Ask HN: Bonding a New Team. How To?

I'm a startup founder that recently (last few months) got from 1 to 8 employees. It was difficult as I had no idea how to do hiring, manage a team, build a dev process, etc - i was never employeed and worked in a team before.

I'm also sure that I'm not doing things ok now as well, but at least the project is progressing at good pace.

The main problem though is building a solid team. Our dynamic is ok, but it feels like we're disconnected. Not necessary work wise, but after 6 months we still feel like strangers on calls, we don't talk anything besides the project and even if I try, they don't like talking anything else. We're a remote team from different countries - wondering how much this affects it?

After talking with them privately, they also don't like that little bonding games HR do.

How do you guys keep the team together? Do you play remote games, have zoom coffee breaks, or what other things you do to increase the connection between team members?

Have you considered that some may not want to talk about things outside of work?

As long as they're delivering work, I don't really see an issue here.

But you are strangers!

If you've never met and never spent any social time together, most people will remain strangers.

Some people will remain "strangers" even when they meet in real life, and that's ok too.

But only a few will get really relaxed with an online only relationship.