Team Engagement: Ideas, Strategies, & Activities for Building a Thriving Workplace

Only 21% of employees are engaged. That’s not just sad—it’s expensive. Disengaged employees cost companies billions in lost productivity, higher turnover, and missed opportunities.

But here’s the good news: employee engagement isn’t some mysterious force you can’t control. It’s something you can actively build, measure, and improve. After decades of creating team building experiences and watching companies transform their cultures, I’ve learned that engaged employees aren’t born—they’re made through intentional strategies, genuine connection, and consistent effort.

In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about employee engagement—what it really means, why it matters more than ever, and proven strategies for creating a workplace where people actually want to show up.

What is employee engagement?

Employee engagement is the emotional connection an employee feels toward their organization, which influences their behaviors and level of effort in work-related activities. The more engagement an employee has with their company, the more effort they put forth.

It’s not the same as employee satisfaction or happiness. A satisfied employee might be perfectly content collecting a paycheck while doing the bare minimum. An engaged employee? They’re invested. They care about outcomes. They go above and beyond not because they have to, but because they want to.

Engaged employees believe in their company’s mission, feel connected to their colleagues, and see their work as meaningful. They’re the ones who stay late when it matters, volunteer for challenging projects, and become your best brand ambassadors.

Why is team engagement important?

Keeping employees engaged is essential for any business that wants to achieve its goals. Employee engagement is one of the most impactful aspects of a business, and it can separate a struggling business from a booming one. Engagement increases workplace productivity. In fact, Gallup found that businesses with high employee engagement are more productive and 21% more profitable. 

Because of this, keeping employees engaged with the right people engagement activities is a critical aspect of running a business. Engaging disengaged employees can help you increase productivity, develop a stronger workforce, and get a leg up on competitors. 

I’ve watched this play out hundreds of times. When engagement rises, everything else falls into place. Teams collaborate more naturally. Problems get solved faster. Culture becomes self-sustaining. That’s the power of engagement done right.

Biggest challenges to employee engagement

Understanding the biggest challenges to keeping employees engaged is the first step to solving them. Here are the most common engagement killers I see:

Lack of recognition

When employees feel invisible, engagement plummets. People need to know their work matters. A simple “thank you” at a team meeting or via email can make a huge difference. Recognition doesn’t have to be expensive—it just has to be genuine and timely.

Poor communication

According to our employee engagement survey, communication plays a critical role in keeping teams engaged. When employees don’t understand the “why” behind decisions, or when information flows poorly, trust erodes and engagement follows.

Employee burnout

Employee burnout is one of the fastest ways to kill engagement. Overworked employees eventually disengage as a survival mechanism. They pull back, do the minimum, and look for the exit. Preventing burnout requires realistic workloads, adequate support, and regular breaks.

Limited growth opportunities

Employees want to see a future. When there’s no clear path for development or advancement, engagement stagnates. Personalizing your onboarding experience and creating clear development plans help employees see that future.

Disconnection from purpose

The number one priority of working professionals today is understanding the “real purpose behind” their work. According to research, 57% of young Americans say their priority is enjoyable and meaningful work. When employees can’t connect their daily tasks to a larger purpose, engagement suffers.

Workplace complacency

Complacency in the workplace isn’t just a productivity killer—it’s a silent epidemic that drains creativity, morale, and innovation. When “good enough” becomes the standard, engagement dies.

Top 10 employee engagement ideas

Though it’s clear that employee engagement is essential, finding the right employee engagement ideas can often be a challenge. What will engage my team? What activities or strategies work best? These can be tough questions to answer. 

However, we’re going to provide 10 of the best staff engagement ideas to help get you started. Just remember to consider your team and their preferences. These are all great ideas in general, but individual teams respond differently to various forms of engagement. 

1. Give back as a team

One of our favorite team engagement ideas is giving back as a team. Charitable events are a great way to encourage bonding, develop relationships, and get team members more engaged with the organization. 

Two examples are Team Teddy and Just Roll With It. Team Teddy has teams create and customize teddy bears for kids in need, coupled with exciting challenges. Just Roll With It is a similar event but is timed and involves making skateboards for kids in need. 

Both of these events are great employee engagement ideas. We also have a suite of other charitable events that are perfect for employee engagement, so give them a look. 

