5 Fresh Ways to Boost Employee Morale with Team Building Activities

In a world rife with distractions and a population more easily sidetracked than ever, it’s becoming more and more difficult for companies to keep their employee morale strong.

Research conducted by analytical company Gallup has found that employees and teams who are highly engaged can boost a company’s profits by 21%.

Another study by The Engagement Institute found that bored and disengaged employees cost American companies a whopping 550 billion dollars annually.

If you’re one of those people who’s so bored at work that you spend hours a day surfing Facebook or pretending to work in other ways – you’re contributing to this gigantic loss.

But the thing is if you’re one of those people… you probably don’t care. And that’s the problem. Engaged employees care. Bored employees don’t.

And as a business owner, you want the former. Keep reading for 5 effective ways to boost employee morale and keep boredom from settling in.

1. Encourage In-Office Play

One of the big myths of team building is that it’s expensive. First of all, it doesn’t have to be. Second of all, even if a small investment is required – it’s almost always worth it in the long run. If you’re on a budget but you still want to incorporate play into the grind, here are a couple of examples of fun, engaging in-office team building games you can play.

 

Two Truths and a Lie

This is a tried and true communication game that enables your employees to get to know each other in a fun way. It encourages participants to think creatively about their “lie” and share interesting “truths”. The gameplay is simple. Have each of your employees think up three things about themselves: two are true, one is a lie. Then, have them share with the group. The rest of the group then votes on what they think was the lie. This is a fantastic (and completely free) way to get people to open up and share some laughs.

Barter Puzzle

All you need for this game is about an hour and a few jigsaw puzzles. Most of us have old puzzles lying around in storage, but if you don’t, ask your employees to bring in any 250 or 500-piece puzzles they might have. This game works best with groups of 4 people or less. Before you distribute the puzzles, jumble up the pieces. The teams will then have to work together to negotiate and trade with other teams in order to complete their puzzle. This is a great way to elicit problem-solving, creative thinking, and teamwork. The first team to complete their puzzle wins.

2. Get Out of the Office During Work Hours

While it’s obviously easier (and cheaper) to stay in the office for your team bonding activities, the benefits of getting outside know no bounds. The feeling of being out of the office while you’re still “on the clock”, is fantastic for morale. It will make employees more productive upon return as they’ll feel fresh and appreciative of the break. Here are a couple of great daytime outing ideas.

Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are all the rage these days and for good reason. Not only are they fun, but they also require critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Groups must work together as a team to solve puzzles and make connections in order to escape. The feeling of accomplishment after a successful escape will bond a team like nothing else.

Scavenger Hunts

Along the same lines as an escape room, scavenger hunts can be a fun way to motivate teams to work together towards a common goal. The more creative employers can design their own. The possibilities are endless. For an easier option, a simple Google search will find you some great ideas.

3. Incorporate a Wellness Program

Not a team bonding event per se, but companies with employee wellness programs have seen a 61% increase in employees who make healthier lifestyle choices. We all know that a healthy lifestyle leads to improved mood, which in turn leads to better morale and higher productivity. Employees who feel supported on both personal and professional levels will be more inclined to go the extra mile.

4. Get out of Town

Company retreats are a fantastic way to get people out of their shells. Taking your whole team away for the weekend can get expensive, but the bonding that happens when people are away from the familiarity of their daily routine can drastically increase morale.

If you can, investing in an annual retreat for your employees will make them feel valued. It will also encourage real-life friendships outside of work, which makes for a more enjoyable work life.

5. Ask Your Employees What They Want

You know you want to plan a team building event, but you’re not sure what to do. Or, maybe you have some ideas but you’re afraid they’re stale or outdated. Forcing stale and awkward team-building events can have the opposite of the desired effect.
So, put it to a vote. Ask your employees what type of events they’d like to participate in. Not only will this validate their opinions, but they’re also much more likely to engage in activities they want to do.

Employee Morale 101

The single most important thing about boosting employee morale is to make things fun. If you don’t put the effort into making work an enjoyable place to be, your employees will get bored and eventually leave.

Or worse, they’ll get bored and waste valuable time. If you create a fun atmosphere and take care of your employees both personally and professionally, you’ll see great results.

Ready to give your office a productivity boost? Contact us now for some more great team bonding ideas!