10 Team-Building Activities for Work

You have probably seen “quiet quitting” all over the internet lately. It’s not a new phenomenon, but it is a new way to describe when employees have lost their passion and do the bare minimum. They may not be actively seeking other employment opportunities, but they are not actively engaged in your business either. The ten team building activities for work below can help businesses and employees improve this circumstance together.

According to a recent poll by Gallup, more than 50 percent of the workforce is not engaged. The fact is that employee engagement is at its lowest level in ten years.

When employees are disengaged, businesses may see high turnover, loss of productivity, and low morale. The workplace has changed post-covid, and many teams are fragmented and isolated. The pandemic necessitated remote work and today many employees continue to work at home for at least part of the week. The great resignation churned the workforce, and quit rates have remained at 20-year highs. Many business teams have a different makeup than before the pandemic, and with little opportunity to engage in person, new teams have not gelled. But these new teams also bring fresh perspectives and can bring new energy to your business if you increase engagement and harness their enthusiasm.

Implement These Employee Engagement Activities During Business Hours

Strong employee connections have always had a positive impact on turnover and engagement. For many, friendships at work have been a key predictor of employee retention. With new teams and remote and hybrid work, connections that would have emerged naturally over time through proximity now need a gentle push. That’s where employee engagement and team building activities for work come in. Employee engagement strategies are fun, enriching, or meaningful activities that unite employees and should complement your company culture, values, and the interests of your employees. When done right, employee engagement activities increase motivation and create a feeling of appreciation and belonging. Your team members will feel better about the company, their role, and their colleagues.

Employees continue to feel stretched around work-life balance. By scheduling employee engagement activities during business hours, you are telling employees that you value their time and acknowledge the importance of work-life balance. You are also showing your team members that your business has made a tangible commitment to employee engagement.

While planning activities for employee engagement, remember that connections and commitment develop over time. Smaller, consistent activities will impact your team more than a large-scale, one-day event. It’s also important to consider remote access and flexibility so all team members can engage.

1. Make sure that your managers and supervisors buy into the engagement strategies. If supervisors and managers believe that socializing pulls employees away from business outcomes, they will discourage the connections you are trying to foster. Make increasing engagement a companywide measurable goal.
2. Help your employees get to know each other. Provide time before meetings to let people share what’s happening in their life. Send out biographies and let people share their skills. Use workplace chat and project management apps that encourage more natural communication. Create social spaces in the office.
3. Play together! Provide opportunities to have fun together. Collaborative gaming lets employees practice leadership and teamwork without pressure and risk. As a bonus, developing these soft skills translates to better performance on the job.
4. Keep your focus on employee wellness. Offering workshops and seminars during business hours is a great way to show employees you care about their health.
5. Make a difference – together. Have team members vote on a project and have a volunteer day. Select a charity and raise funds together.
6. Working together naturally builds connections. Be strategic about group projects: empower employees and provide leadership opportunities.
7. Ask your employees for their insights when planning and brainstorming. Ask for feedback. Your employees see a side of your business that is unique. Inviting their perspective lets them know you value them and their role.
8. Host team lunches. It is easy to coordinate meals for the onsite employees but don’t forget this option for remote employees. You can schedule a DoorDash delivery so they can join in the fun.
9. Embrace continuous learning. Offer opportunities for employees to lead workshops. Operationalize knowledge sharing through mentorships or an “Ask me for help with…” section on the company portal. Bring in guest speakers.
10. Follow through and communicate. It shows you are serious about engagement.

Contact Us Today

Fostering deep employee engagement can be a critical factor in your business’s success. TANDIUM Corporation’s team of human resources experts can help you develop an employee engagement strategy tailored to meet your business’s and your employees’ needs.

TANDIUM Corporation specializes in serving the Human Resources, Payroll, and Benefits needs of businesses and non-profit organizations. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation.