In my previous post I shared with you seven reasons companies do not excel and why productivity and profits could be low.
In this post I will share with you nine ideas to bring fun back into the workplace.
Here are a few ideas to get you started.
1. First, the CEOs must reinvent themselves. Stop being serious all the time. Wear a bright color tie that might have a fun print on it. Then employees will have something fun to talk about. Practice facial expressions just like actors do. Practice smiling and laughing and it brings passion to the people. Nod with a smile. Maintain eye contact with the people you are talking to. Give a sincere smile and appreciation to others. Say, “Wow!” “I like it.” “You are amazing.” “I’m impressed.” “Can you tell me more?” When you say that, how do you feel? Your praise is giving direct positive impact to your employee.
Practice humor every day. Tell a joke.
For example, three people went out to lunch. On the way to the restaurant they stopped at an antique shop. They saw an old lamp.
The first one, an accountant, rubbed the lamp by accident. A genie came out. “I’m a genie and I can give each of you one wish.” So account said, “Send me to Hawaii. I want to lay down o the beach in the sun and drink unlimited amount of Margaritas.” Whoosh! He’s gone.
Second one, Product Manager, said, “Send me to Florida. I want to spend everyday at Disney World and play, play, play.” Whoosh! He’s gone.
Third one was a CEO. He rubbed the lamp and he told the genie, “My wish is bring the two guys back to the office as soon as possible. There’s a deadline and I need them.”
This is a business joke. People understand and laugh. They would be delighted with you to share a joke like that.
2. Bring humor to the workplace that makes everyone feel good—not uncomfortable. Avoid making fun of any specific group or people. Make sure your humor is positive and good taste to the whole group.
3. Organize a FUN committee. Have your employees get together to dream up fun things to do during work.
4. Add FUN to meetings. Start the meeting with a humorous story that everyone will enjoy. Bring in fun toys such as Nerfballs or Slinkies to bright up the tone and inspire creative thinking.
5. Create a Humor Board. Use the board to post fun office photos, humorous quotes in good taste, funny articles, baby photos, or anything funny that makes you laugh.
6. Organize FUN customer events. Let your customers know you are a FUN company. Give employees tools to create a FUN relationship with customers, such as stickers, candy, or humorous buttons with the company logo. Add a fun alternative job title, or a silly photo on the back of your business card and associates are far more likely to remember you and hang on to your card.
7. Have a FUN Recognition program. Create fun games and contests out of everyday job tasks. For example, give a humorous prize to the person who makes the most customers or employees laugh. Give a monetary reward to the employee who brings in the most new customers for one month, or the employee who produces the most, or sells the most for one month. Choose the Employee of the Month and put their photo on the wall.
8. Have FUN company parties. Celebrate monthly birthdays, new babies born, and New Year’s parties from different cultures, holiday themes, good performance, and other reasons to have a FUN party.
9. Get your creative employees together to decide what kind of FUN events they want to do in the company. The more employee involvement you have the more successful your FUN programs will be.
Remember it is the employees that create fun and laughter in the workplace when they are given permission and the CEO and senior managers welcome FUN in the company. Allow your employees to create fun activities and fun and laughter will follow.
Fun and laughter bring creativity to the workplace. It allows people the freedom to think and be creative every day. It brings out the best in your employees. It shows that people care about each other at all levels, and communication is both ways—upper management and employees are talking to each other.
A FUN Management environment creates a high morale that brings greater
productivity, higher retention, less absenteeism and reduced stress. FUN firms
attract top talent because they offer them the opportunity to be creative and
express themselves. Everyone likes to be appreciated and a FUN company does just
that.
Laughter creates a bond that brings others together. Employees like to be with a
CEO that likes to have fun, like Mr. Kelly from Southwest Airlines.
Humor levels the playing field in the company environment to create an atmosphere that encourages honest dialog, open communication and increased risk taking. When a joke is being told, nobody cares if the CEO or the janitor is standing there; everyone shares equally in the humor. An atmosphere of equality shows people respect and builds pride in their work.
A FUN workplace is not only more productive it attracts people and profits.
Learn, Experience, Enjoy Global Success !
Jinsoo Terry
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