Friday is Pie Day!

So, you need a little Friday pickup for your staff? It has been a long week, and you want your staff to leave the office this week without heading directly for Monster.com or anxiously awaiting the Sunday Help Wanted ads to plan their exit strategy.

Why not deem "Friday is Pie Day!" While I didn't come up with this one on my own (snaps to Roger at Concordia) it is something that truly brings smiles to faces and the sugar buzz required to push you through the last day of the week.

You can safely figure 1 pie per 6-8 people (12 if you are stingy or have a very weight conscious office), and should easily be able to find something for $1 to $2 per person. Here are some ways you can shake it up, alternatives and options:

1. Stop off at your local Perkins or favorite bakery or grocery store on your way in to work on Friday, this is the most impromptu method, but will still be appreciated as much. Pick up a couple of different flavors so that everyone is sure to find something they like. Make sure that your office has plates and forks on hand, or pick some up on your way as well. Don't announce in advance, just show up with the goods!
   
   
2. So you don't mind getting a little messy? Make it a team building event. Pick up a couple of pre-made pie crusts on your way home Thursday night, or make your own. Bake them and arrive in the office Friday morning with: the crusts, 2 packages of Jello Banana Cream pudding mix per pie, a small container of milk, a bunch of bananas and some whipped cream. Make sure you have a bowl and spoon for mixing the pudding.
   Watch them as they access the situation, designate banana cutters, pudding mixers and whipped cream toppers. Slice the bananas, place them in the crusts, pour on the pudding, top with whipped cream and garnish with a few reserved  bananas. Allow to set up for 10 minutes or so while you conduct a mini-meeting, or verbally acknowledge individuals who have gone above and beyond this week.
   It is a good exercise to get them working together as a team, delegating, and working for a common goal. Time them to see how long it takes and repeat from time to time seeing if they can beat their last time trial. It is a good analogy for your next crisis situation, when everyone needs to drop what they are working on, pull together, and make something happen. Those situations could be rewarded with pie as well.
   I have seen 3-4 year olds accomplish this task, so I am sure your staff can handle this.
   
   
3. A pie of another name, still tastes as sweet. What about pizza? Stop by Little Caesars ($5), order in, or make your own as a team building exercise. Maybe it becomes potluck if you have an oven or pizza oven in the office. Each person signing up to bring an ingredient or topping and you work together to build the ultimate pizza pie!

Remember, it doesn't have to be fancy, or overly planned, the key is to make it fun and make it happen!