When you think of engagement ideas, what comes to mind? A list of games that can be played within your department? Did you ever think of an activity that isn’t within just your department, but involving all the departments within your company?
Say there are five departments within your company, do you know other employees other than the ones you see every day in your department? You walk by Joe everyday, but you don’t know much about him other than his first name and that he’s from the marketing department. Ever wonder what Joe does in his office daily?
With the following employee engagement ideas, you are sure to get all departments in your office on one team.
This is one of the great employee engagement ideas that will allow the people in your office to share their creative side with each other. Each team is formed by having a member from each department in a group. The object of this game is to build a freestanding tower with the marshmallow on top, with only the supplies that are given. The supplies include twenty dry sticks of spaghetti, one yard of string, one yard of tape, and only one marshmallow.
Sounds easy, right? Here’s the catch, each team is given only 18 minutes to complete the task. At the end of the 18 minutes, each team will be graded on their teamwork and the height of the tower. This game proves that creativity is everywhere and allows ideas to flow throughout the office between departments for work-related tasks. Are you up for the challenge?
You may have guessed what you will need for this game and you’re right, a beach ball! Just as the marshmallow game, have a member from each department form a team. It’s a fun and easy way to help team members learn about others outside of their department. Grab a beach ball, a permanent marker, and a timer and let’s get started! With the permanent marker, write random questions on the beach ball, the questions can be simple as in -- ‘Do you have any pets?’ or ‘What is your favorite food?’ More complex questions can be -- ‘What are your weekly goals?’ and ‘Where do you see yourself in 5 years?’.
Next you want to have the team members form a circle facing each other and toss the beach ball from person to person in random order. With the timer set each round at 35 seconds, whenever the timer rings, the person holding the ball will answer the question that is closest to their right pinky. When the question is answered, begin tossing the ball and start again. This is a great example of employee engagement ideas to learn more about others than what’s in your own department.
With these employee engagement ideas, it will really boost the momentum in the office and the employees will be more focused than ever. The two exercises won’t only be the beginning of new friendships —it will also be the start of ideas coming in for each department from all over the office.
Make sure to take lots of pictures during your employee engagement ideas. Share these pictures in a Ving with your team after the day is over. Your team will love reminiscing on fun times in the office.
