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If your employees dread heading to work on Monday mornings, there might be something you can do to turn that frown L upside down J. Is their attitude really something you can help change? You bet! Let’s face it, most of us spend more time with co-workers each and every day than we do with family or loved ones.
There’s a new vision of office space that’s becoming the norm throughout office complexes and corporate headquarters across the globe. Corporate culture is shying away from stuffy cubicles and poorly lit meeting rooms. Today, companies are insisting on open work spaces, the best in health and fitness, and work place perks.
Hide the Copy Machine for These Office Gatherings
In the times of Mad Men, corner offices were stocked with full bars and a hefty amount of cigarettes. Those days of unhealthy living have gone, but that doesn’t mean the party has to stop.
With healthy living being encouraged by companies, businesses have taken eating well and feeding their employees to heart. Special lunch and dinner parties are thrown in conference rooms and meeting spaces, with health-conscious sandwiches, salads and tasty, yet healthy, desserts available. Don’t worry, we are all still ordering in pizza as well!
At RevZilla.com there are days that are so crazy busy that if the company did not make sure the staff was fed, lunches might be skipped and employees would be losing steam long before the day came to a close.
That is when we like to feed people. A Mexican buffet or even a simple ice pop break can boost morale and energize the office. In good weather we take to our motorcycles for Two Wheel Tuesdays and convene after work at a local beer garden for food, drink and team building.
Company Outings Go Wild
Looking to get out of the office with co-workers? This doesn’t have to mean trekking to a corner bar every Friday night. New trends in company outings include rustic camping excursions, hiking, even ATV and dirt bike rides. Good spirited competition with co-workers is also a great team building activity. Last spring saw the RevZilla.com staff at a paintball outing where Team Orange Julius was pitted against Team Murdah in an epic battle that we are all still talking about. And we know that everyone has the upcoming go-kart outing on their calendars in ink! Zany prizes also add the spirit of fun.
Say Goodbye to Mundane Meetings
With the idea of open offices and free flowing workspaces becoming the norm, those mundane Monday morning or Friday afternoon meetings will soon become an occurrence of the past. Hanging swings from the ceiling in an open room, along with beanbag chairs on the floor, will give it more of a club or tree house feeling, just like you’re a kid again!
At RevZilla.com we have our Wheel of Destiny – including prizes like Shoei Helmets and HJC Helmets – that gets spun at every weekly meeting by an employee who has correctly answered a trivia question. Prizes range from the awesome to the ZLAonk. Our disclaimer says it all: One entry per person. No changing your mind. Entries via email, hip chat or verbally. Whiners will be disqualified. Cheaters will be subject to emotional distress and the disapproval of organizers who reserve the right to guilt. Cheaters are defined as people who would hack the CS system to find the answer (if that were even possible, which it is not) or search the internet for the answer. The wheel spinner will be picked at random from correct entries. By entering, participants agree to spin the wheel which may result in being ZLAonked. ZLAonked is defined as but not limited to, having to wear a wig, fake mustache, fake eyebrows, orange face paint and/or a hat for one work day.
Office Workouts
Sitting all day is not only bad for your posture; it can completely kill any creative neurons. Give your employees the option to move around. Install a gong to acknowledge exceptional customer service, instigate the occasional chair race, invite everyone over to check out some cool new product – find something that reflects your company values and make it fun. Veering off the straight and narrow occasionally can ultimately get you further down the road.
As far as the suggestions above go, if you’re an office manager, CEO or head of the company “Fun/Party Committee” – do not make these decisions on your own. Involve all employees, even new hires and interns, on the decision making process.
Send out email blasts and post opinion sheets in the break room or kitchen, asking what they’d like to do to help improve your company’s culture and don’t forget to invite them to help in the planning and execution. Stepping out of their normal role is another way to perk up someone’s work day.
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About the Author
This article was written by Anthony Bucci, the CEO of RevZilla, a large online motorcycle superstore. Anthony spearheads business development and marketing, and has helped raise revenue from zero to eight figures in under three years.
At RevZilla, company culture is paramount, and the team is always looking for new ways to improve company culture and educate customers. You can learn more at www.revzilla.com.
