Approximately 83% of workers in the United States say they experience daily work-related stress. Increased stress levels adversely affect employee morale, causing workers to disengage and become unproductive.
Fun and interactive events can be effective morale boosters. Explore how to improve team dynamics with virtual and in-person group activities.
What Is Team Morale?
Morale refers to the collective attitude and feelings of a group of employees with shared goals. You can gauge workplace camaraderie by observing how team members interact with each other as they accomplish daily responsibilities. Several factors influence morale, such as leadership, working conditions, compensation and opportunities for career growth.
Team spirit is crucial for business success. Enthusiastic employees enjoy taking on new tasks, share a smile with co-workers and are more pleasant to your customers. These benefits all improve your bottom line.
7 Morale-Boosting Team Events
Managers often wonder how to improve team morale at work. Here's an overview of seven in-person and virtual event ideas to boost employee happiness levels.
1. Game Show Extravaganza
People love watching game shows for the thrill of watching others compete. Your company can recreate this morale-booting experience by hosting a Game Show Extravaganza. Each worker will have a chance to participate while their colleagues cheer them on. You can also choose to design a new game show or play a fan favorite like:
- Jeopardy!
- Family Feud
- Are You Smarter Than Your Senior Management Team?
A game show is an exciting and memorable way to get your employees up to speed before releasing a new program or product line. Our team can create an event that quizzes people on their knowledge while allowing everyone to have fun.
2. Word Play
Playing a game of Wordle or completing a word search is a relaxing hobby that engages the brain. Why not invite everyone to join these activities as a group challenge?
Word Play is a virtual event that prompts your employees to put on their thinking caps and solve word challenges together. It boosts morale while connecting teams in different cities, states or countries.
3. Pub Trivia
Every office has at least one employee who is a walking encyclopedia of random information — and you want them on your team for Pub Trivia. This in-person event is ideal for team building, as employees can enjoy a cocktail, nibble on some snacks and show off their general knowledge.
The engaging host will ask teams several rounds of challenging questions. At the end of the evening, everyone will calculate their scores and declare the smartest team in the company.
4. Amazing Cyberspace Race
If you're a fan of the reality television series Amazing Race, you'll know teams need impressive collaboration skills to succeed. Our virtual version of this event reinforces the same quality.
Amazing Cyberspace Race requires teams to use Google Maps to look for clues in famous cities and landmarks worldwide. In addition, they can take on bonus challenges for extra points. This 90-minute experience tests creativity, strategic thinking and general knowledge as employees scramble to complete challenges.
5. Mini-Golf Charity Event
Hosting a Mini-Golf Give-Back event is an ideal way to increase morale while supporting the local community. As 77% of customers prefer supporting companies that prioritize social responsibility, events like this also boost your corporate image.
Each team receives a collection of food boxes and cans, which they use to design a mini-golf hole. Once everyone has built their holes, participants play the course, then donate all the food items to a local food bank! Knowing they've spent the day giving back to their neighbors in need will give your employees a reason to smile.
6. Post-It Art
Teams need a creative outlet to relieve work stress — Post-it art is the solution. During this hands-on, in-person group activity, employees recreate famous artworks entirely out of Post-it notes. The result is a gorgeous masterpiece you can proudly display in your offices.
7. Virtual Cocktail Class
Meeting your co-workers for happy hour is an age-old tradition. However, the rise of remote work and far-flung team members means fewer opportunities to enjoy a beverage together.
If you've wondered how to improve team performance in remote companies, a fun online event will do the trick. It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere! is a virtual event that allows workers to mix a cocktail — or mocktail — with a mixologist. The event also includes games and trivia questions, prompting everyone to participate.
How to Improve Communication Within a Team
Open communication between employees and managers is how to improve team culture that has become stagnant or unproductive. Here are some event ideas to strengthen your group's communication skills.
- Problem-solving activities: Teams strategizing ways to overcome a shared problem must think outside the box. Room Escape challenges require people to solve a series of puzzles and decipher clues in a time-limited format.
- Social events: Sometimes, teams need a relaxed social event to get to know each other better. In-person or virtual happy hours are an effective way to break the ice.
- Creative tasks: Activities that encourage workers to be creative will get them past mental blocks. Consider hosting an event where employees can decorate their shoes or build impressive buildings from Lego bricks.
If communication between team members is a particular concern, managers may want to organize a Communication Breakthrough event. Teams will come together in a conference room, park or hotel ballroom and complete traditional team-building activities. Each task reinforces soft skills such as effective communication, time management, problem-solving, active listening, leadership and empathy.
Boost Your Team's Morale With Feet First Events
Events are ideal for managers looking for innovative ideas to strengthen team culture. Choose to host an exhilarating activity or a more relaxed event and enhance employees' teamwork skills.
Feet First Events makes hosting in-person or virtual gatherings easy for companies. Our creative team facilitates every activity to maximize morale. Complete our online form for a free quote on your desired event, or call us at 888-392-1636 for more information!
