Nothing boosts morale and fosters a sense of camaraderie better than fun and creative contests. These contests break the monotony of the daily grind while encouraging team spirit and healthy competition.
Imagine transforming your workplace into a hub of excitement with activities that everyone can look forward to. From themed costume contests to trivia challenges, these ideas will help you create an energized and enthusiastic workplace.
1. Themed Costume Contests
Organize seasonal or holiday-themed costume contests, allowing employees to showcase their creativity and have fun dressing up. Encourage participation with prizes for the most creative, funniest, and best overall costumes.
2. Trivia Challenges
Host trivia games covering various topics, such as company history, pop culture, or general knowledge. These challenges are a great way for employees to test their knowledge, compete in a fun and friendly environment, and learn something new.
3. Talent Shows
Unleash the hidden stars in your team by hosting talent shows! From singing and dancing to comedy and magic, let employees dazzle their colleagues with their unique skills. These events are perfect for building camaraderie and celebrating the diverse talents within your workplace.
4. Decorate Your Workspace
Spark creativity with a contest for the best-decorated desk or office space, themed around different seasons or holidays. Employees can express their style and brighten the office, with prizes awarded for the most imaginative and festive decorations.
5. Step or Exercise Challenges
Stop encouraging the couch potato (errrr...desk potato?) lifestyle. Get your team moving with step or exercise challenges! Track physical activities like steps taken or workouts completed, and reward top performers with exciting prizes. These challenges promote wellness, boost energy, and spark a healthy, competitive spirit in the workplace.
6. Photo Contests
Who has a natural eye for great angles? Find out with a photo contest! Set exciting categories like nature, pets, or travel, and let employees showcase their photography skills. This fun and engaging activity allows team members to share their passions and unique perspectives, with prizes for the most stunning and creative shots.
7. Guess the Baby Photo
Start digging out those photos from the bottom of the archives! Collect baby photos from employees and have everyone guess who’s who. Spark nostalgia and start interesting conversations, bringing your team closer together as they share and reminisce.
8. Innovation Challenges
Unleash the creative genius within your team! Encourage employees to come up with innovative ideas or solutions for company improvements. These challenges inspire out-of-the-box thinking and empower employees to contribute to the company's growth and success, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
9. Karaoke Contests
What if the next singing sensation is in your department? Set up a karaoke machine and let employees compete for the title of office karaoke champion. This fun and lively contest is perfect for breaking the ice, boosting morale, and uncovering hidden singing talents within your team.
10. Office Olympics
Let the games begin! Host mini-Olympics with fun events like chair races, paper airplane throwing, or desk chair relays. This energetic and entertaining contest brings out the competitive spirit in your team, promoting teamwork and creating unforgettable office memories.
11. Charity Fundraising Competitions
Make a difference while having fun! See which team can raise the most money for a chosen charity through various activities. From bake sales to sponsored challenges, this contest fosters teamwork and creativity and helps support important causes, boosting morale and community spirit.
12. Best Presentation Contest
Showcase your expertise! Challenge employees to create engaging and informative presentations on topics they are passionate about. This contest enhances public speaking and presentation skills while allowing employees to share their interests and knowledge, fostering an environment of learning and inspiration.
13. Virtual Background Contest
Spice up your video calls! Hold a contest for the most creative virtual meeting backgrounds for remote teams. This fun and imaginative activity adds a touch of personality to meetings, encourages creativity, and brings a bit of joy to the virtual workplace.
14. Lip Sync Battles
Channel your inner rock star! Have employees lip-sync to their favorite songs in a fun competition. This lively contest is perfect for breaking the ice, boosting energy, and providing plenty of laughs as colleagues showcase their performance skills.
15. Pet Photo Contests
Show off your furry friends! Encourage employees to share adorable photos of their pets, with categories like cutest, funniest, or most unique. This heartwarming contest brings smiles to everyone's faces and allows employees to bond over their love for animals.
16. Recipe Swap and Cook-off
Spice up your workday with a culinary challenge! Employees exchange favorite recipes and participate in a cook-off featuring those dishes. This deliciously fun contest encourages creativity in the kitchen, fosters team bonding, and offers everyone a tasty reward.
17. Office Superlatives
Create fun superlatives like "Most Likely to Brighten Your Day" or "Best Zoom Background." This light-hearted contest boosts morale and encourages camaraderie by highlighting each employee's contributions and special qualities.
18. Board Game Tournaments
Game on! Host tournaments featuring popular board games like chess, Scrabble, or Monopoly. These friendly competitions provide a great way for employees to unwind, engage in strategic thinking, and bond with their colleagues over classic games.
19. Storytelling Contests
Share your stories! Encourage employees to share their funniest or most inspiring tales, with prizes for the best ones. This engaging contest fosters a sense of community, allows for creative expression, and brings plenty of laughter and inspiration to the workplace.
20. Office Bingo
Turn everyday tasks into a game! Create a bingo card filled with workplace-related tasks or behaviors, and see who gets bingo first. This playful contest adds excitement to the workday, encourages engagement, and rewards employees for their participation and enthusiasm.
21. Jigsaw Puzzle Race
Piece together some fun! Organize a jigsaw puzzle race where teams compete to complete puzzles the fastest. This challenging and collaborative contest enhances teamwork and problem-solving skills and provides a rewarding sense of accomplishment.
22. Caption This Photo
Get creative with words! Share funny or interesting photos and have employees submit their best captions. This amusing contest sparks creativity and humor, fostering a lively and engaging atmosphere in the workplace.
23. Best Email Signature
Make your mark! Hold a contest for the most creative or professional email signature. This fun competition encourages employees to showcase their personality and professionalism, adding a unique touch to their daily communications.
24. Office Playlist Battle
Turn up the volume! Teams create playlists, and a vote or panel chooses the best one. This musical contest allows employees to share their favorite tunes, discover new music, and bond over shared tastes while creating a fun and lively office atmosphere.
25. Employee Jeopardy
Test your knowledge! Create a Jeopardy game with questions related to the company and general trivia. This engaging and competitive contest is a great way for employees to learn more about the company, showcase their trivia skills, and enjoy a fun team-building activity.
Sustaining Engagement for the Long Haul
To ensure employee engagement remains high over the long term, it's essential to continually invest in activities that foster strong workplace relationships. Regular interaction and open communication are key to maintaining a motivated and connected team.
One effective way to promote these strong connections is by holding regular virtual coffee chats. Using platforms like CoffeePals, employees can easily schedule and enjoy casual conversations with their colleagues, no matter where they are.
Through these informal chats, you can provide a great opportunity for team members to build rapport, share ideas, and support each other, ultimately contributing to a more engaged and cohesive workplace.
Looking for more ways to boost morale and improve engagement in your organization? Read this article next: How to Plan and Evaluate Employee Engagement Initiatives
