Top tips for a winning team

Winning doesn’t need to be about taking the top spot on the leader board. In fact, it might not be your team goal at all! Winning can be supporting a colleague to achieve a personal goal or witnessing a positive change in mindset. It could be increased productivity at work because you’re offering yourself space and time away from your desk or simply having fun with your colleagues.

As you gear up and get ready to step through the spring, we share some helpful tips.

Get creative – come up with a fun team name

This is your chance to stand out from the rest! Choosing a name is the perfect opportunity to give your team a fun and witty identity. We’ve seen team names of every kind – from a play on song or movie titles, puns and parodies to pop culture references. It can be as complex or as simple as you like.

The best team names come from a team effort. Take time out of your day with your new teammates, go for a stroll and bounce around a few ideas. If it makes you laugh or lights a fire in your belly – that’s the one! And remember, it’ll be shown on the national leader board, so make sure it’s a good one.

Check out our popular blog for inspiration!

Create a group chat

Arguably one of the most important steps – keeping in touch with teammates. You can use the chat function of your Step Count dashboard, a messaging app like WhatsApp or Telegram, email or… carrier pigeon?

Your group chat will be a safe space to keep everyone updated, motivated and moving. Use it to share tips, tools and articles. Share photos and videos from your walks or keep everyone up to date on the next weekly challenge. You can also use your chat to regularly check in with your step count or perhaps generate a little friendly competition!

Set personal and team goals

The Step Count Challenge can be a time for achievements, creating new habits and personal transformation. Taking place over eight weeks, a goal can give each step purpose. It’ll also make completing the challenge even sweeter! Take time as a team to explore a goal you can all work towards. The discussions might inspire a personal goal you never thought of or had the chance to attempt.

Some small and large goals might include:

• increasing your daily step count
• linking the challenge with a fundraiser
• getting fitter and managing your weight
• enjoying more time to connect with your colleagues
• catching up with your favourite podcast or playlist
• exploring a new walking route around your workplace or neighbourhood

It simply could be striving to do as many steps as you can, for that leader board top spot!

Motivation and fun

The Step Count Challenge isn’t just about walking. Some might pound the pavement from dawn until dusk, but you’ll have plenty of opportunities to have fun, too.

Each week of the challenge is centred on a dedicated theme including physical and mental health, nature connectedness and giving back to your local community. We’ll share themed challenges and mini activities in our weekly email updates for you to enjoy. And there are exciting prizes to win!

From sharing your favourite walking memories, and organising a walking meeting, to capturing signs of spring you’ll have the opportunity to share why walking is important to you and your team.

Explore our website for tips, tools and blogs

Lastly, our website is packed with top tips and tools to keep you motivated and moving during the challenge. We’ll share how every footstep reduces your carbon footprint with our carbon calculator; tips on how to slow down and connect with nature, and how to ditch the desk with a One Minute Mover.

We’ll regularly share blogs from our current and past challenge participants. You can read more about how teams have bonded, the importance of Strength and Balance for older people, how teams are caring for their local environment or how you can keep active after the challenge.

Most importantly, the challenge is a chance to try something new, have fun with colleagues and create new, healthy habits. And with a daily step target, you're bound to feel happier and healthier!

Check our website for tips, tools and motivational blogs to keep you stepping on up during the challenge.