Smart managers recognise that a more humorous workplace is more harmonious, productive, resilient and better able to respond to change. The challenge is how to create this type of workplace while maintaining efficiency and standards. Progressive workplaces have generated this humour by using one or more of five strategies - the Five Cs.
Instagram Funny Memes
People in groups love to celebrate. Some offices have done away with the traditional birthday cake at morning tea as the staff numbers grew because it became too difficult - too disruptive, too hard to get everyone together or just too many people for one cake! This is sad. While the logistical difficulties of the birthday cake gathering might be prohibitive, this should not be a reason to forgo the one natural celebratory day that every staff member has. Put a sign at their desk, give them a special carpark for the day, use social media to get all colleagues to pass on a birthday wish - celebrating this way doesn't have to be disruptive.
And don't stop at birthdays. Why not hold a celebration on the anniversary of the day they started at the organisation or took on their current position?
One of the main factors inhibiting fun in the workplace is that people are concerned that it will be perceived as them not taking their work seriously. Worse still, customers might get the impression that we don't respect our organisation, brand or product. This is, of course, false. As George Bernard Shaw said, "Life does not cease to be funny when people die, any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh."
A great way to overcome this fear of not being taken seriously is to celebrate your organisation's great moments. For example:
• The date the organisation was founded
• The birthdate of your founder
• The day your organisation received some special recognition or award.
• The day your most famous product was released.
• The day you moved into your current offices.
Collaboration/Cooperation
According to one estimate, we are thirty times more likely to laugh with other people than when we are alone. As more work tasks become solitary activities with just you and the computer screen, what could be done to better engage staff with each other?
Recently, a large organisation committed one afternoon of their annual staff conference to forming staff into groups with a mix of staff from different departments who then went out and did good works in the community. Some helped at meal time at the local community centre, others helped do home maintenance for frail elderly people living alone.
This worked brilliantly to break down the 'silo' mentality that had developed as the company grew. Staff members now had new friends in other departments.
Most interestingly, though, was the universal feedback that they had more fun doing this than anything else they'd done at work in years. It wasn't designed as a fun activity; but it created such engagement the fun followed. This is the message for managers - don't try to create fun activities; create engagement activities and let staff create the fun.
Competition
People are inherently competitive and becoming engaged in a contest - in the right spirit - can generate humour and camaraderie. It is remarkable how much effort people will put in to win a $5 trophy!
Could you make the boring, mundane tasks part of a contest? For example, one company has started running a contest for the funniest or scariest 'selfie' when they have their photo taken at log-on and log-off. Another is using reverse psychology by running a messiest desk contest with an unpleasant sign that must be displayed for a month by the 'winner'.
Commonality
The more that people have in common, the more opportunities there are for humour. I have an activity that encourages workmates to identify points in common. At the end of this ten minute exercise every participant says they have learned something new that they have in common with their workmate. Even those that have worked together for years! Getting staff to share their likes and preferences is a good way to start. Create a 'staff gallery' and have them all share their top five movies, books and holiday destinations.
Creativity
Giving staff an opportunity to be creative - especially outside their professional expertise - can generate fun and engagement. This could be used to advantage an organisation with their workplace signage. These signs - especially the safety signs - are often ignored. Research has shown that a fun workplace sign (for example with a cartoon) is 37% more likely to be read. Why not have staff design your next workplace sign? Tapping into what's been mentioned earlier, you could get people to work in groups (collaboration) and make it a contest.
Introducing fun at your workplace does not have to be disruptive or difficult. Use these five Cs to help you find the best way.
Kevin is an experienced conference speaker, workshop leader, facilitator and MC. He has twenty-five years experience as a corporate trainer and fifteen years experience as a professional speaker.
He runs his own business from Brisbane, Australia, speaking at conferences and seminars across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and in the UK specialising in the areas of sales, customer service, humour in business and communication skills. His clients include some of Australia's largest organisations, politicians, members of the judiciary, Olympic athletes and elite sports people.
He has co-authored nine books on communication skills and humour in business that are used extensively throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the UK and South Africa. He writes regular columns on communication skills, sales & customer service and humour in business for a number of industry magazines. His articles have been printed in major daily newspapers in Australia and Asia.
