As remote work becomes a permanent part of many organizations, building an inclusive workplace is more important than ever. When team members are spread across different locations, sometimes even across different countries, it can be easy for individuals to feel disconnected or overlooked.
This is why fostering inclusion in a virtual environment isn’t just a good thing; it’s essential for creating a culture where everyone feels valued.
Of course, creating an inclusive culture in virtual teams comes with its challenges. Without the natural interactions of a physical environment, like casual chats in the breakroom or spontaneous celebrations of diverse holidays, it can take extra effort to ensure that everyone feels connected.
But here’s the upside: remote work offers incredible opportunities to embrace diversity in new and creative ways. Virtual events and inclusion activities can bring teams together, allowing them to learn from different perspectives and celebrate the rich diversity of their colleagues.
We’ll explore a variety of virtual diversity and inclusion activities, from cultural awareness events and team-building exercises to discussions that promote mutual respect and understanding. Whether you’re looking to enhance employee engagement, celebrate different cultures, or create equal opportunities for learning, these ideas are a great way to bring your team closer together—no matter where they are.
Why Virtual Diversity and Inclusion Activities Matter
The virtual environment can feel isolating. When team members are working from home or spread across time zones, the sense of connection that comes naturally in a physical workplace can get lost.
That’s where virtual diversity and inclusion activities come in. They help bridge the gap, creating a sense of community and fostering mutual respect among team members with diverse backgrounds.
These activities play a crucial role in shaping an inclusive workplace. When we take the time to celebrate different cultures, recognize lived experiences, and listen to diverse perspectives, we send a clear message: every voice matters. Inclusion efforts, even in a virtual setting, are about more than just ticking a box—they’re about ensuring that everyone feels seen, valued, and respected.
Virtual events like cultural exchange sessions, unconscious bias training, or guest speaker talks can also deepen team bonds. By encouraging team members to share their cultural backgrounds or personal experiences, these activities open the door to understanding and empathy.
This isn’t just a feel-good exercise; it’s the foundation of strong, collaborative teams. When people understand where their colleagues are coming from, they’re more likely to work together with trust and mutual support.
Beyond the immediate impact on team dynamics, inclusion activities can also transform a company’s culture. They’re a powerful tool for boosting employee engagement, especially for remote teams where feelings of isolation can affect morale.
Employees who feel connected and appreciated are more likely to stay with a company and contribute meaningfully to its success. Plus, a company culture that prioritizes diversity and inclusion is far more likely to attract and retain top talent from a diverse workforce.
Inclusion efforts aren’t just about the here and now; they’re about laying the groundwork for a stronger, more united workplace in the long run. With virtual diversity activities, we have a unique opportunity to break down barriers and bring people together, no matter where they’re located. It’s not just a good idea; it’s one of the best ways to build a team that thrives in today’s remote work reality.
Key Ideas for Virtual Diversity Activities
Bringing diversity and inclusion to life in a virtual environment doesn’t have to feel like just another item on your to-do list. It can be fun, engaging, and, yes, even inspiring.
Virtual activities are a great way to celebrate different perspectives and help team members learn more about each other’s cultural backgrounds and experiences. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Cultural Awareness Activities
Sometimes the best way to connect is through food, history, and shared stories. These activities allow team members to explore and appreciate the richness of diverse cultures.
- Virtual Cultural Potlucks: Celebrate diverse holidays and cultural traditions by inviting everyone to share a dish that’s meaningful to their background. During a video call, team members can show off their creations, talk about their cultural significance, and learn from each other’s experiences.
- Cultural Exchange Sessions: These are a great opportunity for team members to share personal experiences or cultural heritage. Whether it’s a story about a family tradition or insight into a unique celebration, these exchanges can be powerful moments of connection. You could do this in a dedicated Slack channel, for example.
- Virtual Museum Tours: Take your team on an online tour of museums that showcase cultural diversity and historical achievements. It’s an easy way to build cultural awareness without anyone having to leave their homes.
Discussion-Based Activities
Great conversations often lead to meaningful understanding. These activities encourage open dialogue and provide a platform to tackle important topics.
- Virtual Book Clubs: Choose books that focus on cultural differences, gender equality, or mental health, and host regular discussions. It’s a low-pressure way to explore new ideas and perspectives while building stronger connections within your team.
- Movie Nights: Screen films that highlight diverse perspectives or focus on specific topics like inclusion or social justice. Follow up with an open dialogue to share thoughts and reactions.
- Guest Speakers: Invite experts or advocates to speak about the importance of diversity, gender identity, or disability awareness. These sessions not only educate but also inspire action within your team.
