you can send that adorable picture of your cat playing on your keyboard or the new beach you discovered over the weekend without disrupting the workflow.

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Create interest-based channels

Similar to a water cooler channel but more targeted. If there’s an interested in gardening, create a #gardeninggroup channel where people can share tips, progress, and ask questions. Start a #bookclub for those who like reading, a #foodies group for recipes and colorful dishes, or even an #officemixtape to bond over music. 

Celebrate special occasions

Celebrating special occasions is pretty universal, and who doesn’t appreciate being wished a happy birthday? Create a channel specifically for birthdays, anniversaries, and special achievements and use a calendar extension to set reminders. Nothing brings a team together like a celebration, even if the cake is just an emoji. 🎂

Take gaming breaks

Group gaming is a fun way to alleviate stress while also bonding and having fun. It can also spice up the work day, at certain times of course. Discord and Slack have gaming integrations built-in so it’s super easy to integrate into the work day, just boot up Trivia, Chess, or Tic-Tac-Toe and you're good to go! There are some super fun games to stream from platforms like Steam and Epic, some fun multiplayer games are Don’t Starve Together, Stardew Valley, Among Us, Cards Against Humanity, and more!

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Bonus ice-breaker: Two truths and a lie

For those who haven’t heard of two truths and a lie, everyone shares three statements about themselves and the others have to guess which is the lie. It’s a great ice-breaker to get to know your team or to quiz each other on what you already know! You can learn about their hobbies, history, pets, and anything they choose to share in a fun and engaging way.