BARR Advisory’s Most Bingeable TV Shows Bracket Challenge: Boosting Workplace Culture & Employee Engagement
Unleashing the power of binge-worthy TV shows to foster a vibrant workplace culture.
Even though 100% of BARR Advisory employees work remotely, we are always looking for ways to connect, laugh, and grow our relationships. Inspired by the Slack Community‘s “Slack Madness 2025 Challenge,” hosted by Jacksonville’s Community Lead Danny Sanchez, BARR Advisory decided to bring a similarly engaging and fun activity to its own team.
The original Slack Community challenge encouraged users to vote on their favorite Slack features and capabilities, sparking conversations and engagement among participants. BARR Advisory mirrored this format, creating a Most Bingeable TV Show Bracket Challenge. Jacob Gross, Senior Community Marketing Manager at Slack, summed up the essence of challenges like these perfectly. “We need to take ourselves a little unserious at times. That helps open the door for more authentic conversations,” he says. This statement underscores the importance of integrating light-hearted, enjoyable activities into the workplace to foster authentic connections and increase employee engagement.
Categories and Contenders
The bracket challenge featured an impressive lineup of television shows, carefully categorized to appeal to a broad range of tastes. The four categories included: comedy, thriller-mystery-fantasy, crime-medical-legal-political, and drama. Each show included in the bracket had multiple seasons and was neither a reality show nor an animated series.
This thoughtful selection process ensured only the most binge-worthy and iconic television shows were included, making the challenge even more exciting. Employees had the opportunity to vote for their favorites, leading to some friendly debates over which shows deserved to advance to the next round.
Creating a Buzz
BARR’s Most Bingeable TV Show Bracket Challenge quickly became a favorite new activity. Employees were excited to participate and vote for their favorite shows, creating a buzz that permeated through Slack.
As employees discussed their picks, shared opinions, and awaited the results of each round, the challenge fostered a sense of camaraderie and friendly competition. By the end of the challenge, “Game of Thrones” emerged as the undisputed winner, and Jennifer Knobel, technical report specialist, proudly received the bracket challenge trophy along with a gift card.
The Power of Slack
Slack played a crucial role in the success of the Most Bingeable TV Show Bracket Challenge. With its easy-to-use voting features and interactive capabilities, Slack allowed employees to cast their votes effortlessly and stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the challenge.
The platform’s ability to facilitate instant communication and updates ensured the challenge maintained momentum and kept everyone engaged. Employees could discuss their favorite shows, share recommendations, and even engage in playful banter, all within the Slack channel dedicated to the bracket challenge.
The Impact
The Most Bingeable TV Show Bracket Challenge had a significant positive impact on employee engagement and overall workplace culture at BARR Advisory. Employees appreciated the break from routine and the chance to engage in a fun, collective activity.
“I had a great time voting. I’m getting good ideas for bingeable shows I’ve not seen yet! Thanks for making this workplace a little less work-y. It means a lot to break up the day with fun, engaging things like the bracket!” says Carrie Wendelken, ISO lead auditor.
By incorporating such enjoyable activities into the work environment, BARR Advisory demonstrated its commitment to fostering a positive and engaging culture. The challenge not only provided a fun diversion from typical Slack conversation, but also encouraged employees to connect on a personal level, ultimately strengthening team bonds and enhancing overall morale.
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