Encouraging employee participation and getting tangible results within the workplace...

In November 2010, with hopes of amplifying in-house participation and company morale, the creative staff at Backe concocted three individual "Task Forces." These groups, were assigned various responsibilities and consisted of Team Good Times, who plan parties and fun-filled post-workday events, and Team Good Samiritan, who keep their eyes peeled for events where the company could donate money or be a sponsor of.

I volunteered to be an actively participating member of Team Good Vibrations - our goal to increase brand awareness through social media implementation, keep the company website up-to-date, and squarely maintain consistent buzz and yes, good vibes, within the office. Aside from resurrecting our facebook page from the ashes and creating a blog, an idea of mine of utilizing the giant, surfrboard-capped blackboard cam e to life as the Backe Blackboard Bonanza. Each Friday we propose a fun, creative task to be drawn or written on the blackboard. This is just a simple way to inject a little free-style creativity into the day. We want to get people thinking, moving, talking and using our creative space. It's a chance to inspire each other and interact in an easygoing setting. Employees are encouraged to be open, expressive and have fun with it. Occasionally there are even prizes involved!

The inagural bonanza, in light of the upcoming Valentine's Day, challenged employees to write the message(s) they thought should be on those little candy hearts that you get on and around every happy couple's favorite holiday. The messages had to be short enough to fit inside the provided heart shapes, so staying inside the lines--literally, but certainly not figuratively - was a requirement!