You've probably worked in one of those offices where you can hear a pin drop and the only interactions are employees shooting each other dirty looks over their cubicles. You may even work in one now. Fostering an environment where employees cooperate and support one another, like a successful band who creates beautiful music,  means improving teamwork in the workplace.

Because when your team doesn't work together, they are not happy. And when they're not happy, your bottom line suffers. Sales are lower, sick days are more frequent, and productivity drops by the wayside. Thankfully, you can improve how your employees relate to one another by creating a culture of celebration and festiveness.

What to Celebrate

Consider a rock band. Their tour buses and backstage are anything but subdued. They celebrate everything: a great show, a new album, a recent accolade.

There are many opportunities to boost morale in your workplace and improve teamwork (no tour bus required). These include:

1. Personal milestones: When employees get engaged, have a child, even have a birthday, you can take the opportunity to show them how special they are.
2. Reaching goals: Have your employees reached a certain level in sales? Did they just close a huge deal or utilize some impressive customer service skills? Show your team members that their hard work is appreciated.
3. Failure: Failing means you tried something. It means that your employees stepped out of their comfort zones and used their creativity to approach a problem. Just because it doesn't work, doesn't mean their efforts shouldn't be acknowledged.
4. Working together: When it comes to improving teamwork, rewarding the behavior reinforces it. Rather than pitting employees against each other, encourage them to work in groups to reach goals, solve problems, and further each teammate's progress.
5. Community engagement: Do your employees volunteer? Do they walk dogs at the shelter, read to children, or help build homes for the less fortunate? Why not show them that you support their extra-curricular activities? There's nothing wrong with recognizing employees for the good they do outside of work. Bonus points if you organize activities for them to do as a group and then give them paid time off to do it. When employees socialize outside the office, especially when they are working together towards the greater good, they create stronger relationships and inspire teamwork.
6. Holidays: Anyone can be festive on Christmas and New Years, but celebrating the small holidays just gives you another reason to encourage socialization and raise morale in your department.
7. Just because: If you really want to inspire rock star results from your employees, buy them pizza on a random day, bring in a cake that says "Thank you for being you," or sponsor a happy hour after work. They'll have the opportunity to chat and socialize, they'll be happier because they're well fed, and you will look like a hero for taking care of your employees.

How to Get your Employees on Board

If you don't get buy-in from your employees on the culture and energy of a celebratory environment, you'll have nothing more than cake and eye rolls. Here are a few suggestions for getting them on board:

1) Create a committee that helps to organize events, comes up with creative ideas for rewards and can research volunteer opportunities for the team.

2) Set aside a budget to pay for food, drinks, and prizes.

3) Encourage socialization during work hours. If you have the space available, create a room dedicated to non-work activities... which is always prepped for a party.

Marvelless Mark® always tells his clients that people love any excuse for a party. When you create a festive work environment, you raise the energy of the office, the productivity of your employees, and you improve their ability to work as a team towards a unified goal.

Like Kool and the Gang once said, "Celebrate good times. Come on!"

Mark Kamp® aka Marvelless Mark® works with organizations who want their teams to achieve immediate rock star results. A Keynote Speaker/Entertainer/Author, Husband, Father, and child of God, his primary message, “Opportunity Rocks®” gives attendees a fresh new perspective on Sales, Marketing, and Employee Performance. Fun and engaging, Mark combines the success secrets of your favorite rock stars with just the right amount of entertainment to transform your employees into business rockstars.