Kevin is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) which is the highest possible level in professional speaking and the only one recognised internationally. He is the Immediate Past National President of Professional Speakers Australia.
Instagram Funny Memes
People in groups love to celebrate. Some offices have done away with the traditional birthday cake at morning tea as the staff numbers grew because it became too difficult - too disruptive, too hard to get everyone together or just too many people for one cake! This is sad. While the logistical difficulties of the birthday cake gathering might be prohibitive, this should not be a reason to forgo the one natural celebratory day that every staff member has. Put a sign at their desk, give them a special carpark for the day, use social media to get all colleagues to pass on a birthday wish - celebrating this way doesn't have to be disruptive.
And don't stop at birthdays. Why not hold a celebration on the anniversary of the day they started at the organisation or took on their current position?
One of the main factors inhibiting fun in the workplace is that people are concerned that it will be perceived as them not taking their work seriously. Worse still, customers might get the impression that we don't respect our organisation, brand or product. This is, of course, false. As George Bernard Shaw said, "Life does not cease to be funny when people die, any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh."
A great way to overcome this fear of not being taken seriously is to celebrate your organisation's great moments. For example:
• The date the organisation was founded
• The birthdate of your founder
• The day your organisation received some special recognition or award.
• The day your most famous product was released.
• The day you moved into your current offices.
Collaboration/Cooperation
According to one estimate, we are thirty times more likely to laugh with other people than when we are alone. As more work tasks become solitary activities with just you and the computer screen, what could be done to better engage staff with each other?
Recently, a large organisation committed one afternoon of their annual staff conference to forming staff into groups with a mix of staff from different departments who then went out and did good works in the community. Some helped at meal time at the local community centre, others helped do home maintenance for frail elderly people living alone.
This worked brilliantly to break down the 'silo' mentality that had developed as the company grew. Staff members now had new friends in other departments.
Most interestingly, though, was the universal feedback that they had more fun doing this than anything else they'd done at work in years. It wasn't designed as a fun activity; but it created such engagement the fun followed. This is the message for managers - don't try to create fun activities; create engagement activities and let staff create the fun.
Competition
People are inherently competitive and becoming engaged in a contest - in the right spirit - can generate humour and camaraderie. It is remarkable how much effort people will put in to win a $5 trophy!
Could you make the boring, mundane tasks part of a contest? For example, one company has started running a contest for the funniest or scariest 'selfie' when they have their photo taken at log-on and log-off. Another is using reverse psychology by running a messiest desk contest with an unpleasant sign that must be displayed for a month by the 'winner'.
Commonality
The more that people have in common, the more opportunities there are for humour. I have an activity that encourages workmates to identify points in common. At the end of this ten minute exercise every participant says they have learned something new that they have in common with their workmate. Even those that have worked together for years! Getting staff to share their likes and preferences is a good way to start. Create a 'staff gallery' and have them all share their top five movies, books and holiday destinations.
Creativity
Giving staff an opportunity to be creative - especially outside their professional expertise - can generate fun and engagement. This could be used to advantage an organisation with their workplace signage. These signs - especially the safety signs - are often ignored. Research has shown that a fun workplace sign (for example with a cartoon) is 37% more likely to be read. Why not have staff design your next workplace sign? Tapping into what's been mentioned earlier, you could get people to work in groups (collaboration) and make it a contest.
Introducing fun at your workplace does not have to be disruptive or difficult. Use these five Cs to help you find the best way.
Kevin is an experienced conference speaker, workshop leader, facilitator and MC. He has twenty-five years experience as a corporate trainer and fifteen years experience as a professional speaker.
He runs his own business from Brisbane, Australia, speaking at conferences and seminars across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and in the UK specialising in the areas of sales, customer service, humour in business and communication skills. His clients include some of Australia's largest organisations, politicians, members of the judiciary, Olympic athletes and elite sports people.
He has co-authored nine books on communication skills and humour in business that are used extensively throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the UK and South Africa. He writes regular columns on communication skills, sales & customer service and humour in business for a number of industry magazines. His articles have been printed in major daily newspapers in Australia and Asia.
Kevin is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) which is the highest possible level in professional speaking and the only one recognised internationally. He is the Immediate Past National President of Professional Speakers Australia.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.