The Opportunity
Your business is doing well, but not great. Your people not unhappy,, but not thrilled to come to work every day. Your customers are satisfied, but not overwhelmed. Your people are cooperating, but just not quite synergizing. How do you turn on that extra spark that keeps your people excited, keeps work fresh, and makes every day a welcome challenge?
That’s probably a bit much to ask from some inexpensive gimmicks, but assuming you’ve got the basics covered, these can help with that extra spark.
The Solution
At an employee meeting, tape gift certificates or coupons for prizes under the chairs. Tell the audience only after they’re seated and settled. (particularly useful for those first three rows that get filled last!)
Name building fixtures after employees who have made a large contribution to the company. “Lopez Lane” or “Butler Boulevard” can be engraved on very classy signs, encouraging employees and newcomers to ask questions and share great stories.
Set aside garden plots on your company’s property for employees. The company can plow and fertilize every spring, rope off plots, and give them to interested employees and their families to “farm.” Have a big barbecue at the end of summer to enjoy the produce, and donate leftovers to a local food bank.
Reward employees with a subscription to a favorite trade magazine, or give them a “book allowance” to spend on job-related materials of their choice.
Give a department a day off to work in a homeless shelter or some other civic project.
Fine individuals who come late to company meetings, use the money for treats for those who arrive on time.
Make the CEO available for a presentation at the honored employee’s child’s school “show and tell” day, Boy Scout Meeting, or other civic engagement.
Offer a “VIP Pass” for a specific period (week or month) that allows for the best parking places, free lunch, free use of a neighborhood health club, or other benefits.
Have a “book exchange” in the break or lunchroom. People may take a book to read in exchange for a used one. This can include novels and non-fiction, job related books.
Ask for training topics people want/need to learn about, and volunteers to teach them. Giving employees the opportunity to show what they know will help polish their presentation skills, get your team to know each other better, cross-train to be more resiliant, and have a greater appreciation for one another- especially since it might be their turn to host a “class” next!
Make charity donations on behalf of a team or department that meets or exceeds a certain performance. Issue a press release. (Good PR for the company, as well as the team or department.)
Throw (wrapped) candy to participants in a training session for good performance and participation.
Reward employees (gift certificates, cash, etc.) who use company vehicles for a year with no moving violations.
Have personalized sticky notes or memo pads made with the employee’s name and an “honorary title” – such as “Resident Miracle Worker,” “Accounting Wizard” or “Assistant Vice Emperor.”
Have a mascot. A friendly, mellow cat would be appropriate for a bookstore; a pool or fountain with goldfish or koi may be appropriate for an indoor complex; a pond with ducks works very well for an industrial park with lots of lawn space. Living things bring to a corporation the same benefits that a personal pet brings to a family- having a common interest and source of amusement, and a very compelling “conversation piece.”
Designate a bulletin board for employees to post their favorite cartoons, their kids’ artwork, and other treasures they’d like to share.
Put rubber fish in the water cooler.
Host a game show on product knowledge for customer service employees. Have a big showy stage, an exuberant Emcee, and of course, prizes.
Award gift baskets based on a theme- A First Aid Kit to someone who handled a crisis well, a car emergency kit with flares and jumper cables for someone who travels a lot, a cheese-and-crackers basket for someone who missed a lot of lunches working on a project, a coffee mug and accoutrements for someone who demonstrates alertness in dealing with situations.
Have employees submit favorite quotes or jokes. Have them printed on tiny strips of paper and distribute them with client orders, enclose them in information packets, or any other regular shipments.
Conclusion
It doesn’t have to cost a lot to provide a bit of interest and creativity in the workplace. People who are having fun are much easier to retain, much more cooperative with one antoher, and much more interested in teh well-being of the company and their team members. Everything else aside, you spend enough time at work, you might as well enjoy it!
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