👉 Article Overview: This guide delivers creative, impactful sales kickoff activities for remote employees to drive engagement, collaboration, and momentum across your entire sales organization.
The first quarter of the year sets the tone for everything that follows.
A virtual sales kickoff meeting ignites the energy, focus, and alignment needed to drive the sales team forward. It’s about creating engaging, interactive experiences that connect remote employees, boost morale, and sharpen sales strategies.
A successful sales kickoff isn’t bound by location. It thrives in the virtual space, powered by creative ideas, strategic planning, and activities designed to captivate and energize the entire sales team.
Whether it’s breakout rooms filled with brainstorming sessions or competitive team-building activities, these virtual sales kickoff ideas bring remote teams together and prepare them for the upcoming year.
Let’s get started!
🔎 What are you looking for?Jump to the section below for a deeper dive into these sales kickoff activities. |
Sales Kickoff Activities For Remote Employees
1. Submit a Pre-Event Survey
Kickstart your virtual sales kickoff by distributing a pre-event survey to all participants. This survey helps organizers identify key concerns, expectations, and obstacles faced by the sales team.
It’s an opportunity to align the agenda with participants’ priorities in order to have a more relevant and engaging event. Ask questions like: “What are your biggest challenges in the sales process?” or “What do you hope to gain from this successful sales kickoff?” Use the responses to shape activities and discussions, ensuring the SKO resonates with your team.
Intended Impact: Tailor the kickoff to reflect the current needs of your team in order to have a stronger engagement and relevant takeaways.
Tip! Send your survey at least two weeks before the event and highlight how the collected feedback will be used to enhance the experience.
2. Virtual Lunch
Happy client Brooke’s experience:
“Having the option to choose your food delivery service was great and inclusive for all employees scattered across multiple states!”
Host a virtual lunch party where team members can enjoy their meals together while participating in lighthearted conversations or games. Arrange for meal deliveries to create a shared dining experience, even from afar. Add themed elements to make the virtual event itself feel special and inclusive.
Intended Impact: Strengthen team bonds and encourage casual, open communication in a relaxed setting.
Tip! Include a variety of optional conversation starters, such as icebreaker questions or fun facts to keep discussions flowing and ensure everyone feels engaged. Consider incorporating a brief team recognition segment during the lunch to celebrate recent achievements.
3. Virtual Escape Room
“Great fun. Some folks said this was the best virtual escape room they’ve done. We hesitated to pick the beginner experience with a lot of escape room knowledge but still found it challenging and satisfying. Thanks!”
Engage your team with an interactive virtual escape room experience. Participants work together to solve puzzles, uncover clues, and complete challenges in a timed, high-energy environment.
These games promote collaboration and allow team members to showcase their unique problem-solving skills in a fun and dynamic setting. Choose from various themes like mystery, adventure… to tailor the experience to your team’s preferences.
Intended Impact: Strengthen problem-solving and communication skills while promoting teamwork and collaboration.
Tip! Select a theme that resonates with your team’s interests to maximize engagement. Incorporate a debrief afterward to discuss strategies and celebrate successes!
4. Virtual Game Show
“Fantastic event! The host was energetic and took people out of the office for a period of time and into a game show. Will most definitely be doing these team activities again.”
Transform your virtual sales kickoff events into a lively virtual game show, complete with trivia, challenges, and team competitions.
Professional hosts can bring energy and excitement to the event, creating a dynamic and engaging atmosphere. Add interactive elements like buzzers or rapid-fire rounds to increase competitiveness and fun. Incorporating custom themes or visuals can further personalize the experience.
Intended Impact: Boost morale, encourage teamwork, and create a fun, memorable experience for all participants.
Tip! Customize the game show questions to include company or industry-specific topics. Use polls or chat features to keep everyone involved, even those not directly competing.
5. Virtual Trivia
“All of the feedback from our organization has been fantastic. It allowed them to step away from their day-to-day for an hour and connect with teammates who they might not otherwise talk to.”
