Description This witty activity was developed by a customer service manager for her team. The goal was to help team members get to know each other while working from home. This activity requires Zoom or another collaboration platform. Materials None Directions Select a date for the activity. Ask reps to dress with special care on…Full content with purchase
In this scavenger hunt, remote staff will compete to collect all of the items, snap a photo, and share with the entire team. This fun activity is so quick and easy you can host a new scavenger hunt each day of Customer Service Week.
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Compile a list of five items to be collected, or use one or more of the “sample missions” below. The missions should include items commonly found in the home along with one or two tricky items.
Distribute the missions via email and ask reps to share photos showing all of the items that they collect.
Photos should be displayed online for all to see. The real fun comes when people realize what they have in common, “We have the same shirt” and what’s different, “Where did you find that rotary phone?”
Everyone who completes a mission is a winner.
| Mission: 1 Elephant Hawaiian style shirt Seashell Spice that starts with the letter M Wedding photo | Mission: 6 Something in Customer Service Week blue The softest thing you own Something smaller than a penny Something with two ears Flowers or flour |
| Mission: 2 Cast iron skillet Feather Mercury thermometer Ribbon Rotary phone | Mission: 7 Something in Customer Service Week red The last book you read Something round Something with four feet Knight or night |
| Mission: 3 House plant Record or video tape Salt shaker Slippers Train | Mission: 8 Foot prints Something sharp Something that makes you smile Something with a tail Mail or male |
| Mission: 4 Polka dots Postage stamp Red food Shell Six pins | Mission: 9 Something a little bit country Something fuzzy The sweetest thing you have Something with polka dots Pear or a pair |
| Mission: 55 Ball Funny socks Happy Birthday Pantry item with a 2018 expiration date (or older!) Rock | Mission: 10 Something a little bit rock and roll Something hot Something older than you are Something plaid Son or sun |
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This popular Customer Service Week activity provides an opportunity for team members to learn a little bit more about each other. When they do, stories are shared, bonds are formed, and cooperation and teamwork soar.
Getting To Know You Questionnaire
Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners
CSW Scratch Off Cards for all participants
A few days before Customer Service Week, ask each team member to complete the questionnaire. Then decide how you will play:
Option 1: Email all of one person’s “answers” to the team and ask them to identify the person described in the email.
Option 2: Email all of the “answers” to a single question, such as “what is your favorite movie?” to the team and ask them to match the movie titles to their coworkers.
As each round of the game is completed, share the names of the winners and the correct answers.
Finally, keep in mind that your goal is to have as many winners as possible. After all, the more ways in which team members connect, the stronger the team. So be sure to encourage everyone to play, even if they have to guess, and award prizes to all participants.
This is a good at-your-desk activity, when played via email, or a collaboration platform.
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This traditional scavenger hunt has been updated to reflect the Customer Service Week theme Mission: Possible. Each team, or spy organization, receives a list of top secret items that they must collect. The organization to collect all of the items in the least amount of time wins the challenge and the recognition of an appreciative nation.
Rather than simply preparing a list of items to gather, focus on objectives for your group such as, learning more about teammates, learning more about other departments, or learning more about your products and services.
If you have items on the list that are large or bulky, consider asking teams to take a selfie with the item.
List of scavenger items
Prizes for the winners
Compile a list of 10 to 15 items to be collected. If your staff will be visiting other departments, be sure to discuss this well in advance and to provide firm dates and times so that other departments and individuals are ready to meet with visitors.
Also, consider staggering start times or mixing up the order of the items so that teams aren’t arriving at one location at the same time.
Below are five sample questions, which were used in a “getting to know you” scavenger hunt.
Your Mission: Collect all of the top secret materials on the list. Keep the locations secret. Counter Intelligence is in the area and will attempt to reach the targets before you. Speed and stealth are essential to complete this mission.
Item #1: This model rep has not missed a day of work in the past three years. On her desk is a photograph of her pet Sandy. Bring back a selfie with Sandy.
Item #2: He has led our organization through ups and downs and ups. He is known for saying that, “Our service is what makes us strong.” Visit the corner office and bring back one business card. Plus you’ll get a chance to shake hands and hear a little bit more about what makes us strong.
Item #3: When you need to check the status of a late payment you call this team. If you stop by you’ll see that someone has a bowl of candy on their desk. Bring back one piece of candy.
Item #4: Coming in early or working late? You’re never alone, George or Greg is always at the front desk. And they’re always ready with the latest sports scores. Bring back a page from the sports section.
Item #5: I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. While we may scream, one person has been filling the ice cream freezer in the cafeteria all summer. Bring back a wooden ice cream spoon with her name on it.
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This activity is based on the Penny Wars at Health Business Systems. The goal was to build teamwork while competing to raise the most money for a local charity. See the penny wars event in action.
The activity lasts for five days so you can start on the Monday of Customer Service Week and you will be done on Friday.
