With multiple projects, looming deadlines and a daily push for creativity, it can be difficult for agency employees to stay positive and motivated in their work. As a leader, it’s your job to create a positive work culture that helps team members bond and stay inspired.
While the “lazy, hazy days of summer” might seem ripe for a productivity slump, these warm, sunny months are a great time to initiate some team-bonding activities that will keep employee morale high. We asked members of Forbes Agency Council for their recommendations on cultural perks and bonding activities for summer. Here’s what they had to say.
Members of Forbes Agency Council share ideas for fun summer bonding activities that will help keep your agency’s team members motivated and engaged.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.
1. Travel Together
I’m not saying fly to the Bahamas every summer, but get out of town at least for a weekend together. The change of environment will help you form a stronger bond, unleash your creativity, and generally relax and have a good time together. Try to choose a location with lots of activities so that everybody will find something interesting to do. Your team should be your priority. – Solomon Thimothy, OneIMS
2. Send Personalized Gifts To Offsite Teams
Our entire agency is virtual, with employees in eight different locations. I know each of their favorite coffees or teas. I purchase a bag and mail it to them with a handwritten note on company letterhead. I tell them how much I appreciate them and some things I noticed in their work recently. It is a small gesture, but it takes time and effort—which they see. – Adam Draper, Gladiator Law Marketing
3. Offer A Flexible Work Schedule
Employees value flexible work schedules more than most other benefits. Consider the 5/4/9 schedule. Within a two-week cycle, the first nine days are nine-hour days and the 10th day is off. If you can’t have employees out for an entire day, consider flex hours. Come in early and leave early. It’s amazing what a few extra hours of daylight can do. It shouldn’t matter when the work gets done! – Lori Paikin, NaviStone®
4. Plan An Outdoor Activity
The summer is a really great time to ensure that there is plenty to do outside as well as to have alignment with others to allow you to have a great time. You can do things like water rafting, spending time at the beach (if you are near one) or picnicking with the team. It is a great way to keep everyone balanced between the work and the ongoing deadlines and allow them to have fun. – Jon James, Ignited Results
5. Do Yoga Together
We like to help our team bond, de-stress and get creative through group activities like yoga. Our yoga instructor comes as frequently as weekly based on how high or low stress levels seem to be in the office. The summer months can be especially stressful for agencies because even though everyone is trying to fit in vacations, clients still expect the same level of productivity from month to month. – Scott Baradell, Idea Grove
6. Take A Field Trip
It’s important to do things together out of the office that promote teamwork and temporarily take your mind off stressful project deadlines. Our office recently did a lunch-hour Panic Room experience. It’s only an hour—you have to work together to solve the clues to get out of the room. It becomes competitive and intense, but everyone had a blast and came back to work more energized. – Meredith Xavier, The Ligné Group
7. Schedule A Learning Opportunity
Scoring together for clients, collaborating on new business wins, empowering learning, infusing fun and providing time off are ingredients for a great summer. Helping staff access webinars that advance them is extremely well received. Going to an event during work hours energizes everyone around networking. And helping people escape for the weekend early when the schedule permits is always a home run. – Kathleen Lucente, Red Fan Communications
8. Volunteer
Working together to achieve something tangible for the community can be a unique way to unify and inspire the team. Whether it is a day of volunteering, a summerlong fundraising initiative or training together for a charity walk, taking positive action together in the community can be something that not only bonds the team but that everyone can be proud of together. – Keri Witman, Cleriti
9. Give Them A Unique Work Location Option
We often forget that we are at our most creative when we are most relaxed. A few years ago, we bought a cottage for the exclusive use of our staff. Teams can book it the same way they book an Airbnb. Some of our best, award-winning ideas were born at the Intercept cottage. – Andrew Au, Intercept Group
10. Celebrate Employee Anniversaries
We recently began celebrating employee milestones. In addition to gifts for date-of-hire anniversaries—such as custom Nikes and branded Beats headphones—we host a quarterly anniversary party to recognize each individual’s journey. It presents an opportunity to celebrate team wins, recognize employee contributions and enjoy a social atmosphere at the end of a busy day. – Justin Grossman, meltmedia
11. Go On A Camping Trip
We’re planning a summer-camp-inspired retreat for our team, complete with a scavenger hunt, roasted marshmallows and plenty of “kumbaya” moments. We host strategic planning sessions twice per year anyway, and we decided to turn this one into “Agency Camp.” We’ll break into teams and tackle challenges—both agency-related and just for fun. Silly games are critical to success. Three-legged race anyone? – Danica Kombol, Everywhere Agency
12. Do Something Fun During Work Hours
Being based in a beach town, we try to make the most of summer. This includes out-of-office long lunches, closing the office early for happy hours or beach afternoons, and morning beach yoga. It’s important to create team memories and experiences outside of the office, and I’ve found employees find it even more meaningful when it’s also time off work. – Leila Lewis, Be Inspired PR
