If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to keep your employees engaged, look no further than brown bag lunches! These lunches are a great way to let your team members know you care and want them to succeed. Plus, they’re a great way to save money in the long run.
Brown bag lunches are a great way to break up the monotony of the workday. Your employees will appreciate the chance to take a break from their usual routine and enjoy a delicious lunch while learning something new. Plus, brown bag lunches are an excellent opportunity for team building.
What are Brown Bag Lunches?
In a nutshell, brown bag lunches are informal training and learning sessions provided by businesses to their employees. They’re also called lunch and learn sessions because employees typically bring their lunch for the meeting instead of going out to eat.
Brown bag lunches usually last for about an hour, and they’re a great way to introduce your employees to new topics or ideas. You can use brown bag lunches to provide training on a new software program, teach your team about a new company policy, share some industry news, or even talk about their personal development.
Why Should You Hold Brown Bag Lunches?
There are many reasons why brown bag lunches are an excellent idea for businesses. For one, they’re an efficient and straightforward way to train or inform your staff. By bringing employees together for a shared meal, you’re fostering a sense of camaraderie and teamwork. Here are other reasons why brown bag lunches are a great idea:
They show that you’re invested in your employees’ development
Employee development is vital to the long-term success of any business. By providing brown bag lunches, you show your employees that you care about their development and want to help them grow in their careers.
They’re cost-effective
Brown bag lunches are a fraction of the cost of traditional training seminars or workshops. Plus, since employees bring their lunch, there’s no need to worry about catering costs. Of course, you could still choose to provide refreshments for your brown bag lunch, but it’s not necessary.
They promote a healthy work-life balance
Brown bag lunches allow employees to step away from their desks and take a break from work. This can help reduce stress levels and promote a healthier work-life balance because employees will have time to relax and recharge.
How to Plan Brown Bag Lunches
If you’re interested in hosting a brown bag lunch for your team, you should keep a few things in mind. Here are a few steps you can follow to help you get started:
Step 1: Pick an engaging topic
The goal of brown bag lunches is to educate and engage employees. When choosing a topic, make sure it’s something that will capture your team’s attention. Suppose you have a lot of first-time homebuyers in your team. In that case, you could hold a brown bag lunch to educate them about their financing options, such as FHA or USDA home loans.
Alternatively, if you’re introducing a new product or service to your team, you could use a brown bag lunch to teach them its features and benefits. The point is that your topic should be something that will interest and engage your employees.
Step 2: Find a speaker
Once you’ve chosen a topic, it’s time to find a speaker. If you have an expert on your team, ask them to lead the meeting. If not, you can always bring in an outside expert to speak about the topic. Another option is to have an employee share their experience with the subject.
For example, if you’re teaching your team about a new customer service software, you could have one of your employees share their experience using the software and offer tips on how to get the most out of it.
Step 3: Create an agenda
Before the meeting, it’s a good idea to create an agenda. This will help ensure the meeting runs smoothly and that everyone stays on track. When creating an agenda, include a mix of activities, such as presentations, discussions, and breakout sessions.
After all, the point of brown bag lunches is to engage employees, so you’ll want to make sure the meeting is interactive. This way, employees will have a chance to ask questions and provide feedback.
Step 4: Make it fun!
Brown bag lunches don’t have to be boring. Get creative and find ways to make the meeting fun and engaging. For example, you could hold a contest or raffle during lunch to add an element of fun.
You could also use games or activities to get employees thinking about the topic. For example, if you’re teaching your team about a new sales technique, you could have them role-play a sales call.
You can successfully plan a brown bag lunch for your team by following these steps. Of course, every meeting and company is different, so feel free to adjust the steps as needed. This way, you can be sure the meeting is a success.
