Do your employees ever get that glazed over look?

A study by the Gallup Management Journal found that 52% of U.S. employees were essentially “checked out” of their jobs, and another 17% actually undermine co-workers with their “active disengagement.” Ouch!

A solution: Teambuilding. Encourage collaborative relationships among your employees, and you’ll not only perk them up you’ll motivate productivity. Try these ideas to put spirit back in your team.

Rally. Make sure all staffers are “in the game.” Sport themes really drive the concept home. A fun way to announce a team program is with group jerseys. Or, roll up literature about group goals and pass it out in imprinted stadium cups. Include mention of a team reward; group tickets to special sporting events in your city could be excellent incentives to encourage performance.

Rivet. Use a team motto to focus and inspire. Quality Comes First, for example, will remind staff of a zero-defect goal in production. Keep the goal at hand by imprinting it on awareness bracelets or emphasize the importance of group time management with “mini watches” made from the same rubber wristbands. Another twist: imprint team dog tags or use “Inspire Rings” – silver-plated, unisex pendants on nylon cords – for symbolic reinforcement.

Relax. Creativity often grows out of relaxed interaction. That’s why corporate retreats are so popular. But they’re not always affordable. So have fun in your employee break-room. Try team trivia challenges. Use questions about your company or marketplace to stimulate interaction and measure knowledge. Take team-members outside and have them literally aim for goals with graphic gliders – paper airplanes that can be imprinted with your corporate name or message. Teams that hit the most goals collectively win prizes. These kinds of activities not only relax employees but remind them of the importance of everyone’s involvement.

Like these ideas? I’ve got plenty more. Just call me or send me an e-mail and we’ll team up to fire up your workforce.