June 30, 2015
9 Summer Office Party Ideas to Boost Morale
While many companies note a decrease in productivity during the summer months, there are many ways to combat this! The summer season offers employers the opportunity to have some fun with their staff.
Summer office parties are a great perk for employees and also serve as an effective method for building comradely. “I saw good responses to perks that weren’t simply financial, such as casual days at the office, half days, office parties, and social activities outside of the office,” Forbes contributor Patrick Hull wrote in a 2013 article.
When it comes to throwing a summer party for your office’s staff, there’s dozens of options to consider.
The nice weather, longer days, and general feeling of nostalgia for three-month long summer vacations make hosting an office party during this season a brilliant method to boost morales.
Here are 9 summer office party ideas for you to consider for your company.
Scavenger Hunt
Break your company up into teams, and send them out on a scavenger hunt. The hunt can take place in your office, the building, or throughout the neighborhood. Think of wacky ways people will have to gather each item on their lists and make employees provide pictures of their team completing each task. Collect all of the pictures and compile them into a slideshow that you have running while you determine which team won during a happy hour event to round out the day.
Field Day
Kickball, ultimate frisbee, relay races, dodgeball, volleyball, tug-of-wars, capture the flag. Get your employees out into the beautiful summer weather with a field day event followed by a BBQ. There’s guaranteed to be laughter, photo-worthy memories, and non-work related interactions amongst your staff.
Mini Golf
Soak in some sun and transport your staff back to their childhoods with a day of mini golf. Reach out to local food trucks to arrange for them to provide concessions in the mini golf course’s parking lot. Your employees will be delighted following an afternoon of mini golf and some delicious local cuisine.
Bowling Tournament
If summer temperatures in your area are a little too high to party outside, take the event inside at a bowling alley. Invite your staff to participate in a bowling tournament where teams made up of your employees face off for a fun prize, like an extra paid day off or a gift certificate to a local coffee shop.
Laser Tag
Another fantastic indoor team building activity is an afternoon of laser tag. Divide your staff into groups and let them work out their stress and pent up summer energy playing laser tag. Many laser tag facilities have party rooms where your employees can hang out, snack on some appetizers and enjoy a few drinks.
Baseball Games
Or maybe your employees would rather kick back and watch other people plays sports. In that case, treat your staff to a baseball game. Many baseball stadium offer inexpensive tickets to weekday games. Plus, who doesn’t love a ballpark hot dog and a cold beer?
Potluck Lunch
Host a potluck lunch in your office where every employee signs up to bring in one item. Everyone will be excited to share their favorite dishes, and some might even pair up to cook something particularly fabulous. It’s a good idea to also provide some professionally catered options to fill in any gaps in case people forget or not enough food is brought to the potluck.
Summertime Picnics
Your office can also take the potluck outside and host a lovely picnic for employees. Check with your local parks department about renting space at a nearby open space. Encourage employees to bring their favorite picnic foods and outdoor games, such as badminton or frisbee golf.
Summer-Themed Parties
Luas, clam bakes, and fiestas are some great summer-themed party ideas. Party stores across the country sell fun themed party supplies and you can serve food and drinks that align with the theme you’ve settled on for your office party. It’s almost like whisking your staff away on a mini-vacation for a few hours.
June 19, 2015
How to Get More Sponsors for Your Charity Golf Tournament
In a Constant Contact blog post from 2012, author Ryan Mahoney states that sponsors “are one of the foundational elements of your event because they add things that can draw people.”
We agree. If you’re planning a charity gold tournament, you need sponsors to give their support.
Rather than scratching your head wondering how to get sponsors for a golf tournament, use the following seven methods to aid your efforts.
Make It Worthwhile
When speaking with a potential sponsor, be prepared to discuss how sponsorship will benefit them. It’s important to keep in mind that while a business wants to help the community, its ultimate goal is leads and profits.
A company’s decision makers will want to know the target audience for the tournament, the results other business had when they sponsored the event previously, and the type of exposure the business will receive if they opt to sponsor the tournament.
One major factor that will help sway sponsors is large brand mentions. Make sure each sponsor gets multiple shoutouts- in the country club, at each hole, in the invitations to the players, etc.
Connect With Supporters
A charity already has lists of people who donate to, volunteer for, and support the organization. Reach out to them to let them know you’re looking for sponsors to participate in your upcoming golf tournament. Donors, volunteers, and supporters could have helpful suggestions for sponsors or could be interested in sponsoring the tournament themselves.
Knock On Doors
Yes, we live in a digital age. However, getting out of the office to speak with potential sponsors in-person is far more effective than sending out emails or posting calls-to-action on your charity’s social media channels. You’ll find businesses are more inclined to say “yes” when they are discussing sponsoring your charity golf tournament in-person rather than over the phone or via e-mail.
Community Outreach
Golfers love hitting the links, whether it’s for fun or a good cause. Promote your charity golf tournament at courses in the area and talk about the event to any of your golfing friends. Also, reach out to the community that takes special interest in your charity. If your organization works to end hunger, get in touch with local restaurants, food reviewers, and food wholesalers about sponsoring your tournament.
Target Like-Minded Businesses
For example, if your charity helps animals, speak with local vet clinics and pet supply stores about sponsoring the golf tournament. A business with related interests to your charity can use their sponsorship of the tournament as a marketing opportunity.
Get The Word Out
Social media posts, email newsletters, direct mail flyers, and custom signage are just a few of the methods your organization can use to raise awareness for your upcoming golf tournament. Additionally, promoting your event isn’t just a great way to bring in donors but a crucial method for attracting sponsors.
Finding Sponsors Where You Least Expect It
In the months leading up to your charity golf tournament, all you should be talking about to anybody is the event. You never know who you might be chatting up. The casual mention of a charity golf tournament to someone could result in a new sponsor for the event.
June 5, 2015
Bike to Work! How to Get Employees to Participate this Summer
A healthy staff is a productive staff. This year, get everyone in the office geared up and ready to participate in Bike to Work Day. Or, better yet, make it a weekly event. Each Friday allow staff to dress casual and cycle to work.
Why? Aerobic exercise, like cycling, walking and swimming helps you live longer by maximizing the amount of oxygen in your blood, increases feel-good hormones called endorphins and helps you lose extra pounds or maintain a healthy weight, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Cities like Denver have organized bike to work days that turn out thousands of bikers. If your city doesn’t have an official day, create one! Try partnering with fellow companies or organizations to kick start a new tradition.
So, let’s get everyone into the groove, and on bikes. Here are a few ways to motivate employees to pedal to the office.
- Offer a later start time on biking days. If most employees report to work at 8:00am, let them arrive at 8:30am, so they have an hour to cycle to the office and enjoy the scenery along the way.
- Present a healthy breakfast on bike to work days. Create a small spread of fresh fruit, oatmeal or scrambled eggs in a slow cooker and a selection of herbal teas and juices in the conference room.
- Give out awards to active participants. Present certificates to the people who biked to work the most often in a given month or who traveled the furthest. Keep the presentation lighthearted and fun!
- Partner with a local cycling club. Have the members come to the office and present some cycling performance and safety tips so the employees feel ready to tackle a new type of exercise.
- Keep it casual. One days employees ride to work, relax the dress code and keep the schedule light. Desk work and small department meetings are fine. Skip the big client presentations or appointments away from the office.
Sometimes all you need to do to get employees to participate in a bike to work event is let them know it’s happening and why it will benefit them personally. It’s hard to turn down an opportunity that makes the work day more enjoyable, your body healthier and your co-workers happier!
