7 Ways to Improve Employee Morale by Having More Fun

Sure, your employees are all adults. But that doesn't mean that they don't still like to have fun. An excellent way to boost employee morale is to ensure that your office is a playful, pleasant environment for your team to flourish in. Work is important, but when you take everything too seriously, your employees will become bored, stagnant, and resentful.

Do you think rock stars adopt a "strictly business" attitude? Absolutely not! They have parties, celebrate, and love to have fun. It keeps them young, creative, and happy. When it comes to your business rock stars, the same holds true. Work should be a place they enjoy coming to, not one they dread.

There a number of ways to have fun in the office which won't put too much of a dent in your expense account. Be creative and ask for your employees' input. They know what they like. Here are seven suggestions for making your office a "fun zone."

1) Decorate

There is nothing duller than a gray cubicle. Hopefully, you've decided to redesign your workspace. However, whether you invest the money to spruce up your space, or opt not to, you can still decorate. Choose a theme each month and encourage employees to get crafty and decorate their workspace (or a friend's) according to the theme. Offer prizes for the best job.

2) Offer art opportunities

Coloring books aren't just for kids anymore. Coloring has been shown to lower blood pressure and spark creativity. Include the necessary supplies in your break room or hand out crayons to all of your employees so they can take "doodle breaks" and let their imaginations run free. You can also ask your team to share any special skills they have and create mini workshops where they teach their coworkers to paint, decoupage, make jewelry, etc. Want to make your employees really happy? Pay for the supplies.

3) Have regular "meetings"

Not the boring ones where everyone is checking their phones and praying for the fire alarm to go off. You want to throw fun meetings where you bring in someone to teach employees fun skills like juggling. Make it completely un-work-related and give them something fun to show off at their next cocktail party.

4) Incorporate a daily dance party

Some people need to be encouraged out of their shell, but it will be worth it. Dancing is a great way to relax, release stress, and get your heart pumping. Throw on 2-3 songs and let your employees dance their way to a successful day. You can give your team the power of "DJ" and have them trade off who's in charge of the music each day. You can even have a dance-off and reward the victor with a gift card or an hour off of work.

5) Have a parade

Zappos is famous for having random parades throughout their day, often accompanied by costumes. Nothing will break up a boring day quite like joining a parade of your coworkers as they snake through the office playing homemade instruments and singing. In case you're afraid that this type of silliness will hurt your organization, Zappos is consistently voted one of the best companies to work for... and their bottom line is doing just fine.

6) Bring furry guests to the office

Allowing employees to bring their dogs to work will lighten the mood in the office. However, if you don't feel that regular 4 legged workers would be conducive to your environment, why not just bring visitors. Contact an animal rescue in your town and invite them to bring some adoptable animals for a mid-week puppy break. You're employees will be happy, the animals will get more socialization, and you just might see a love connection. If possible, offer to cover the adoption fee and send your employees home with a new best friend.

7) Allow them to showcase their rock star skills

Your team is full of talented people, some may even be musically inclined. When Marvelless Mark® works with a company, he turns their employees into band members, giving them instruments and encouraging them to write their own songs and perform for their coworkers.

No matter how you incorporate fun into your office, remember that the more engaged and the happier your employees, the better their performance will be. Don't forget to give them time away from their desks to enjoy the fun and really get involved. It will pay off in their rock star performance.

"As a rock star, I have two instincts, I want to have fun and I want to change the world. I have a chance to do both."

- Bono

Mark Kamp® aka Marvelless Mark® works with organizations who want their teams to achieve immediate rock star results. A Keynote Speaker/Entertainer/Author, Husband, Father, and child of God, his primary message, “Opportunity Rocks®” gives attendees a fresh new perspective on Sales, Marketing, and Employee Performance. Fun and engaging, Mark combines the success secrets of your favorite rock stars with just the right amount of entertainment to transform your employees into business rockstars. Learn more at www.OpportunityRocks.net.