For decades now, there has been an acute issue plaguing HR workers and managers around motivational team building activities for employees. An unmotivated employee or team can lead to decreased productivity and morale, higher turnover, and a lack of cohesion throughout the organization. There are many theories on how to best motivate employees. Some think that monetary incentives are the only way to truly motivate employees, while others believe motivation can be found through a better work culture or by cultivating motivational activities for employees. Before we can truly understand how to motivate work teams and employees and our favorite motivational activities for employees, we must first understand the different types of workplace motivators.
For more than 20 years, TeamBonding has been helping teams like yours enhance open communication and build team camaraderie. If you want to rekindle the bonds your team once shared, or build upon existing bonds and motivate your team check out our extensive list of activities! We are here to help.
What Is Workplace Motivation?
According to the Needs-Based Theories of Motivation, motivation can be described as an individual’s efforts to meet their own needs. So, if an employee feels like they cannot meet their own intrinsic needs through their job, they may feel unmotivated. For example, if an employee is trying to satisfy their social needs, but their organization is remote and lacks social events and activities outside of work meetings, that employee may not feel motivated.
Based on this theory, motivation varies based on the individual, and it is a manager’s job to understand the needs and motivators of their team. However, there are some commonalities between employee motivation. A study found that 64% of the employees surveyed perceived prospective encouragement and recognition as motivators. Through strategically planned (and fun) motivational team building activities, managers can recognize their employees and subsequently motivate them.
Ideas for Motivational Activities for Employees
1. Game Show Activities
You’d be surprised at how a popular game show can turn into a fun motivational activity for employees. Whether you are playing Spin to Win, Bingo, or Trivia, game show activities are the perfect way to get your team members working together. If your team is motivated by shared social experiences, these game shows are the perfect way to recognize them.
2. Volunteer Together
Consider having a CSR day to bond, boost morale, and make a difference in the lives of others. It’s important that organizations plan an activity that allows their team to give back. There are many different ways to give back this year, whether you decide to fundraise as a team for a joint cause, spend a day volunteering at a soup kitchen, or donate items to those who need them. Or, if you want a more social experience that also allows your team to give back, consider a Charity Bike Build. This activity promotes collaboration as your team works together in a bike build that will later be donated to a local children’s organization. While volunteering starts out as an act of service for others, it can quickly become a motivational team building experience that’s beneficial to your own employees, too.
3. Give Your Team A Thrill
Some teams will thrive off an exciting experience such as go-karts, scuba diving, or zip-lining. Other thrilling sports ideas are also mountain climbing, glass walking, surfing, rafting, or bungee jumping. While these events can be expensive, it’s a great way to reward and recognize your employees.
4. Solve a Problem as a Team
Come up with a fictional problem that must be solved. Whether it’s a design, riddle, or brain teaser is up to you. Have someone on your team devise an idea for a fictional problem on a big piece of paper. Just a sentence or two is fine. Next, have them pass the paper to the person to the left. The person on the left then uses that new idea to create another solution. After several rounds, see what they come up with. This will show your team that each person’s input counts toward the end result. It has your team working together to solve a problem and brainstorm ideas. One of our favorite motivational team building activities to recommend is Corporate CSI, an interactive crime-solving experience that tests team’s deductive reasoning, communication, and critical thinking skills. Together, teams work to eliminate suspects and uncover the truth.
5. Experience Virtual & Augmented Reality
Experience a unique virtual or augmented reality activity together as a group. Your team will not only experience VR and AR for possibly the first time but will also see how effective and fun it is to embrace change and new technology.
The popular VR activity, Infinite Loop, challenges a team of players to exchange roles in the real world in order to save a young man trapped in the virtual world. They describe what they see for team members to solve different puzzles. With an electronic leaderboard to encourage competition, this game provides continuous feedback and improvement for teams which helps them solve problems in more efficient ways. The more accurate a team member is in describing their virtual world, the more likely their team is in solving the puzzle.
Try Motivational Team Building Activities with Your Team
Investing time and effort into inspirational team activities is a necessity for fostering a positive and productive work environment. By doing so, you’re not only showing that you value your team members beyond their professional contributions, but also are actively working towards building a more cohesive and motivated workforce. The shared experiences from these fun ways to motivate employees create lasting memories and inside jokes that contribute to a unique team culture built on connection. No matter which of these motivational activities for employees you choose – or what ideas you add to this list – your employees will be grateful that you care about their morale while on the job. To find the perfect idea for your unique team, contact TeamBonding and get ready to transform your workplace.