For further discussion options, consider using Randi B.’s Truthing Cards to help spark authentic, meaningful conversations that lead to deeper connections. These cards are designed to encourage reflection and understanding, whether you’re engaging with the Black community or exploring diverse perspectives in larger groups.
The simplicity of the Truthing Cards is what makes them so impactful. With no complicated rules or setups, these open-ended questions are designed to encourage honest conversations and active participation, no matter the setting.
Interactive Team Activities
If you’re looking for something more hands-on, these activities are a fun way to encourage collaboration while keeping diversity and inclusion at the forefront.
- Virtual Escape Rooms: These are a great way to mix collaboration with friendly competition. Teams work together to solve puzzles, which can also highlight the strength of diverse perspectives in problem-solving.
- Diversity Team-Building Activities: Exercises like inclusion games or the diversity flower activity (where team members reflect on the different facets of their identities) are fun ways to explore the many things that make us unique.
- Remote Team-Building Sessions: Incorporate inclusion efforts into smaller groups or entire teams. Focus on exercises that encourage connection and mutual respect while reinforcing an inclusive culture.
The Diversity Flower Activity
The diversity flower activity is a simple, yet impactful exercise that helps team members reflect on and celebrate the many facets of their identities. Here’s how it works:
- Prepare a Template: Each participant gets a “flower” diagram with a center circle and several petals extending outward. The center represents the individual, and the petals represent different aspects of their identity, such as:
- Cultural background
- Gender identity
- Sexual orientation
- Socioeconomic background
- Education level
- Hobbies or interests
- Family traditions
- Religious or spiritual beliefs
- Fill Out the Flower: Participants write or draw something in each petal that reflects their identity. For instance, someone might write “first-generation college graduate” in one petal and “loves hiking” in another.
- Share and Discuss: In smaller groups or during a team meeting, participants share their flowers with each other. This creates a space for team members to learn about each other’s unique experiences and perspectives.
Virtual Events for Special Occasions
Celebrating meaningful events is an excellent way to foster inclusion and cultural understanding while offering team members access to shared learning experiences.
- Black History Month: Host a virtual museum tour featuring exhibits on Black history and cultural achievements. Follow it up with a virtual meeting to discuss what team members learned and how it relates to their personal experiences.
- Women’s History Month: Organize a virtual panel with female leaders from your company or industry. This is a great opportunity to highlight women in leadership while offering support and inspiration to aspiring team members.
- Pride Month: Plan a multicultural movie night featuring films that focus on LGBTQ+ stories and perspectives. After the movie, facilitate an open discussion about themes like inclusion and identity.
Interactive DEI Activities
For more interactive approaches, focus on engaging exercises that encourage collaboration, dialogue, and connection.
- Fun Diversity Team-Building Activities: Try activities like trivia games centered around cultural traditions or a “show and tell” where team members share an item or story tied to their heritage. These activities are perfect for small teams looking to connect in a more personal way.
- Unconscious Bias Workshops: Organize a session for small groups to learn about and discuss unconscious biases. This is an excellent way for team members to develop a deeper understanding of how bias shapes interactions and workplace dynamics.
Learning Opportunities for Professional Growth
Virtual DEI activities can also focus on development and mentorship, creating an inclusive work environment where everyone has access to growth opportunities.
- Disability Awareness Training: Host a training session to build awareness and understanding of how to create inclusive practices for employees with disabilities.
- Mentorship Program: Pair employees from diverse backgrounds with mentors in leadership roles. This helps develop leadership skills while promoting equal opportunities.
- Guest Speakers: Invite experts to discuss specific topics, like gender equality or cultural diversity in the workplace, during a virtual meeting or happy hour.
For these activities to truly make a difference, ensure they are part of a larger strategy to promote a diverse workplace and inclusive work environment. Use employee resource groups to guide planning and offer support for team leaders who may need help facilitating conversations. These efforts not only bring teams closer together but also contribute to long-term cultural transformation within the organization.
The key to making these activities successful is creating a safe space where everyone feels comfortable participating.
How to Host Virtual Inclusion Activities
Hosting virtual inclusion activities takes more than just picking the right activity. It’s about creating an environment where every team member feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences. A safe, welcoming space is essential for fostering open dialogue and building trust within diverse teams. Here are some best practices to help your inclusion efforts succeed.
Create a Safe Space
Before you start any activity, set clear ground rules to ensure everyone feels respected. Emphasize that the goal is to learn from one another, not to judge or debate. Encourage active listening and let team members know it’s okay to pass on questions if they’re not comfortable sharing. A safe space is one where everyone’s voice matters and no one feels pressured.
Use Smaller Groups to Encourage Participation
Some people thrive in smaller groups, especially when discussing personal experiences or topics tied to identity, like cultural backgrounds or gender identity. Breaking a large virtual team into smaller groups allows for more intimate conversations, making it easier for team members to open up and share their diverse perspectives. This is especially important for underrepresented team members who may feel more comfortable contributing in smaller settings.
