Virtual Background Challenge

How to Play

Setup

1. Choose a video platform that supports virtual backgrounds (e.g., Zoom, Teams, Meet with 3rd-party extension). Confirm participants know how to change backgrounds.
2. Select 3–4 award categories (examples: Funniest, Most Relevant to Our Project, Most Aspirational, Best Optical Illusion).
3. Decide on a quick voting method: built-in poll, chat votes, or emoji reactions. Prepare a simple tallying plan.
4. Share ground rules in advance (SFW images, brand-safe, respect copyright, no sensitive personal info in photos). Encourage participants who can’t use virtual backgrounds to hold an image up to their camera or screen-share a background image behind a window.
5. Timebox: Plan 2–3 minutes for changing backgrounds, then 3–7 minutes for reveals and voting.

How to Play

1. Kickoff (30–60 seconds): The facilitator welcomes everyone, states the categories and timing, and demonstrates how to switch backgrounds.
2. Background Sprint (2–3 minutes): Everyone finds or creates a background that fits one or more categories. Options include custom graphics, meme-style images, aspirational scenes, or clever optical illusions (e.g., appearing to be on a beach while visibly in an office).
3. Reveal Round (3–5 minutes): One by one or in gallery view, participants briefly showcase their background (10–15 seconds each). For larger groups, invite volunteers or sample a subset, or run quick breakout galleries.
4. Voting (1–2 minutes): For each category, participants vote via the chosen method. Encourage quick decisions to keep energy high.
5. Announce Winners (1 minute): Celebrate winners for each category. Offer fun virtual badges, a shout-out in chat, or the right to pick next week’s theme.
6. Debrief (optional, 1 minute): Invite 1–2 participants to share why they chose their background—this helps reveal personality and sparks conversation.

Rules

1. Keep content safe-for-work, inclusive, and respectful. Avoid copyrighted or sensitive images without permission.
2. Timebox strictly to maintain momentum.
3. Everyone gets a fair chance to be seen; for very large groups, rotate who showcases each session.
4. If a participant’s tech doesn’t support virtual backgrounds, they may hold a printed image, place an image on a tablet/phone, or share a static image via screen share.
5. Reduce motion-heavy backgrounds to accommodate motion sensitivity and bandwidth limits.

Tips

• Offer a weekly theme (e.g., Travel Dreams, Movie Magic, Futuristic Offices) to keep it fresh.
• Provide a how-to link for changing virtual backgrounds before the meeting.
• Encourage originality—custom text overlays and subtle Easter eggs are great.
• Use reaction emojis to keep voting snappy.
• Spotlight winners briefly so the group can admire details.
• Capture a screenshot (with consent) for a team newsletter or channel.

Variations

• Theme of the Week: Rotate themes tied to goals (Customer Obsession, Quality, Innovation) for culture reinforcement.
• Guess the Location: Participants pick real places; others guess in chat before the reveal.
• Scavenger Twist: Announce a surprise prompt (include something yellow, a hidden mascot) right before the sprint.
• Duo Mash-Up: Pairs coordinate matching or complementary backgrounds.
• Rapid Rounds: Run two 60-second sprints with different categories for energizing stand-ups.
• Asynchronous: Post backgrounds in a chat channel and vote with reactions over 24 hours for distributed teams.