Creative Problem Solving

Being a leader becomes more of a challenge when you don’t have the tools to improve the mood in the office. Here are some activities to help, so your employees can be more productive in a positive work environment. “Put yourself in the other person’s shoes.” Organize an activity where they switch roles with the person they are having a conflict with and improvise solutions. This will help them understand how it is when the shoe is on the other foot and realize what the other person is going through.

“Have a real discussion.” Schedule a meeting to talk about the problems that are causing tension at work. Conduct a productive discussion to air out differences and discover ways to remedy them. Offer concrete ideas to establish a positive environment in the office. Keep the mood light, give everyone a chance to speak and listen to their concerns.

“Alter the routine.” Switch things up. Give people different responsibilities and schedules to keep their interest. It will be a break from their regular routine. It might help your employees appreciate what they have once they realize the challenges their co-workers face. “Ask for help”. Everyone in the room writes about something they need help with at work. Put all the requests in a hat and ask each participant to pick one. Once they guess who wrote the one they chose, they get to help that person. If they choose their own name, they get to ask somebody for help.

“I give up.” For this activity, all the participants begin by saying the phrase, “I give up.” Then give them time to discuss what might happen now that they have given up. What will they do? Where will they go? If they find viable alternatives, then maybe it’s time to reconsider their current situation. If they don’t, challenge them to work on being happier where they are. Try these activities with your office staff and you just might notice a change for the better!