Try a new platform for your virtual happy hour
Check out Clubhouse or Icebreaker to avoid boring happy hours
Last week I talked about how awesome companies are building a user community and decided to switch my focus to ways teams can internally build communities.
If trends in technology and social interests you, subscribe & share!
___
It’s been over a year since the two-week work from home period that excited many of us, but what we did not foresee was the painstakingly boring virtual happy hours.
Family news, vacation plans, and updates to your work from home rig can only go so far when you are trying to connect with people you are used to keeping up with every day and learning about their life in real-time.
Breaking down two platforms today that can be a fun way to mix up the conversation in two different ways:
Clubhouse: open up to a potentially wider audience with a focus on discussing one topic
Icebreaker: same video call style but have more much fun than you would on a normal conference call
___
Clubhouse is more fun in smaller rooms (less than 50 people)
First off, let’s be clear that it’s not hard to get an invite to Clubhouse.
At this point, so many of your mutual connections are on Clubhouse all you have to do is download the app and someone you know will let you in within the next few days.
Plz do not buy an invite, thanks.
Once you’re on, take some time to explore both rooms big and small. Some of the things I’ve done on Clubhouse:
Listened to a recording of a Kanye West interview
Connected with a friend’s larger network base
Heard 10 people talk over each other trying to promote their service
Asked a sales expert on effective sales cadences that include SMS
Met creators looking to do ads for brands that matter
Guess which one of these was a room with over 50 people in it.
While the larger rooms are pretty sweet because you get the shot at directly asking questions to people like Zuck, Musk, and Sharks from Shark Tank, it’s much harder to actually have a conversation.
The best Clubhouse rooms focus on one specific problem that applies to many people.
So my challenge to you is to think about a non-confidential topic your team could use some outside opinions on, I’ll give you a couple of ideas that might fit your business:
Potential ways blockchain, cryptocurrency & NFTs will affect your business
Effective ways to continually keep tabs on the team’s mental wellness
Having a real conversation about diversity in your team & larger organization
Implementing emerging trends & tools in technology like AI & robotics
How to become better storytellers to get messages across to outside stakeholders
Now go join Clubhouse and if you get addicted, don’t blame me!
___
If the call is supposed to be FUN, don’t use your normal communication tool
Because it still feels like work.
Like you HAVE to be there on the call.
After you have a team-altering conversation on Clubhouse, give Icebreaker a try.
This was recommended to me by a reader and excites me as a way to ditch playing 2 truths & lie or describing your spirit animal to co-workers just to break the ice.
Hella conversation “templates” that can be used at work or at home
The platform has come up with all kinds of ideas to kick off the conversations and act as an actual icebreaker. They do the work of the team socialite so you don’t have to. Check out some below
Avoid awkward chit chat while waiting for everyone to join
I’ve tried a lot of different call tools but this is the first one that actually makes the waiting room fun with the option to watch YouTube videos and chat with other early entrants.
Easy pricing model I can get behind
It’s free to join and you get unlimited calls with up to 40 members and basic functionality then $95/mo for additional capabilities like more organizers and export analytics.