We’ve all gone to a meeting where a manager or HR rep lays out a bunch of suggestions for increasing productivity. Maybe it’s a team building exercise or maybe it’s some sort of odd stretching routine, but no one leaves these meetings feeling energized to work through the rest of the day. It can be tough for managers to get people motivated and brainstorming from 8 to 5 (coffee can only do so much), but one of the best things we have found is a good old fashioned ping pong table. A ping pong table can do something special for an office. It gets people up and moving but it also get them talking. Ping pong gets people brainstorming and bouncing ideas off of co-workers. Having these business conversations in a casual environment is a great way to inspire breakthroughs and is the perfect break from meetings and desk work. Dr. Daniel Amen of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology points out that ping pong is an easy way to increase overall alertness and to stimulate brain functions. With this in mind, a quick ping pong match becomes something more than just a goofy break. It’s a relaxing exercise that allows for collaboration and re-energized employees. Now, all things have to be taken in moderation so obviously people cannot just clock in to work and ping pong the day away. But, a quick game here or a Friday office tournament can be a great motivational tool that you may not have considered before. Take it from us, ping pong is a great tool for any office. Skip out on the droning meetings or boring memos and play a quick game of 21 the next time you are looking to get things going! For an interview with Dr. Amen on ping pong productivity, click here. And for more on workplace productivity and marketing strategies, check out the rest of our blog!