A company-wide step challenge is a strong initiative to add to an employee wellness program, but they only work when it’s designed with engagement in mind.
Why are they so great? They create momentum, foster connection, and meet employees where they already are.
So how do you run your own? From signup to wrap-up, a strong employee step challenge needs to be easy to join, inclusive by design, and visible throughout the workplace.
Drawing on insights from our Motion Connected team of engagement specialists and leaning on real client experiences of running challenges for over the past 15 years, here’s how you can host a seamless company step challenge that drives participation and delivers lasting impact to your organization!
1. Make Signup Easy for Employees
Participation starts with accessibility. If signup feels confusing or time-consuming, employees are less likely to engage before the challenge even begins.
To set your step challenge up for success make sure to:
- Keep registration simple and mobile-friendly
- Clearly communicate the challenge length, goals, and how steps are tracked
- Promote signup early using multiple touchpoints
High-engagement organizations don’t rely on a single email announcement. They reinforce signup through workplace TVs, breakroom posters, digital screens, team meetings, and internal newsletters. The easier it is to understand and join, the higher your participation rates will be.
2. Set Inclusive Goals
Not all employees have the same fitness level, schedule, or mobility—and your challenge should reflect that.
The most effective workplace wellness challenges:
- Emphasize personal progress rather than competition
- Offer team-based options to encourage collaboration
- Reinforce that all movement counts, not just high step totals
Inclusive goal-setting ensures that first-time participants feel just as welcome as seasoned walkers. When employees feel supported instead of compared, engagement naturally increases.
3. Promote Your Challenge Across the Workplace
One of the biggest reasons step challenges lose momentum is limited visibility. If the challenge only exists inside an app, many employees will forget about it.
Successful employee wellness programs promote step challenges:
- On workplace TVs and digital signage
- In breakrooms, hallways, and common areas
- With printable step trackers or habit sheets for teams with limited tech access
When employees see reminders throughout their day, the challenge becomes part of the work environment rather than an extra task to remember.
4. Keep Employees Engaged Throughout the Challenge
Sustaining participation is where most step challenges succeed—or fall short.
Small, intentional engagement tools can make a significant difference:
- Weekly mini-challenges or themed movement prompts
- Visual progress updates shared company-wide
- Recognition for consistency, effort, or teamwork—not just top step counts
These touchpoints keep the challenge feeling fresh and motivate employees to stay involved beyond the initial excitement.
5. Communicate Consistently Without Overwhelming Employees
Clear, consistent communication helps maintain momentum while avoiding burnout.
We recommend:
- One concise weekly update with highlights and reminders
- Short messages that reinforce progress instead of long emails
- Mid-challenge check-ins to celebrate participation and encourage continued movement
Employees are more likely to stay engaged when communication feels supportive and manageable.
6. Recognize Success and Reinforce Healthy Habits
How a step challenge ends plays a major role in how employees remember it.
Effective wrap-ups often include:
- Recognition certificates or small incentives
- Team or department shoutouts
- A summary of collective impact, such as total steps taken
Many organizations choose to build on this momentum by rolling into another wellness focus, such as hydration, stretching, or mindfulness. This keeps engagement high and reinforces healthy habits beyond the challenge itself.
Why Step Challenges Work
A successful company step challenge doesn’t need to be complicated—it needs to be intentional.
When signup is easy, goals feel achievable, and engagement shows up everywhere employees already are, participation follows naturally.
Ready to Build a Step Challenge That Employees Love?
Motion Connected helps organizations run corporate wellness challenges for the past 15 years that are simple to manage, inclusive by design, and built to drive real participation—on and off the app.
👉 Request a demo with Motion Connected today.