2. Prioritize employee health

When it comes to ideas for employee engagement, something that often gets overlooked is employee health. An employee’s physical and mental health can play a big role in their ability to stay engaged with their work, and prioritizing their health can make a big difference. 

Happy and healthy employees are much more likely to be invested in the business and their coworkers, and work their hardest to help the company achieve its goals. 

Our employee wellness program is a great option for those who want to prioritize employee health. This three-stage program includes a variety of wellness activities that help employees with their health, while also creating a healthier and more positive work environment. 

3. Four-day workweek

Though this may seem like one of the most radical employee engagement ideas, improving work-life balance via a four-day workweek can greatly improve engagement and employee loyalty. It can also help prevent burnout and increase retention. 

Since the pandemic, more and more employers are leaving behind their 9-to-5 office jobs for more flexible and employee-focused opportunities. As a result, companies across the globe have begun piloting four-day workweeks. 

Despite working fewer hours, most trials have seen an increase in productivity. In fact, Microsoft Japan saw a 40% productivity increase with a 4-day workweek. Buffer reported an increase in employee autonomy and overall work happiness, as well as reduced stress levels.

4. Creative compensation

Benefits and compensation are some of the many things that impact engagement, and trying out some new ideas can help you keep employees’ attention. Get creative with compensation and offer fun activities and perks to your workers. 

Consider introducing an arts and culture stipend for local theatre shows, museums, and concerts. You could also give your employees a wellness stipend for a monthly gym membership, sports classes, or equipment. This signals to the employee that you care about them and their personal lives even when they’re not on the clock, which in turn can make them more dedicated and engaged with their work. 

5. Effective communication

If you’re looking for simple employee engagement ideas that can be implemented immediately, effective communication is a great option. Clear and open communication is key for business in general, so it’s no surprise that it can help with engagement too. 

Employees are more engaged when they feel like they can ask questions, talk things through, and have open conversations with those around them—including management and leadership. 

An open door policy is a great start. That encourages employees to voice their concerns, talk to their bosses, and be more involved in the business as a whole. In turn, that increases employee engagement. 

6. Incorporate team building

Research on playful work design shows that adding fun to the day lifts motivation, engagement, and overall performance. A 2023 Frontiers study found that teams focused on learning and cooperation became more creative, while other research linked positive climate and emotional intelligence with stronger results.

So why does play work so well? It taps into the right brain, the home of imagination and intuition, and it builds psychological safety. When people feel safe to experiment, fail, and share raw ideas, that’s when real innovation takes hold.

Play isn’t about being childish. It’s about giving adults a chance to use play as a serious tool for growth. When teams engage in well-designed playful activities, the lessons don’t just stay in the game—they translate directly to better communication, problem-solving, and collaboration back at work.

There are many reasons for team building, and employee engagement is one of them. Team building is an effective way to increase engagement while also improving other key skills. 

Team Mixology for example involves teams working to create their own unique and creative cocktails, potentially as part of a friendly contest. Giving your team the chance to let loose a bit can be a very effective way to get them more engaged. 

Another option is the Corporate Tonite Show for remote teams. It is a virtual Tonite Show-style game show with a live host and exciting activities, all of which help increase engagement.

If your team is more low-key, a simple office potluck will do the trick to get everyone involved by bringing a dish of their choice!

7. Invest in growth

One of the many reasons employees get disengaged is that they aren’t challenged and don’t see room for growth, promotions, etc. Directly investing in your employees’ growth—whether that’s through team building, upskilling, or other training programs—helps them be more focused and committed to the organization, increasing engagement. 

8. Mentorship programs

Tying into the last option, mentorship programs can be another great way to increase engagement. Developing a cross-departmental or senior management mentorship program can encourage collaboration, learning, growth, and engagement. 

Employee mentorship programs are especially beneficial, as they help engage both the mentor and mentee. They can also increase trust, efficiency, and job satisfaction which provide their own benefits to your business. 

On top of that, mentorship programs help you develop a stronger, more skilled, and flexible workforce that can help push your business forward. 

9. Recognize and reward employees

Employees want to feel valued, which is why employee recognition is one of the best engagement strategies for any company.  However, we often focus on results rather than the effort the employees put into their jobs.

A sincere “thank you” at a team meeting or via email will make your employees feel appreciated and respected, increasing engagement. Taking the time to recognize your employees’ work and efforts will be sure to increase employee morale and performance.

