In a world rife with distractions and a population more easily preoccupied than ever, it’s becoming more and more difficult for companies to boost employee morale and engagement.
Not only does boosting team morale and engagement help decrease employee turnover, but it also has been shown to improve company profits. In fact, companies with engaged employees have higher earnings per share according to Gallup.
Symptoms of Low Employee Morale
Lack of cooperation: When office morale is low, employees are generally less likely to work well together and maybe less willing to accept complex or burdensome tasks from higher up the corporate ladder.
Few personal conversations: Friendly conversations aren’t a necessary requirement for successful business operations, but scarcity of personal communication could be a direct symptom of low morale.
Rare personal initiatives: If you have noticed within your business that not as many of your employees are taking better initiatives to better the company as a whole it could be a major sign that morale has reached a low.
Increased rates of turnover: For this sign, you’ll have to look at broad trends – a higher number of people leaving could be a major sign that morale is dropping.
Overall poor performance or attitude: This is one that can be overlooked and more obvious when changes are gradual. Are your employees doing less than they used to? Is negativity more rampant than it once was?
Fun Ways to Boost Morale at Work
1. Encourage In-Office Play
Organizing team building games for your employees can help create quality relationships among staff, which in turn can increase team morale. 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. 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, share some laughs and boost workplace morale.
Barter Puzzle
All you need for this game is about an hour and a few jigsaw puzzles. 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. If your team’s remote, we can help. Check out our Essential Pieces puzzle program!
Jeopardy
For a more game-show-inspired activity, Jeopardy is a fun and collaborative game that is perfect for any team. Our officially licensed Jeopardy!® game is available in virtual, hybrid and in person formats and can be fully customized to meet the needs of your team.
2. Take Virtual Reality Out for a Spin
Sometimes, we all need an escape from the real world. Virtual reality games are a fun and unique way to boost morale while trying out something new. Take our Infinite Loop program for example. Through the magic of VR (virtual reality), teams compete to rescue a prisoner trapped in the virtual world. Fast-paced challenges are tracked on an electronic leaderboard, fueling the spirit of fun, friendly competition.
3. Get Out of the Office During Work Hours
While it’s obviously easier (and cheaper) to stay in the office for your morale-boosting activities, the benefits of getting outside know no bounds. Research shows that taking breaks during work can increase creativity, prevent decision fatigue, and boost wellbeing. Even if you are working virtually, there are still virtual activities you can organize that will encourage employees to get away from their desk.
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 influence morale and 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 a simpler option, check out our fully hosted scavenger hunts.
Virtual Laughter Yoga
For virtual teams looking for a quick morale boost, virtual laughter yoga is the perfect solution. This 1-hour laughter yoga session will teach your team yoga techniques that focus on enhancing health and happiness, deep breathing exercises, and relieving stress.
4. Incorporate a Wellness Program
We all know that a healthy lifestyle leads to improved mood, which in turn leads to better morale and higher productivity. Improving and investing in the work-life balance will yield positive results in every individual employees’ morale, as well as collective workplace morale. Employees who feel supported on both personal and professional levels will be more inclined to go the extra mile.
If your organization is prioritizing employee wellness in order to boost morale and health, consider a wellness program. These programs can be tailored to fit the needs of virtual, hybrid, or in person teams and focus on giving your team the skills and support they need to maintain workplace wellness.
5. Get out of Town
The bonding that happens when people are away from the familiarity of their daily routine can drastically increase employee morale. If you can, investing in an annual retreat for your employees will make them feel valued. Who doesn’t love a good sand sculpting competition? It will also encourage real-life friendships outside of work, which makes for a more enjoyable work life.
6. Ask Your Employees What They Want
You know you want to find new morale boosters for your employees, but you’re not sure what to do. It’s always a good idea to check in with your employees and see 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. Or, consider sending an employee recognition survey out to better understand how your employees want to be recognized and appreciated.
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 an inviting 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!
