Giving employees the chance to plan and run events is a great way to boost engagement and create a more motivated team. By passing along the planning, companies can tap into new ideas and fresh perspectives. This makes your team feel like they are actually making an impact in the workplace. When employees feel like they’re being listened to, they will become more engaged, leading to better productivity, teamwork, and less turnover.

Employees can come up with all sorts of events, from social get-togethers, lunch and learns to  mentorship programmes, and everything in between – catering to a wider range of interests. In fact, according to an ongoing study by Gallup, “Companies with highly engaged workforces are 18% more productive than those with low engagement levels​​.” That means that getting people involved will have a real positive impact on your business. Letting employees manage upwards and share what they really need with their managers is a win for everyone, especially since leadership’s priorities don’t always line up with the rest of the team’s. Employee-led events give your team the chance to take the reins, bring their interests to the table, and show what they’re capable of. When people feel heard and empowered, they’re way more engaged and that energy pays off big time for the whole company.

Here are a few ideas for employee-led events: 

Team Building Activities

These are among the most popular types of events we see planned, often ranging from problem-solving challenges to scavenger hunts. Recently, the VenueScanner team took part in an experience at Crystal Palace with GOTO Events – designed as part of a team offsite, the activity brought colleagues together to tackle a series of tasks collaboratively. It was an effective way to get individuals who aren’t usually paired up with each other, to work together. Experiences like these are invaluable for promoting both meaningful collaboration and genuine social connection, exactly the kind of outcomes you want for your team.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Planning volunteer activities is really important for corporate social responsibility. This is a great one to get your team involved. Create a committee of employees who can come up with a charity everyone would like to support. If you can’t get everyone to agree on just one, why not split into groups? Help the team give back to their community, specifically on initiatives they care about, and you’ll see morale surge. 

Lunch and Learn

Informal information sessions are key to getting people to learn more about their team. In the past, the VenueScanner team has blocked off Friday lunches for a “Share the Love” session. It’s completely optional, but gives the team a forum to discuss anything they’re interested in. This can range from sharing hobbies, to breaking down the last episode of your favourite tv show, to discussing a book you’ve all read. The allotted time allows people who are experts at things outside of work to have an opportunity to share with the team. They can be really interesting for everyone involved and lets your team get to know each other better. 

Employee Resource Groups or Culture Clubs

Providing a platform where employees can share experiences and advocate for themselves and create actual change in the company is key to keeping people engaged and feeling empowered. You don’t need to be a manager to have valuable ideas about how the company can grow. Creating a group or club provides a space where team members can share how they’re feeling at work and explore ideas that could benefit the whole team. It’s also important for management, as some employees may not feel comfortable chatting about these things with them, but may be okay talking to one of their peers instead.

Wellness Challenges and Workshops

Self-Care is a phrase that everyone is familiar with these days. Encouraging employees to prioritise their health and wellbeing can help prevent burnout. Empower your team to set up some wellbeing sessions. Does someone on the team teach yoga on the side? Why not have them run a session? Are people interested in running? Let them start a running club. There are so many ways to get your team feeling fit and healthy, especially if you find out what that means for them.

Peer Recognition Programmes

The fact of the matter is that people love to feel empowered and recognised. Start a Slack or Teams channel and let your team shout about their own accomplishments as well as those of their colleagues. It can be hard for some people to share the things they’re doing well, giving them an outlet to do so will empower them to feel as if they’re actually contributing to the company. 

Company Outings

Sometimes people just want to go out and have some fun. Why not poll your employees and find out what sort of night out they’re looking for in a team social? Some people may prefer an activity like bowling or karaoke, while others may prefer the pub. If you’re able to put it to a vote, more people will join because they want to, not because they feel they have to. 

Gathering Employee Feedback

You shouldn’t only poll your employees about what they want to do for team socials. You should check in regularly and gather feedback on how they’re feeling. You can do this by using a simple Likert Scale poll. Here are a few simple questions to ask:

• I’ve had a great couple of weeks at work
• I feel my work this week has contributed to the companies success
• I felt I had a good work/life balance this week

Once you gather this information you can use it to figure out what sort of employee-led events would work for your company. Using feedback to put these things into place will show your employees that they’re being listened to. 

Employee-Led Events Really Will Lead to Empowerment

Allowing your staff to get involved in events really will lead to them feeling empowered. When people feel empowered they can do anything. That means that you’ll see a boost in productivity and your team will feel like they have a purpose beyond their everyday tasks. There are so many incredible ways to get your employees involved in events from small internal clubs to planning companywide activities. If you need help finding a venue for your upcoming event, be sure to get in touch with the VenueScanner for Business team.