Teddy Bear Picnic

The following idea for a reward/recognition/teambuilding activity was submitted by Michele O'Connor, PHR, Human Resources Generalist for the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa :
�Ours is a small office of 15 staff. Due to space restrictions, we have not been together in one office for a long time, and several staff members are actually on different floors from the main office. However, once a month we have an "All-Staff" meeting over lunch. Often we will hold a potluck or order out. We spend about half of the meeting just chatting about our lives and families, current events, etc., the other half is for business.

�One day last fall, someone suggested having a Teddy Bear Picnic. The idea was for everyone to bring a stuffed animal (it didn't have to be a teddy bear) to lunch with them. Now, our staff is not a bunch of youngsters... we are all adults between the ages of 35-58, men and women. But, everyone really got into this idea. We ordered out our lunch and it was a decent day, so we ate outside at picnic tables. EVERYONE brought a stuffed animal that had special meaning for them - one of the men actually brought a life-sized Bugs Bunny! After eating, we each stood up and talked about why we had selected that particular stuffed animal. Some of the animals people had had since they were children. We laughed at many of the stories and really enjoyed learning more about the "personal" aspects of each other. We were able to see the "softer" side of our co-workers and appreciate that the side we often see at work is often one-dimensional. This is one staff meeting I will never forget!�
Thanks, Ludy & Michelle! To get additional ideas for boosting team morale and productivity, register NOW for my free webinar being offered this Wednesday, November 1, 11 am Pacific/2 pm Eastern, sponsored by Workforce Performance Solutions and Maritz, Inc. All participants will receive a free copy of my e-doc 101 Ways to Recognize Teams and Teamwork. Here are more details about the session:
Get it Together: Aligning Formal and Informal Recognition Practices to Reinforce Corporate Goals
In your organization, is recognition viewed as a valuable performance tool, worthy of a systematic and consistent approach? Or is it something done in fits and starts according to budget availability and different department leaders� philosophies? Does anyone in your organization know what the total recognition investment is, or which overall business goals that investment supports? Do managers know the reasons to recognize people - and have the right skills and tools to do it well? Do they know how to mix formal and informal recognition to make it meaningful for all employees? In this e-Seminar tomorrow, Bob Nelson, Ph.D., author of the best-selling book �1001 Ways to Reward Employees,� and Stillman St. Clair, product manager of workforce solutions for Maritz Incentives, will raise awareness of how recognition can become a more integrated part of your business and provide some steps to begin this worthwhile journey.

To register for this free webinar, please go to the following link:

http://www.wpsmag.com

All participants will receive a complimentary copy of Bob Nelson�s e-doc:
101 Ways to Recognize Teams and Teamwork , an $8.95 value!
Bob Nelson
Bob Nelson, Ph.D., is president of Nelson Motivation Inc.; a frequent presenter to management groups, conferences and associations; and a best-selling author of 1001 Ways to Reward Employees (now in a revised edition), 1001 Ways to Energize Employees, The 1001 Rewards & Recognition Fieldbook and The Management Bible. Register for Bob's free Tip of the Week at www.nelson-motivation.com email Bob directly at bobrewards@aol.com .
Recognition for All Generations
There are currently four different generations of workers in the workplace today. To read how effective recognition varies from generation-to-generation, see the article I wrote, �Everyone Wins,� in this month�s issue of Corporate Meetings & Incentives at: http://meetingsnet.com/corporatemeetingsincentives/mag/meetings_everyone_wins_3

Do you have a favorite quote, recognition/reward idea, technique, story or question you'd like to share? Send it to Bob via email at bobrewards@aol.com . Want to sign up a friend or associate for Bob Nelson's Tip of the Week? Free registration is on the home page of www.nelson-motivation.com