11 Ways To Keep Your Team Energized And Motivated This Summer
The summer months can bring a dip in employee engagement, with warmer weather and vacation plans tempting even the most dedicated team members to shift their focus. However, with the right mindset and approach, employers can keep productivity high while still supporting their staff's need for flexibility and rest.
From flex scheduling to culture-driven engagement strategies, a little seasonal creativity can go a long way. Below, 11 members of Forbes Human Resources Council share practical, proven ways to keep your workforce motivated, energized and productive throughout the summer season.
1. Encourage PTO By Modeling It From The Top
Leaders, you must model what you preach. You should take PTO and show your teams it's not just allowed—it's expected. When people see leaders unplugging, they feel permission to recharge, too. A well-rested team is a creative, motivated and engaged one. - Jamie Aitken, Betterworks
2. Offer Flexible Summer Fridays To Boost Engagement
One strategy is to introduce "Summer Flex Fridays," where employees have the option to adjust their work schedules—starting earlier, ending earlier or working compressed hours—to enjoy additional time off on Friday afternoons. This flexible approach acknowledges summer's natural disruptions and helps employees recharge, keeping them motivated, engaged and productive. - Britton Bloch, Navy Federal
3. Incorporate Fun, Connection-Focused Team Meetings
You can roll out flexible Friday schedules or no-meeting Fridays. Another way to keep engagement high is to have monthly team meetings that are fun with no business conversation; it is just to connect and have a more personal meeting, whether it is to talk about summer plans or just to have that time together with no talk about work. Sometimes, the small things, even if it is just for the summer, go a long way with employees. - Heather Smith, Flimp
4. Host Offsite Gatherings To Build Midyear Camaraderie
In recent years, we've had a camp-themed team get-together at an off-site location. Since we're remote and dispersed, this gives us a chance to have some face-to-face time in a more relaxed setting while still getting work done. We've found it facilitates feelings of collaboration and camaraderie at the midway point in the calendar year (and leaves plenty of opportunity for summer vacation). - Caitlin MacGregor, Plum
Forbes Human Resources Council is an invitation-only organization for HR executives across all industries. Do I qualify?
5. Use Summer Downtime For Strategic Skill Building
Summer is the perfect window to build workforce capability. You can introduce high-impact, skill-building initiatives aligned with evolving business needs and offer optional growth tracks during slower weeks. This enables development without overload. While others slow down, strategic HR turns summer into a runway for readiness, not just rest. - Katrina Jones
6. Blend Flexibility And Focus With A Summer Cadence
Create a summer cadence that blends flexibility with focus—think summer hours, team sprints or themed goals. You should try to lighten the load where you can, but keep the purpose visible. When people feel trusted with their time and connected to progress, motivation doesn't dip—it sharpens. - Stephanie Manzelli, Employ Inc.
7. Build A Culture Where Purpose Drives Year-Round Motivation
It starts way before the summer months; it is the ongoing notion that you are serving a purpose that is 24/7 and 365. Having a culture that aligns with its values and the importance of the employees' work is key. It will not matter if it is summer vacation or winter break; it is setting the expectations around why their work matters. - Jalie Cohen, Radiology Partners
8. Introduce Summer Fun Challenges
One practical idea is to introduce "Summer Flex Wins"—like flexible hours, meeting-free Fridays and light challenges with fun rewards. It helps employees recharge without losing momentum. A little freedom, recognition and playfulness go a long way in keeping energy high and minds focused during the summer months. - Ankita Singh, Relevance Lab
9. Redesign Summer Workflows For Autonomy And Impact
Summer is a season, not a slowdown—if you design for it. With our 'work from anywhere' model, we pair autonomy with intention: lighter meetings, rotating recharge days and async goal check-ins. One small shift can create a big impact. Productivity stays high and motivation grows because people don't need micromanagement to deliver, just a margin. - Apryl Evans, USA for UNHCR
10. Use Summer To Spark Personal And Professional Growth
You can use summer as a catalyst for personal growth. Companies can offer bite-sized, personalized development, like strengths-based challenges or peer coaching, tailored to each person. This keeps energy up, deepens engagement and turns slower months into meaningful momentum for both people and the business. - Jaka Lindic, e2grow
11. Provide Flexibility That Supports Family And Life Balance
The key is to provide the added flexibility employees need to enjoy the summer with their families. They may have a slightly different work format, hours of working or other modifications. Leaders who show they understand their team's family needs will indirectly encourage higher productivity. Leaders who try to contain their team's lives to the workplace will create retention issues. - Nicky Hancock, AMS
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