A gallon container with a wide opening for each team
A white board, chalk board, or large sheet of poster paper for daily score keeping
Day 1: Divide the group into teams of roughly six to eight people. Each team receives a gallon container to decorate and store all of the coins they collect. Ask team members to bring in all of their pennies the next day.
Day 2: Now, the competition begins. Each team counts the pennies in their container and posts the results.
Days 3 through 5: Now the competition gets sneaky. For three days, opposing team members put their silver coins in the other team’s containers. Each silver coin reduces the number of points from that container by the amount of the coin (nickel = 5 points, dime = 10 points, quarter = 25 points).
The team with the most pennies at the end of the competition is the winner. And the value of all of the coins is donated to the selected charity
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There are so many variations and so many ways to get to know team members with this simple matching game. If you have remote staff, it can be an effective way to include them in the celebration as well.
The objective is for participants to match photographs to their coworkers. Popular match themes are baby pictures, pets, smiles, and even shoes.
Click to see how Mondial added a high-tech twist to the classic Match Up activity.
Photos of team members
Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners
CSW Scratch Off Cards for all participants
Collect photos from participants or snap photos yourself. Then create a display with each photo clearly numbered. People will enjoy gathering and chatting about the photos, so a nice display in a central location is best.
When your staff is assembled, explain that each person should create a numbered list with their answers. Allow two or three days for completion. When the time is up, invite the group for an announcement of the correct matches.
This is a good at-your-desk activity when played via email or a collaboration platform.
Instead of posting photos in a central location in the office, simply post to a shared online location.
During a team chat read out the correct matches and award prizes.
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Chair decorating contests have always been a part of Customer Service Week celebrations. The activity allows enough flexibility to fit into any event and participants enjoy the camaraderie and creativity. In addition to decorating chairs many organizations decorate the entire work area as well. Click to see how Health Plan of the Upper Ohio Valley decorated with a holiday theme.
Each team provides their own materials
Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners
CSW Scratch Off Cards for all participants
First select a theme for your contest. Some popular themes are “Vacation getaway: Decorate one chair to represent a place where you can kick-back and relax,” “Seasons: Decorate one chair to represent a favorite season,” or if you choose to make this an individual rather than a group activity, “Getting to know you: Anything that represents you, your hobbies, or your passions.”
Divide your group into teams of three to five people.
When your teams are assembled, explain that they will be decorating one of their chairs to reflect the theme that you have selected. Provide the time frame for the activity. Allow two or three days so that team members are able to bring materials and props from home if they wish.
When the work is completed, invite the group to view all of the chairs. Announce the first, second, and third place winners or allow the group to vote for their favorites.
Dispersed teams can easily complete this activity using a video conferencing tool such as Zoom, Webex, or Google Hangouts.
Instead of gathering in the office to view decorated chairs, ask reps to use their webcams to show off their creations.
As you view each chair, ask the team to explain their work and the process they used to arrive at the design.
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This activity is based on the CanStruction activity at Kansas City Life. The goals of the activity were to encourage teamwork, have fun, and collect much needed food for a local food pantry. Click to see how Kansas City Life combined teambuilding and community service.
Each team is responsible for providing the canned goods for this activity. All materials are donated to a local food pantry when the activity is completed.
Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners
CSW Scratch Off Cards for all participants
First, choose a food pantry to support. Next, ask all team members to scour their kitchens for canned items to donate. The food pantry may have a list of most urgently needed items that you can request as well.
Next divide your group into teams of five to seven people. Then divide the donated cans so that each team has roughly the same number.
When the teams are assembled explain that they will have two days to create a sculpture made entirely from cans. Teams may trade cans, or bring in additional cans, but everything is donated at the end.
When the work is completed, invite the group to view all of the CanStructions. Announce the first, second, and third place winners or allow the group to vote for their favorites.
As you view each CanStruction, ask the team to explain their work and the process they used to arrive at the design.
If your group loved the Netflix series Nailed It!, they will love this variation on the classic Customer Service Week Cake Decorating activity.
As in the TV show, individuals or teams will work to recreate an elaborately decorated cake or cupcakes.
Each team will need a selection of items based on the specific design.
Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners
CSW Scratch Off Cards for all participants
Prepare a workspace and a set of materials for each team. Or if you can’t have all teams working at the same time, have them rotate through the work area.
Divide your group into teams of three to five people.
When your teams are assembled, explain that they will be decorating their cakes or cupcakes to mirror the sample provided. This is the “Nail It or Fail It” challenge from the TV show.
Provide the time frame for the project based on the complexity of the design. Thirty minutes should be ample for most challenges.
When time is up, invite the group to view all of the cakes. Announce the first, second, and third place winners or allow the group to vote for their favorites or invite your own team of celebrity judges to make the call.
Then dig in. Serve up slices of cake and coffee for a special break.
With all that cake on hand, invite the individuals and teams you work with to enjoy a cake and coffee break.
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