Host a trivia session featuring general knowledge, pop culture, or sales-related topics. Divide participants into teams to foster friendly competition. Choose a mix of question categories, such as history, movies, or product knowledge, to keep it engaging for everyone.
Intended Impact: Promote team-building activities and bonding, energize participants, and encourage collaboration. Trivia provides a mental challenge that allows participants to work together and apply their knowledge.
Tip! Offer small prizes to winners to keep the competition lively.
6. Invite a Guest Speaker
Invite a dynamic guest speaker to share insights on new sales strategies used, industry trends, or personal success stories.
The speaker could be someone from within your company, or an external expert who has a fresh perspective on sales and leadership. Tailor the talk to address the current challenges or growth goals of your team.
Intended Impact: Provide fresh perspectives and actionable takeaways for your entire sales organization and team.
Tip! Choose a guest speaker who can deliver interactive, real-world exercises. Have them lead a live role-play or Q&A session where sales reps can tackle current challenges on the spot—turning insights into action immediately.
7. Glow & Grow Roundtable
Host a roundtable discussion where team members share their “glows” (successes) and “grows” (areas for improvement). Encourage open dialogue and collective learning. This session allows participants to reflect on their achievements and areas where they want to improve, providing a safe space for feedback and growth.
Intended Impact: Foster a culture of transparency and continuous growth by giving team members a chance to openly share experiences. It’s also a great opportunity for peer learning.
Tip! Set clear guidelines to ensure discussions remain constructive and supportive.
8. Create Sales-Themed Swag
Community member Antania Holland’s experience:
“I do SWAG at our company. A new one this year is a wireless cell phone charger. Most newer phones have this capability. One we did a few years ago was a picnic blanket. One side was fuzzy and the other is the waterproof material to put on the ground for picnics and not get a wet backside. People loved that one!”
Sales-themed swag builds excitement and creates a tangible connection to the virtual event. Branded merchandise like notebooks, water bottles, or tech accessories helps create a unified atmosphere and reinforces the shared experience of the kickoff.
Intended Impact: Boost team spirit and create a sense of belonging to the remote team. Personalized swag can also serve as a reminder of the event and encourage ongoing motivation.
Tip! Include practical items that team members can use daily, like reusable water bottles or tech accessories. Send these items ahead of the event to create anticipation.
9. Set Up a “Tips & Advice” Workshop
Organize a workshop where team members share their best tips and strategies for overcoming sales challenges. Divide participants into groups to foster more intimate, interactive discussions more sales more. Afterward, each group can present their key takeaways to the larger group.
Intended Impact: Leverage the collective knowledge of your entire sales team to address common sales obstacles and share effective strategies for success.
Tip! Provide a set of prompts or themes to guide discussions and maximize the value of each group’s insights. For example, focus on overcoming common objections or closing techniques. You can also ask teams to share one tip they’ve recently implemented and found successful.
10. Breakout Room Goal Planning
Facilitate goal-setting sessions in breakout rooms, where small groups collaborate to define and refine their individual and team objectives. Use tools like shared documents or visual boards to track progress and ensure clarity on action items.
Intended Impact: Create a clear roadmap for individual and team success. This activity encourages self-reflection, accountability, and alignment with overall team goals.
Tip! Assign a facilitator for a breakout session in each group to ensure everyone stays focused and productive. Provide goal-setting frameworks like SMART goals to guide the process.
11. Snack It Up with Snack Boxes
Community member Myka Williams’s experience:
“Hey all, my company recently sent everyone Snackmagic snack boxes and it’s great! Especially if you’ve got multiple food sensitivities like me. I had
so many options to choose from. Check out SnackMagic. It’s the best platform to send a gift box to 1 or 1000 people.”
Send personalized snack boxes to participants before the event. Include a variety of sweet and savory treats, as well as any dietary preferences or restrictions. These snack boxes will fuel participants during breaks or sessions, keeping energy levels high and spirits lifted.
