How to Involve More Employees in Your Company Fitness Challenge
More and more employers invest in company fitness challenges – and they come in many shapes: one-off events and year-round programs, single-company challenges and joint challenges between several companies. Some take off immediately, while others never really get going. So why do some challenges get far more employees involved than others? Here is what makes the difference.
Table of Contents
1. Communicate Early, Clearly and Consistently
Good communication is the foundation. If it is not laid properly, it will not be long before the whole house collapses.
1. Start Early Enough
Give people time to get used to the idea. Some employees join only because they see colleagues joining, and few want to sign up once a challenge has been running for a week – they feel they have missed the bus. Start communicating one to one and a half weeks before launch. That also leaves time to sort out any device or integration questions before day one.
2. Give Clear, Simple Instructions
Share as much as needed in as few words as possible, in plain language, with screenshots and step-by-step points. Simplicity encourages participation – nobody wants to spend their free time on something complicated. In YuMuuv, email templates, registration instructions, integration guides and troubleshooting tips are ready to send.
3. Keep the Conversation Going
If communication is the foundation, keeping it going is the roof. It should continue from start to finish – and it does not all have to come from the organizer. In YuMuuv, each challenge has its own chat, where participants motivate each other, answer questions and discover shared interests.
2. Make It Easy to Join
Every extra step in registration loses people. Use a platform that syncs automatically with the phones and watches employees already have, so joining takes minutes and nobody has to enter data manually.
3. Set Goals Everyone Can Reach
If only the fittest can win, most people will not even try. Use realistic goals, team formats and consistency challenges where everyone who reaches the target is a winner. Here is how to design challenges for non-competitive employees.
4. Keep It Exciting With Variety
We have all seen something that started out exciting turn into a tedious obligation. Variety prevents that and helps people keep the habit of moving. Mix step challenges, collective and consistency challenges – and do not forget healthy habits beyond exercise, such as sleep, water or reading. For inspiration, browse 52 wellness challenge ideas.
5. Use Role Models
Influencers work because we like to do what people we follow approve of. The same is true at work: people are far more likely to join – and to feel confident doing it – if someone they respect is taking part. Involve company leaders and set an example: take the stairs, cycle to work, walk during online meetings.
6. Recruit Ambassadors
Ask a few enthusiastic people from different teams and locations to help spread the word, answer simple questions and cheer others on.
7. Reward Participation, Not Just Winning
Prize draws among everyone who reaches the goal keep far more people motivated than prizes for the top three. See our wellness challenge rewards guide.
8. Pick the Right Moment
Avoid holiday seasons and your busiest weeks. Seasonal starts – spring, after the summer break, the new year – often bring a natural boost in motivation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do you increase participation in a company fitness challenge?
Start communicating early, make joining effortless, set realistic goals, involve leaders and reward everyone who reaches the goal.
2. What is a good participation rate?
It depends on company size. In our experience, 40% or more is a good result for a larger company, and smaller teams can reach far higher. Track it with these wellness KPIs.
Why YuMuuv?
YuMuuv makes organizing easy: many challenge types, automatic activity syncing, admin and user guides, communication templates and a support team that handles participants' technical questions. For the full planning process, read our guide to a step challenge at work. If your employees would make a fun team to move with, book a demo and we will make it happen.