Be Mindful of Language
Inclusive language is a small effort that makes a big impact. Use terms that respect all identities, such as using “partner” instead of assuming marital status or “team members” instead of “guys.”
Avoid jargon or phrases that could alienate individuals from different cultural or educational backgrounds. Language shapes perception, so ensure it reflects mutual respect and the inclusive environment you’re striving to create.
Tailor Activities to Build Awareness
Inclusion activities are a great opportunity to address unconscious biases and build cultural knowledge. Choose exercises that highlight specific goals, such as recognizing privilege, celebrating cultural diversity, or promoting equal opportunities.
For example, use activities like a virtual cultural potluck to celebrate diverse holidays, or unconscious bias training to help team members recognize and challenge their own assumptions.
Support Team Leaders
Your team leaders play a key role in the success of virtual inclusion activities. Offer training and resources to help them facilitate discussions with empathy and confidence. This might include leadership skills workshops or guides on managing open dialogue in a virtual environment. A well-prepared leader sets the tone for meaningful conversations and ensures that everyone feels heard and valued.
By following these best practices, you create a foundation for successful inclusion activities that go beyond the surface. They’ll help you foster mutual respect, encourage participation from diverse employees, and lay the groundwork for a more inclusive workplace. When people feel safe, respected, and empowered to share, that’s when the real magic happens.
How Virtual Activities Drive Positive Change
Virtual diversity and inclusion activities can have a profound impact on teams, fostering mutual respect, strengthening connections, and driving positive change. Even in a virtual environment, these activities create opportunities for learning, collaboration, and understanding that extend far beyond the screen.
Building Respect and Connection
Take the example of a virtual book club that focuses on cultural differences or gender equality. One team hosted monthly discussions on books exploring diverse perspectives, and the results were transformative. Team members from different cultural backgrounds shared their personal experiences, which helped others see the world through new lenses. It wasn’t just about the books—it was about building respect for one another and forming deeper connections.
In another instance, a company organized a virtual cultural potluck where employees celebrated diverse holidays. One team member shared a family recipe tied to their cultural heritage, explaining its significance during a video call. This simple activity brought the team closer together, allowing them to appreciate the traditions and stories that shaped their colleagues’ lives.
Benefits of Inclusion and Culture
Virtual DEI initiatives help create an inclusive culture by opening the door to understanding cultural differences and promoting a sense of belonging. Activities like unconscious bias training or guest speaker events addressing disability awareness give employees tools to recognize and address biases in their own behavior. These initiatives encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work, which is critical for cultivating an inclusive workplace.
Virtual diversity activities also provide a safe space for team members to engage with topics like gender identity, unconscious biases, and cultural traditions in a way that feels approachable. This can lead to a cultural transformation where mutual respect becomes the norm, and different viewpoints are celebrated as strengths.
Impact on Engagement and Retention
When employees feel connected to their team and valued for who they are, their engagement skyrockets. Virtual inclusion activities help create that connection, even for remote teams. Employees are more likely to stay with a company that prioritizes inclusion and offers meaningful opportunities for dialogue and collaboration.
For example, a company that incorporated monthly inclusion games and cultural exchange sessions saw a notable increase in employee engagement scores. Team members reported feeling more connected to their colleagues and more invested in the company’s mission. Over time, this engagement translated into better retention rates and a more positive overall company culture.
A Stronger Workplace
The ripple effects of virtual inclusion activities go far beyond individual events. They help organizations build a diverse workforce, foster inclusive environments, and strengthen team dynamics. When employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to share their perspectives, they contribute their best efforts—and that’s how a company thrives.
By committing to these initiatives, companies create more than just an inclusive workplace. They create a space where employees from all backgrounds feel they belong, and that’s the kind of culture that drives success. Virtual inclusion activities may seem like small steps, but their impact can be truly transformational.
The Ripple Effect of Virtual Diversity and Inclusion Activities
The power of virtual diversity and inclusion activities lies in their ability to spark understanding, build mutual respect, and strengthen connections across teams. By embracing these efforts, companies create an environment where diverse employees feel valued, heard, and inspired to contribute their unique perspectives. This sense of belonging doesn’t just improve morale—it drives creativity, collaboration, and overall success.
Choose one or two activities that resonate with your team—something simple yet engaging—and take the first step toward fostering a workplace where diversity is celebrated, and inclusion is a way of life. Each activity is an opportunity to learn from one another, deepen connections, and create a workplace culture that makes everyone proud to be a part of it.
Let’s make inclusion not just an initiative but a shared value that brings teams together, no matter where they are in the world.
