According to Bob Pike, author of “The Fun Minute Manager,” bosses must live to create an office culture that is fun, productive, and profitable. He adds that fun at work reduces employee turnover, increases creativity and innovation, and is good for the bottom line.
A fun work environment is one in which formal and informal activities are held regularly that are designed to lift people’s spirits and remind them of their value to the organization. This can be done through the use of humor, games, celebrations, or recognition of accomplishments.
For both managers and employees looking for ways to make the workplace lighter, here are five ideas you can start implementing right away:
Establish a daily routine to energize the office in the afternoon
Most people need an energy boost in the afternoon. At Microsoft, they play loud music at three o’clock, when everyone’s energy starts to wane – some people get up and dance and everyone claps when the song ends. In another office they toss and turn in their chairs for thirty seconds around two in the afternoon. Another idea is to have a quick coffee where you can watch a little DVD comedy routine in the coffee room.
Bring some fun to meetings
In the book “The Lightness Effect: Why It’s Worth Cheering Up,” Adrian Gostick and Scott Christopher explain that researchers have reported that humor during meetings has been found to “ease the transition from a feeling of tension and attitude. defensive to the realization of relative security and joy. “
Some companies start their meeting with a Laughter Yoga session to encourage people to relax and come up with their best ideas. Other companies make sure food and treats are available during meetings. Others provide paper and crayons and other fun accessories, like slinkys and silly putty.
Have friendly competitions
There are many companies that install a basketball court in the parking lot so that employees can have basketball tournaments during their lunch breaks. Others email a riddle or riddle every Monday and offer a small prize to the first person who solves it. Others have cake-eating contests, dart contests, or office chair relay races.
Celebrate important events and milestones
It is important to celebrate the achievement of both personal and company milestones. Meet once a month in a restaurant or pub and congratulate each other on birthdays, weight loss, kicking the nicotine habit, or hitting the company’s sales quota. Employees must feel that the company is aware of their achievements and that the management has an interest in their personal goals.
Create a humor bulletin board
Create a humorous bulletin board and post it in a conspicuous place. Look for cartoons and jokes that poke fun at circumstances that cause negativity or conflict in the office. You can also encourage people to bring funny vacation photos or funny looking photos of your kids or pets. Candid photos of employees are also a fun addition to the humorous bulletin board.
Conclution
A fun environment is part of a high-trust environment, and building trust among employees is vital for a company that wants to be successful. Trust makes employees loyal and keeps them focused on the organization’s core goals and values. In addition, humor stimulates creativity and helps solve problems. In today’s economy, a creative workforce is a powerful asset. What other ways can you think of to bring more fun, humor and lightness to the workplace?
