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Why is Fun at Work so Important?
By Carla Rieger
Sunday, 30th August 2009
 
Here are the Top 6 Reasons I hear about why people believe that their work environment could never be fun or engaging.

1. Our work is very serious
2. There are too many overly serious people who work here
3. The management won't allow us to have fun
4. We have too much work to do, there is no time for fun
5. If people had fun all hell would break loose
6. The public or customers would think we are not doing our jobs properly

Yet, here the Top 7 Benefits I hear about why having fun at work is so crucial these days: 

1. It is a low cost, easy way to build morale.
2. It enhances communication and builds social bonds that help people through the tough times.
3. It makes people want to perform well at work and be a contributing member of their team.
4. It re-vitalizes people so they are healthier and have more energy.
5. It opens up creative thinking which helps people be more resourceful with problems.
6. It helps staff build rapport amongst themselves and with clients and customers.
7. It creates a positive atmosphere that makes customers more likely to want to do business with you.

Below are some actual examples of what people do to engage and revitalize people through simple, easy to implement fun ideas: 

1. How fun re-vitalized an office with low morale

Stephen Dudar (also known as Cap'n Steve) works within the Lord Selkirk School District in Manitoba. One popular idea they used when energy was low in the office was the "ambush with nerf guns" idea. A few of them would ambush other fatigued staff and within minutes energy levels were restored.

He says "This kind of thing turned around how we delivered services to the schools under my care as well as the morale of my entire department." Ironically, by creating planned chaos, it made the actual work time more focused and organized. 

2. How fun celebrations can help a "serious" work environment

Don (of the Dead) Isaac works as a supervisor at the Capilano View Cemetery. He says, "April 1 is not only April Fool's day but also Sharon's Birthday.  She had just turned 64 and so we celebrated Cemetery Style. We made her a cake that looked like a burial marker with a tombstone and artificial flowers.

We also did a Hawaiian Theme Party for Anika's birthday because she had to cancel a trip to Hawaii for her vacation. We had Hawaiian decorations, Hawaiian Music, and we even sprayed the air with coconut room freshener. Because staff make an effort to enjoy ourselves together it helps attract good people.

One staff member told me yesterday that she didn't know how miserable she was in her old job until she started working with us, because we have so much fun. Our motto is 'A Cemetery Worker is the last person to let you down!'

3. How a playful mindset can spark an innovative idea

A person of the Justice Institute of BC in New Westminster writes, "We are very short of storage space at the Justice Institute and often the only place to store boxes of classroom materials is literally under our desks.

I always joke about someday making a little fort out of them, and one morning I came in and my co-workers had built one for me!" Her story won fourth place in our annual Workplace Creativity Contest this year.

4. How fun can help two departments work better together

Bliss Goldstein writes, "A few years ago when working with Symantec, we took two teams of folks who worked in different groups-but needed improve communications-to the beach.  Once there, we mixed them up in newly formed teams and conducted Symantec Olympics on the Beach.

Seeing each other slipping as they raced, and limbo-ing on the sand and passing eggs on spoons had everyone laughing together in no time.  We discovered that if you laugh together, you can work together. 

Just being willing to get silly together does wonders." This story won third place in our annual Workplace Creativity Contest this year.

5. How to use creativity to recognize and motivate staff while also improve the public's image of them

Ruth Payne, of Cultural Affairs within the District of West Vancouver, writes, "Here's what I did to motivate and inspire the District staff.  It worked like hotcakes!

We had an exhibition entitled 'I Am More Than My Day Job'.  It was for all Municipal staff, including Fire, Police, Transit, Library. The Mayor even had a piece of art in it!   Over 3000 visitors went through it. I went department to department to drag out of employees just what they do with their creativity in their 'other life'.  The result was amazing!  This is probably one of the best exhibitions ever, and who would have guessed? We had a big opening reception and the staff that are musicians performed.

The results:
1. The public loved seeing staff that they normally associate with i.e. a Finance Clerk, now being exhibited as a textile artist, a wood carver, an accomplished photographer, a jeweler, a mixed media painter...it helped see them more as people and as part of the community.
2. The staff morale went sky high. I had to peel them off the ceiling. They became so darned chuffed at being featured and perceived as artists.

THE BEST STORY YET:  

The Director of Finance, very shyly showed me some photographs he took through the windscreen as he does the long daily drive home to Maple Ridge. He had no idea they were even worth showing to anyone. They are of the traffic when it is raining. They are very fresh, immediate and appealing. I took him by the hand to a frame shop, where he learned how they needed to be framed, then he did it himself to save money, and they have been the rave of the exhibit. All three sold, AND a gallery in West Vancouver now wants to carry his work. He now has a whole new life. He just can't get over himself!

She concludes "I love this example of the arts helps people reinvent themselves. And the best part is that other employees now perceive this quiet finance guy in a whole new light."

Ruth's initiative won first place in our annual Workplace Creativity Contest this year. She won a free spot in Carla's Artistry of Change Retreat at Hollyhock Centre.

Are you planning a meeting? Invite Carla Rieger to motivate and entertain your staff or association with the program The Power of Laughter: Managing Change with a Sense of Humor. Click on the link to find out more or call 604-222-2276.

Do you have a story to share? If you have an example of how you used fun or creativity at work please let us know. It just might inspire others. Please email it to carla@artistryofchange.com
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