A strong team culture is an integral part of successful ventures. A motivated team can translate into better work productivity, increased product quality, enhanced customer support, and overall office spirit.
Benefits like these are the reasons that the best places to work are those that foster team culture. (Work-life balance and a healthy work environment are close seconds.)
For examples, consider a list titled “Baltimore’s Best Places to Work in 2015.” The list’s winners featured such perks as bring your pet to work day, paintball outings, and office gyms.
Similarly, free daily lunches, volunteer days, and family games were shared themes among Crain’s New York Business’ 2015 “Best Places to Work in NYC.”
As these lists revealed, your team builds the foundation for your culture to grow and sets the overall tone. But if you try to build a structure on soft ground, it will likely fail. And starting a company with a weak team culture and scale has the same result. A strong, sturdy culture for your team established from the beginning will determine your company’s overall tone.
But creating a prosperous team can be tough during your company’s initial growth stages, or worse, when it’s in bootstrapping mode. So how do you foster team spirit on a startup budget? Here are five quick, practically free ideas you can employ to build positive team spirit.
1. Homemade Surprises
As Jim Rohn said, “Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.” In a similar vein, nothing says appreciation quite like the boss taking that time to make homemade cookies or cupcakes for the team. Home-baked goods not only reflect extra care but can be surprisingly cheaper than store-bought goods (and much tastier). So, be creative. Bake or cook up your favorite dish for a snack or lunch, and share it with your team.
2. Group Crafts
Even those who are not overly creative can benefit from activities that promote self-expression. Art therapy has proven therapeutic benefits for individuals experiencing illness, trauma, and mental health struggles. It also has a professional application: art helps professionals achieve personal insight, resolve conflicts, improve interpersonal skills, and, most importantly, reduces negative stress. All of this combines to foster an enhanced workplace culture.
Consider offering an interactive crafting activity to your team. For Halloween, I hosted a pumpkin-carving contest at my office. I picked up some fun decorations and paint from a dollar store along with a few pumpkins and carving materials from home. Then, we all had fun seeing the final masterpieces take shape. Whether the context is an office decorating party, a vision board creation, or a holiday-themed activity, group crafts are a fun way to inspire your team members and learn more about them.
3. Game Night
Play can lead to more creative and adaptable workers. In Response of the Brain to Enrichment, neuroscience researcher Marian Diamond described how “enriched,” playful environments powerfully shape the cerebral cortex, the area of the brain where the highest cognitive processing takes place.
Diamond concluded,
There are measurable benefits to enriching [making playful] an individual’s environment in whatever terms that individual perceives his immediate environment as enriched.
Some companies have taken note: Apple, Zappos, Twitter, and Google are just a few of the corporate leaders that have adopted this playful attitude in the workplace. When I visited Google headquarters, for instance, Lego bins were plentiful, followed by Foosball tables, giant slides, and a variety of games for employees.
You don’t need Google’s budget to tap into these benefits of play. Hosting a game night is sure to inspire your team’s creative spirit. Grab a deck of cards and chips for a fun poker night, or better yet, have each of your team members bring their favorite game to your party. Games are an effective way to relieve stress, promote team conversation, and inspire team spirit.
4. Motivational Content
According to a 2013 State of the Global Workplace study from Gallup, only 13 percent of employees surveyed worldwide considered themselves to be engaged. The bulk of “unengaged” employees, meanwhile, indicates a lack of motivation in the work environment. An occasional inspirational quote or message to your team is an affordable idea that can go a long way to improving employee motivation and commitment to your company.
As this same study showed, 67 percent of employees surveyed reported feeling engaged when their managers focused on positive characteristics. To tap into this insight, reflect on what personally motivates you.
Do you have favorite quotes, TEDtalks, music, articles, books, or videos that inspire you? Share that content with your team. A simple quote emailed at the start of the day or a funny photo at the end of a long day’s work can help keep spirits high and create a positive team mood.
5. Recognition
Recognition is the best way to make your team feel valued and appreciated, which in turn will build your company’s progress. As an American Psychological Association Harris Interactive 2012 Workplace Survey indicated, employees who reported feeling valued were also 60 percent more likely to do their very best for their employers.
Fortunately, recognition need not be an expensive proposition. While employee incentives are part of a $100-plus billion industry, non-cash incentives make up 46 percent. Verbal recognition and a pat on the back can go a long way. A recognition strategy could be as simple as sending a shout-out on Friday to recognize a member’s progress or emailing a quick digital card to the “team member of the month.”
These small gestures not only show that you care about and value your team’s efforts, they can enhance your team’s self-confidence. The key to building team culture is to remember that your foundation is built on attitude and motivation. Activities that enhance self-esteem, promote expression, and create positive memories contribute to your overall team spirit.