Recognition on a common platform is a powerful way to increase workforce engagement. Some unique ways to acknowledge work and attach a reward to it can be:

• Strong, explicit, frequent, and public employee recognition programs
• Bonuses for frontline staff, not just salespeople and top management
• Benefit packages in the form of gift cards, memberships, vouchers, etc.
• Peer-to-peer recognition systems
• Milestone celebrations (work anniversaries, project completions, etc.)

And don’t be afraid to get creative with recognition, rewards, and incentive ideas. Consider all your options and find rewarding, exciting, and engaging ways to recognize employees. While it’s great to celebrate your employees on holidays like Administrative Professionals’ Day, daily recognition makes all the difference, too.

10. Focus on inclusion

Wrapping up our list of suggestions for employee engagement is inclusion. Though this is one of the employee engagement ideas that often gets overlooked, it can have a huge impact on engagement. 

Help employees see how their work contributes to the bigger picture. Share customer success stories. Explain how their project impacts the company’s mission. Connect daily tasks to organizational goals. Understanding what employees value most helps you create that meaningful connection.

Remote employee engagement strategies

Although many companies have implemented RTO policies, work-from-home is here to stay. The way we work has totally changed. Digital tools and flexible work setups have transformed how teams communicate and work together. Remote work definitely comes with its own engagement challenges, but they’re absolutely solvable as long as you ensure employee connection is still alive and well.

Key strategies for remote employee engagement:

• Over-communicate: What feels like too much communication to you is probably just right for remote teams
• Create virtual water cooler moments: Dedicated Slack channels for non-work chat, virtual coffee breaks, etc.
• Use video whenever possible: Seeing faces builds connection
• Host virtual team building events: From trivia to cooking classes to wellness challenges
• Respect time zones: Don’t expect 24/7 availability
• Provide the right tools: Good collaboration software makes a huge difference

Employees are three times more engaged when they receive daily feedback from their managers vs. annual feedback. This is especially critical for remote teams where casual check-ins don’t happen naturally.

Strategies for workplace motivation

Motivation is what drives engagement. When employees feel motivated, they bring their best selves to work every day. Even with ongoing challenges like layoffs, political tension, and economic uncertainty, knowing how to keep your team motivated is essential for building a loyal workforce.

Key motivation strategies include:

• Set clear, achievable goals
• Provide autonomy and trust
• Offer challenging but manageable work
• Create opportunities for mastery
• Connect work to impact
• Celebrate progress, not just outcomes

Remember: intrinsic motivation (doing something because it’s inherently rewarding) always beats extrinsic motivation (doing something for external rewards) in the long run.

Seasonal engagement strategies

Aligning engagement efforts with the seasons keeps things fresh and gives you natural hooks for planning. Each season offers unique opportunities:

Winter

Combat seasonal blues with winter team building activities. Holiday parties, winter sports outings, cozy indoor events, and year-end celebrations help teams stay connected during the darkest months.

Spring

Harness the energy of renewal by bringing your team together in spring. Outdoor activities, spring cleaning projects, Earth Day initiatives, and fresh-start team building all work well.

Summer

Take advantage of good weather and summer energy. Jump-start your summer outing plan with beach days, outdoor sports, picnics, and adventure activities that get people outside and energized.

Fall

Goodbye summer, hello fall marks a transition back to focus. Fall festivals, harvest themes, Halloween events, and prep for year-end goals all create engagement opportunities.

Measuring employee engagement

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Tracking engagement helps you understand what’s working, spot problems early, and demonstrate ROI to leadership.

Key metrics to track:

• Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS): Would employees recommend your company?
• Turnover rates: Especially voluntary turnover among high performers
• Absenteeism: Unexplained absences often signal disengagement
• Participation rates: How many employees join voluntary activities?
• Pulse survey scores: Regular short surveys track engagement trends
• Productivity metrics: Output per employee over time
• Internal promotion rates: Are people growing and advancing?

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. Track these metrics over time and watch for trends. Small improvements compound into major cultural shifts!

Staff engagement ideas made easy

Employee engagement is closely tied to efficiency, productivity, retention, and more. Keeping employees engaged and utilizing the right employee engagement ideas is essential for any successful business. If you’re struggling to find ways to engage your employees, partner with TeamBonding. We have three decades of experience and can make your team building events easy, effective, impactful, and memorable. 

So take the first step and engage your workforce with TeamBonding. Check out our events and get in touch with us today to boost your employee engagement.