Virtual Background Challenge
Perfect for Remote Teams and Online Meetings
Game Overview.
Participants choose creative virtual backgrounds that represent something about themselves. Others guess the meaning behind each background choice.
Objectives
- ✓Utilize video meeting features creatively
- ✓Learn personal interests and passions of team members
- ✓Add fun to virtual meetings
- ✓Encourage creativity and self-expression
What You'll Need
- •Video conferencing platform with virtual background feature (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet)
- •Internet connection
- •Pre-selected images or spontaneous choices
Preparation
- 1Ensure all participants know how to change virtual backgrounds
- 2Optional: Set a theme (e.g., "dream vacation", "favorite movie", "hidden talent")
- 3Send instructions before the meeting if participants need time to prepare
How to Play
STEP 1
Announce the Challenge
At the start of your meeting, announce that everyone should change their virtual background to something meaningful to them.
STEP 2
Give Preparation Time
Allow 2-3 minutes for people to find and set their backgrounds. For spontaneous fun, make them choose quickly!
STEP 3
Share and Guess
Go through participants one by one. Others try to guess what the background represents before the person explains.
STEP 4
Tell the Story
Each person shares the story or meaning behind their background choice. Encourage brief but interesting explanations.
Pro Tips
- Set a theme to make choices more focused and interesting
- Go first as the facilitator to set an example
- Keep explanations brief (30-60 seconds each) for larger groups
- Screenshot the gallery view for a fun team photo
- Consider making this a recurring feature in team meetings
Variations
Themed Backgrounds
Set specific themes like "childhood memories", "bucket list destinations", or "spirit animal".
Guess the Team Member
Have everyone set their background before the meeting. Turn off cameras and try to guess who chose which background.
Background Story Competition
Vote on the most creative background or most interesting story behind a background.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if someone doesn't have virtual background capability?
Make it optional or suggest alternatives like holding up an object, showing a photo on their phone, or simply describing their choice.
How long should this activity take?
For a team of 10, budget about 5-7 minutes total. Adjust based on your meeting schedule.
Can we do this every meeting?
Yes! Rotate themes weekly to keep it fresh. Examples: Motivational Mondays, Throwback Thursdays, Fun Fact Fridays.
Tags
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