You’ve probably heard the expression “work hard, play hard”. If you want to mobilize your employees to help them reach their full potential, you need to put this corporate philosophy into practice. After all, the more fun your employees have at work, the more dedicated they will be to their tasks and goals! Here are 10 examples of social activities that you can put into place in your organization to improve team spirit, the work environment, and your employees’ output.

1. Foster communication

Whether in person or through internal communication tools, your employees need to feel that they are free to communicate with each other. Open office workspaces are used to foster communication between employees. If your offices are not configured this way, you could turn a few meeting rooms into co-working spaces. A common area (or lounge) could also help your company’s social dynamic.

2. Create a social committee

If you haven’t already, create a committee in charge of organizing social activities. Note however that this committee should be made up of employees who are not part of management. They are in the best position to understand your needs in this matter!

3. Celebrate the small victories

Everyone agrees that it’s important to celebrate momentous victories: a new acquisition, a new client, exceptional sales revenues, etc. But what about the small accomplishments that are often overlooked? Each milestone should be highlighted in a memorable way to keep your team motivated. For instance, why not offer your team a drink at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoons to mark the start of the weekend? By celebrating the small victories, you’ll contribute to creating a culture of recognition that is conducive to success!

4. Highlight birthdays

Obviously, if your company has hundreds of employees, birthday celebrations can quickly turn into a daily occurrence. In that case, think of organizing a monthly activity where you highlight the past month’s birthdays. Some companies even allow their employees to take the day off on their birthday. What’s important is to find a creative and personalized way to make every employee feel special on their birthday.

5. Organize sports activities

It’s a well-known fact: physical activity makes people feel better. Give your employees the opportunity to fit exercise sessions around their work schedule and you’ll soon see tangible results. Shower facilities at work are becoming increasingly popular and are appreciated by employees. If this option is unfeasible in the short-term, you can organize yoga sessions at lunch or provide short training sessions during work hours. It can be as simple as motivating your employees to do 10 squats and 10 push-ups during their morning break!

6. Mobilize your employees around a good cause

Just like exercise, volunteering can help your employees feel better. It reinforces self-confidence and helps them feel satisfied. You could assess your employees’ level of interest in order to find a cause they care about and give them the day off so they can rally around this common cause.

7. Organize a strategic planning retreat

A strategic planning retreat, if well-organized, can be extremely beneficial for your organization. By going on a retreat for a few days, you’ll provide a break from the daily grind. It’s also the perfect opportunity to ask the right questions, present new products, strengthen bonds with your team, brainstorm, and get your employees involved in your process.

8. Offsite team building activities

These types of social activities are becoming increasingly popular. There are various kinds of team building exercises available and there is something for everyone: murder mystery, puzzle mazes, improv classes, rallies, cooking lessons… The choice is up to you!

9. Create traditions

Traditions help define your company’s DNA. If an activity works well, try to reproduce it on a regular basis. That way, you’ll help create excitement or anticipation for what’s outlined in your company’s schedule.

10. Plan some games or small competitions at the office.

Do you have a billiards or foosball table at the office? Organize mini tournaments with prizes to be won. They don’t even have to be expensive to arouse interest. For instance, you can give the day off to the winners to get a maximum number of participants!