How To Play Ice Breaker Bingo With Your Team
Remote and hybrid work is here to stay, and people are working from all around the world. There are many benefits to this, but it can be difficult to build a team when everyone is located in a different time zone. Also, there is a chance for remote team members to feel isolated, lonely and frustrated.
In order to build a happy remote team, it is important to have time dedicated to team building activities and bonding. This can take many forms, but one of the most popular activities is icebreaker bingo. It is a great way for people on a team to get to know each other and break the ice.
But what is it, how do you play, and how do you make it work for your remote team? Let’s find out.
What is ice breaker bingo?
Bingo is a game of chance where players hope to fill a card with numbers called out from a "bingo card" or "ball set". The first person who has completed their card by filling in all the spaces required (this could be five in a row, four corners, full card, etc.) with numbers or names called out from the designated ball set wins.
For icebreaker bingo, you can use prompts instead of numbers, like “this person knows how to make latte art,” and players will then mark off the correct team member. Another way to play is to have questions/prompts for the players where they can answer their own card according to their experiences and preferences.
This game is a simple and easy way to make the work environment more welcoming and positive. It's a game that doesn't require many materials, so you can play it anytime, anywhere over Zoom!
How do you play ice breaker Bingo?
Come up with your bingo questions
Set the date and time
Create your virtual bingo cards
Let your team prepare for the game
Start the game and keep everything smooth
Add prizes for winners
Use feedback to your advantage
Playing ice breaker bingo with your team is not just about having fun - it can also be a great way to build relationships within the team. You will get to know your teammates on a more personal level, which will make it easier for you to work together in the future. Here’s how to play this great team building game at work. Here’s how to play virtual bingo!
1. Come up with your bingo questions
Creating your bingo questions can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. You can either create specific questions about the team or just general ice breaker questions. Make a list of intriguing items that could describe one or more of your employees. Classify them into various questions that you may use as bingo prompts, like “speaks 3 languages,” “has lived in London,” or “owns a pet bird,“ for example. If you happen to know a lot about your employees, you can use what they like, dislike, or facts about where they live to create as many bingo questions as possible. If it happens that you don’t know much about your employees or don’t want to sound too intruding in their personal lives, you can use general ice breaker questions to still create a fun virtual team building bingo experience..
2. Set the date and time
A great way to organize a successful ice breaker bingo event with your remote team is to choose a date and time that works for everyone. This will help ensure that every team member can participate without feeling pressured or rushed.
3. Create your virtual bingo cards
You can make your own virtual bingo cards and fill them with words or names that match your theme or questions. Or, you can use the help of professionals - Bar None Games offers an engaging virtual team building bingo event that will be the highlight of your team’s week (or even year!).
4. Let your team prepare for the game
Prepare your team for the virtual meeting bingo game by setting up the rules and guidelines before you start playing. Make sure that everyone understands what their role is when they play the game and what their objectives are.
5. Start the game and keep everything smooth
Once the bingo session starts, teams should ensure that everything is going well through moderators or hosts. The moderators should keep everything intact on Zoom, so that the technical aspects don’t distract anyone from the game. The moderators should also make sure that they are not interrupting the flow of the game and that they are keeping their activities relevant to what is happening in the game. A great host will also keep the crowd entertained and engaged!
6. Add prizes for winners
A good idea is to reward the team with a prize when they win a game. A prize for the winners when playing a virtual game with your remote team is a great way to keep the game exciting. It also encourages participation and makes it more enticing for the players to put in their best effort. This can be anything from points towards your employee rewards system, a gift card for their next coffee, or company swag.
7. Use feedback to your advantage
Virtual games are a great way to get your remote team members together and have some fun. It is important to ask for feedback and reactions after you play a virtual game with your remote team. This will help you plan future events and figure out what kind of activities work best for your team.
Ice breaker bingo themes to explore with your team
A bingo card can be a great tool for ice breaker games. It helps participants explore different topics and learn more about one another in the process. These games are a lot of fun and can help you create a sense of camaraderie among your team members. Let’s explore some ice breaker bingo ideas to play with your team.
Holiday ice breaker bingo
This is a great ice breaker bingo theme for the holidays and can be played in teams of two or more - perfect for any team size.The goal of this game is for players to find Bingo cards that have words that are related to the holidays on them. The first person who finds all five words on their card wins! It helps to get in the mood for the holidays, and it also helps to break some of the ice between team members. Some questions to explore here include favorite holidays, best family holiday traditions, great holiday movies, or the best holiday gifts. It’s also great if you tailor your ice breaker bingo to a specific holiday event like Christmas/Winter Holidays, New Year’s, or Halloween.
Virtual team building bingo
The goal of this theme is to help employees get to know one another better and have some fun. It can be used by companies as a team-building activity at the start of a virtual meeting, or even just for a fun break in the workday. The game starts with the facilitator drawing a card from the deck and reading out the prompt. This can be set up similarly to icebreaker bingo, or you can play a version where players will have to complete a task before checking off their box. The instructions may say "get up and do this," or "find someone who has done this," etc.
Getting to know you bingo
Bingo is a game that has been around for centuries, but it has evolved and changed with the times. Today, there are many variations on the game that you can play in order to get to know your team better. One of these variations is called Getting To Know You Bingo. This version of bingo requires players to answer questions about themselves before they can mark off their cards.
Summer-themed ice breaker bingo
It may seem far away - but we can start daydreaming about sunny summer days! Summer is the ideal season for a brief respite from work. With entertaining activities and friendly competitions, you can use a summer-themed ice breaker bingo to get everyone in the summertime mood. This offers your team the opportunity to relate memories of childhood games like water balloon fights and running through sprinklers. It will also give them the opportunity to share their summer plans and dreams with each other, making the ice breaker more meaningful.
Organize a virtual team building bingo event for your team
Ice breaker bingo is a fun game that will help you have a better understanding of your remote team members. It is also an excellent opportunity for all the members of your team to connect with one another in a fun way. We offer different types of games for different group sizes, so whether you are hosting a small meeting or an all-hands event, Bar None Games has the perfect virtual game for you.