
2024 is just around the corner and with the start of another new year comes the chance to shed what’s not working in the workplace and adopt some new practices to that do work. If you’ve spent significant time worrying about team productivity or morale, take 2024 as an opportunity to hit the reset button. It’s not too late to build a team that genuinely loves coming to work!
With that idea in mind, we take a look at three ways to boost your team’s happiness in 2024. With a little hard work and some out-of-the-box thinking, you can kick off the new year with a team that functions like a cheery, well-oiled machine.
#1: Build in Time to Get to Know Each Other
Getting to know your colleagues and employees takes just as much intentional planning and effort as any other project. Don’t assume that your employees will get to know (and like) each other by the water cooler – make learning about each other part of your company culture.
Here at Museum Hack, we practice this principle by using icebreakers. A lot!
We open every single meeting with an icebreaker. Why? Because icebreakers set a fun tone for our meetings and remind each other that we’re all human. It’s much harder to be mad at Joe from Accounting when you just learned that his favorite way to spend his weekends is playing catch with his golden retriever puppy. By using icebreakers, we dive into our work prioritizing our humanity first!
Plus, icebreakers are a great way to make sure you get some laughs in!
#2: Encourage Your Team to Spend Time Together Outside the Office
As a boss, it’s important to encourage your team to spend time together outside the office. Don’t assume that your employees will gather without your influence. Even if they do get together of their own volition, they likely will only invite their workplace friends. If you provide work-sanctioned opportunities to get together outside of the office, you can ensure that all of your team will bond… not just the few who have already clicked.
The setting for your workplace outing can vary. Renting out a bar or restaurant for a happy hour is always a great, low-stakes environment. But it can also be great to plan fun, more structured activities! The more thought you put into the event, the more your employees will get out of it!
#3: Provide Opportunities to Overcome Obstacles Together (With Different Stakes!)
Looking for a way to get your team together outside of the office? Try a team building activity!
While your employees work together to overcome obstacles every day in the office, there’s something to be said for manufacturing opportunities to tackle challenges in a low stakes environment. Or, rather, in an environment where the stakes are different. Heading to an escape room might not feel low stakes (I mean, what if those doors never open!?) but putting your minds together to beat a different kind of challenge will feel good.
By providing unique, out-of-the-box opportunities to overcome obstacles together, your team will bond and have plenty to talk about when they return to the office. Plus, putting people into different scenarios allows different aspects of their personality to shine – you might not realize that Dasia from HR is actually a crack codebreaker. You never know when you need one of those!
Final Thoughts
In 2024 make boosting your team’s happiness a priority. One of the best ways to accomplish this goal is by providing structured opportunities for your team to get together, bond, and problem solve.
If you need some help in this department, we’ve got your back. Our team building tours are fun, educational, and guaranteed to leave everyone in your company smiling. Learn more here!