Emotionally engaging employees secures the future

At a time when many companies are cutting back and morale in businesses has taken a big knock for many reasons, one motivational agency has been successful in recommending employers go out of their way to stimulate employees positively for the future benefit of all.

Job insecurity, pay freezes and a troubled economy may not appear to be the best time to fly any flags but, as the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and Olympics have shown, everyone feels and works so much better with a smile on their faces.

The SPA Group in Lymm, Cheshire, has helped a range of clients increase morale among their workforces, by creating ‘emotionally engaging campaigns' which motivate, excite and enthuse companies' teams. This is the result of strategically developed internal communications campaigns and events.

The campaigns have proved to be a powerful method of communication which illustrate employers' faith in their teams, reinforcing the message that staff are valued, needed and are the future of the business.

SPA managing director, Simon Plumb, said: ‘We evaluate the objectives of the MD and his senior team and then devise activity that effectively exceeds them, with great impact. The work of SPA is to influence sales forces and employees, motivating these teams to adapt to positive, behavioural activity in their working lives, for everyone's benefit.

‘Sometimes it can be as simple as reminding everyone what a great company they work for, despite the bad times. Through carefully tailored events, entertaining teambuilding activities and motivational films, team spirit is galvanized, creating a strong sense of belonging amongst staff at every level.'

The company has created a number of successful campaigns that have increased sales and productivity while significantly improving morale for some key companies in the North West.

Johnson Tiles, a long-standing client of SPA, had been through a tough trading period involving pay cuts and job losses. As business began to improve the board wanted to both express its gratitude and reward loyalty, to motivate and excite the team about the future.

A motivational film was created, featuring teams from across the office and factory, singing a line from Lou Reed's ‘Perfect Day'. It became the company anthem and was premiered at the ‘J Factor Awards Evening' for long serving staff, a spoof X Factor talent show, where staff played the part of performers and judges.

‘Loyalty is hugely valued by employers and the impact on everyone was tangible,' commented Plumb, ‘achieving the goals of motivating, rewarding and entertaining employees, with business subsequently taking a significant upturn!'

Another example was Ascribe, the Bolton-based pharmaceutical software company which had recently acquired related businesses. The MD and his HR team wanted to welcome new employees and show them they had joined a great company. The conference was designed to enhance working relationships and for individuals to get to know each other in a relaxed, but business-related, environment.

The event, where the MD presented his vision for the future, was entitled ‘Let's make music together!', and commenced with musically accompanied, team building games. ‘Teams competed in games from different decades, like Space Hopper racing and Dancing the Macarena competitions, playing music of those eras; pop music they grew up with. This powerful combination meant we had everyone singing the tracks of their lives and having huge fun together at the same time.

The evening party concluded with a spoof ‘Family Fortunes' competition where teams performed sketches and songs dressed as famous families such as the ‘Addams Family', the ‘Flintstones' and ‘Swiss Family Robinson', and still talk about it.

Manchester brewery J W Lees appointed SPA to create activity which engaged their team and influence them on an emotional level. ‘When you visit the Middleton Brewery you get a strong sense of family, in the broader sense, and I wanted to capture the essence of this and reflect it back to everyone,' said Plumb.

A motivational music video was produced based on David Bowie's ‘Heroes' lyrics, with brewery staff and factory teams singing choruses of ‘We can be heroes, not just for one day.' Again, this was premiered at the teambuilding day but the twist here was that everyone took a DVD copy home to show their families, reinforcing everyone's belief that this was a great place to work.'

Simon Plumb conceives, writes, directs and produces conferences, teambuilding activity, shows and corporate films which emotionally engage and excite the target audience.

‘Many of our motivational campaigns involve a strong, tongue-in-cheek approach and I like to have loads of fun with clients. Used in the right way, these are powerful tools that can change people's perceptions, achieving huge levels of positive behaviour for the benefit of the business in question,' concluded Plumb.

For more information please visitwww.spa-group.co.ukor call 01925 755590.
 

ENDS

NB: For further information on this press release please contact Simon Plumb on

01925 755590 or simon@spa-group.co.uk