It may sound like a kid’s game, but charades is great for adults and can be played quickly, which makes it perfect as a meeting ice breaker. For an extra challenge, topics can be work-related (anyone creative enough to try acting out “quality assurance audit”?). Charades is a guaranteed laugh, encourages employees to step out of typical roles, and gets employees moving, which is an extra boost to the brain.

1 Charades

On a nice day, get outside and cook on the grill for lunch. This is a great way to break up the work day and show your employees some appreciation. To keep costs low, share the burden by having each employee bring one or two items. Ask a few different employees to help out. Have someone work the grill, while someone else pours the soda. Employees will be able to interact with one another in a much more relaxed manner, while sunshine and fresh air stimulate serotonin levels and foster feelings of well-being.

2 Cookout

Any outdoor sports like softball, volleyball, or ag football are great collaborative exercises. They require a team to work together to become successful. Check your local area for leagues to join after work hours or during the weekend. You’ll be helping busy employees who struggle to get to the gym engage in physical activity that is crucial for well-being and mental health. Or keep it informal - Thursday afternoon Frisbee, anyone? Sports are a great way for your employees to stay connected and active.

3 Sports

Holding a scavenger hunt is an unexpected way for employees to bond with one another, especially since it gets them out of the office. It involves working with a team through a series of steps to reach a goal. Assemble a few simple clues and have your employees head out of the office to nearby shops or parks to collect or photograph the secret items. First team back to the office wins! If you’re not up to planning your own hunt, consider putting together an office team and signing up for an organized event such as Urban Adventure Quest.

4 Scavenger Hunt

This is another quick, friendly competition you can hold right inside your office, perfect for counteracting the rainy day blah’s. It can be competitive or structured so that employees have to work together to come up with the answer. Consider keeping a rolling score so that employees remain invested over time. Or make it mandatory that teams are recongured each time you play so that employees are encouraged to interact with different groups on a consistent basis. Employees who may be hesitant to play can still be encouraged to participate by contributing to the pool of questions with both general knowledge and work-related topics, or byby acting as the emcee. It’s a great way to discover colleagues’ hobbies, honor employee milestones, or remember funny office moments.

5 Trivia

Studies show that happy employees have a positive correlation to productivity around the office. According to Sonja Lyubomirsky, the author of The How of Happiness, happy employees are 31% more productive than their unhappy coworkers. And let’s face it - they’re just more pleasant to be around! The trick is helping employees get and stay happy when faced with the daily challenges of cranky clients, looming deadlines, and IT delays.

OurOur brains can remain on one task for only so long. Shaking up the routine by playing a quick game or getting outside is a great way to snap out of a rut and get the gray cells productive again. Plus, team activities are great for building morale and encouraging colleagues (and supervisors!) to work together in a non-threatening way.

Set aside an hour on a Monday morning, liven up a stuffy meeting, or celebrate the end of a big project. Share some laughs and make your employees happy with ve of our favorite employee bonding activities (in no particular order). Don’t forget the camera – you’ll want to share via your blog or Facebook page!

5 Painless Ways to Increase Productivity

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