Intended Impact: Add a personal touch to the event and enhance the overall experience by providing something enjoyable.
Tip! Consider including branded items like a custom coffee mug or a note from the leadership team, tying the snacks back to the theme of the event.
12. Host a Virtual Happy Hour with a Mixology Class
“Our team had so much fun making the drinks and were surprised to learn lots of cool trivia on the drinks they know and have ordered for years!”
Wrap up the sales kickoff event with a virtual happy hour featuring a mixology class. Participants can learn how to craft their favorite cocktails (or mocktails) while unwinding together.
A mixologist can walk the team through different recipes, or you can encourage participants to share their own signature drinks.
Intended Impact: Foster relaxation and informal interactions among team members. A fun and casual atmosphere can help build relationships and ease any tension after a productive virtual event.
Tip! Provide a list of ingredients in advance so that everyone can participate fully. Encourage people to share their drink creations and vote for the most creative or impressive ones.
13. “Deal or No Deal” Sales Challenge
Simulate a high-stakes sales environment with a “Deal or No Deal” game. Participants negotiate deals, handle objections, and make strategic decisions in a competitive format. Use mock scenarios that reflect real-world sales situations to ensure relevance.
Intended Impact: Sharpen negotiation skills, critical thinking, and adaptability under pressure. This activity promotes healthy competition while also selling skills and honing key sales abilities.
Tip! Incorporate realistic scenarios and challenge participants to handle difficult objections or closing situations. Create a leaderboard or reward system to enhance competitiveness.
14. Sales Obstacle Course – Objection Handling Race
Create a virtual obstacle course where participants tackle common objections or challenges in the sales process. Use time limits and scorecards to add a sense of urgency and competition.
Each obstacle could represent a different sales challenge, such as a price objection or a tough client question.
Intended Impact: Enhance quick thinking, resilience, and adaptability when handling objections. This activity encourages participants to stay calm and strategic under pressure.
Tip! Provide immediate feedback after each round to reinforce learning. You could also create a points system for each challenge, awarding extra points for creativity or successful resolution of objections.
15. “Lessons from the Legends” Storytelling Session
Invite experienced sales leaders, professionals, or industry veterans to share their journeys, lessons learned, and pivotal moments. The storytelling format allows for personal anecdotes and inspiring tales, making it relatable and motivating for team members.
Intended Impact: Build a connection to the larger sales community, inspire growth, and provide sales reps with valuable insights from seasoned professionals.
Tip! Encourage a Q&A segment to make the session interactive and allow the team to ask questions or reflect on the shared experiences. Choose a speaker who has a great storytelling style to keep the session engaging.
People Also Ask These Questions About Sales Kickoff Activities for Remote Employees
Q: How do you keep remote employees engaged during a virtual sales kickoff?
- A: Engagement thrives on interaction and energy. Incorporate live polls, breakout sessions, and gamified activities to keep everyone involved. Use tools like Kahoot for quizzes or Miro for collaborative brainstorming. Surprise elements like virtual swag bags or food deliveries can add excitement and boost morale. Keeping sessions short and dynamic with plenty of breaks prevents fatigue and keeps the energy high.
Q: What types of activities work best for remote sales kickoffs?
- A: Activities that foster collaboration and competition tend to perform best. Virtual team challenges, escape rooms, and sales simulations encourage teamwork while reinforcing learning. Keynote speakers, customer panels, and success story presentations provide valuable insights. Wrap up the event with awards or recognition ceremonies to celebrate achievements and motivate the team for the year ahead.
Q: How do you ensure remote sales kickoff activities drive results, not just fun?
- A: Tie every activity to specific goals and outcomes. Workshops should focus on skill development, product deep dives, and sales strategies aligned with company objectives. Use real case studies and role-playing exercises to make learning actionable. Follow up with post-event content, mentorship programs, and goal-setting sessions to ensure the momentum from the kickoff translates into performance throughout the year.
