Tweet

Finding Fun In Your Workplace

Guest post by: Terri Levine

Article Overview: Fun and workplace - not two words you often find together in the same sentence. Find out why and how you should use them together in your company.

Finding Fun In Your Workplace

Most business owners would find it a challenge to imagine how "fun" has anything to do with their profession, productivity, or making a profit, but we all know a happy workforce is more productive and takes less sickies. There's your win-win right there! I understand how a workforce who is smiling and laughing might give the impression that they're too busy having fun and not working, but research has found these happy, smiling employees are actually more productive than their more taciturn peers who are too afraid to say boo, let alone smile.

People who are unhappy in their workplace and who are not allowed to be happy have more absent days and those businesses suffer higher turnover rates, all of which detracts from their profitability.

People spend the better part of their days working and it just makes common sense that where they work should be a place they enjoy being in. Having fun does not mean slacking off. If you can learn to incorporate a lighter mood into your workplace, everyone will benefit.

Are your office decorations either non existent or austere and overly serious? There is a time and place for everything, but if you brighten up the décor and make the environment warm and happy, people will enjoy working there. This may be a bright colored paint, or "happy" paintings, plants, or even colorful mobiles hanging from the ceiling.

Leave magazines and crossword books and puzzles in the staff room for staff to relax with during their breaks.

Encourage everyone to smile. If you're the boss, set the example by greeting everyone with a warm smile and a happy greeting. I'm not talking the slight upward turn of the lips here. I'm talking big grin, show your teeth, put some warmth into your expression.

Share jokes with your staff. As you wander through the office, if it is just before coffee break time, you can announce your joke of the day. "Hey, did you hear this one..." Those who have time will listen and hopefully laugh. Even if the joke is terrible, the fact that you shared one will lighten the mood in the office and make your employees feel happier.

Allow for radios to play - of course, one radio, one station - you don't want a cacophony of noise coming from several different radios all playing at once! Or play inspirational and soothing CD's in the background and pipe it around the office.

Grab a pad of children's "stickers" - you can buy pads of yellow smiley face stickers - and stick them on the ends of your handwritten notes to staff. Put one on your phone, your computer and anywhere else you will see them that will remind you to be happy and smile.

Surprise your department by sending it a gift basket of goodies they can all share and enjoy. You can send a biscuit and cake basket, a chocolate basket, you can even send special corporate baskets that include "fun" contents like moldable Gumbie toys and happy faces on a stick and fun shaped chocolates.

Take advantage of special days like "Red nose day" when you and your staff can wear red clown noses. (You can "fine" your staff a dollar if they don't participate, and donate it to charity.)

Have a suggestion box conveniently placed and encourage your staff to submit ideas for making their department a more enjoyable place to work that will not disrupt productivity and cost all the profits they're making to instigate!

You will soon realize that a happy, smiling workforce is the key to improved productivity and profits, but if you do find some who take it for granted and are having more fun than they are being productive, a private word with them in your office is all that is required to put them on the right track.

Related Articles
  EMBODYING THE VALUES
  “Symptoms That Confirm Your Decision To Look For A New Job, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach”
  Crossing Boundaries With Mentoring
  Which Generation is More Able to Handle a Recession?
  3 Tips to Relieving Stress in the Workplace
  The Third Deadly Workplace Sin: Anger
  Who Has True Grit?
  When women leave the workplace
  A Tough Economy Can be Good for Your Career
  “Strategic Business Tips On How To Achieve Civility In Today’s Workplace, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach”
  Young Men Struggle with WorkLife Balance Too
  Three Ways to Reduce Workplace Stress
  Green Jobs: It's about growing your existing employees too
  How Corporate Mentoring in the Workplace Strengthens Employee Relations
  HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS FOR MANAGING WORK
  If You're Looking for Dedication Hire the Disabled
  Sexual Jokes, Innuendos and Banter: A Kind of Workplace Bullying?
  Dressing for Success - What Not to Do!!!
  The Second Deadly Workplace Sin: Envy
  Developing Strong Relationships on the Job

Article Tags: employee morale, fun, improve employee morale, job satisfaction, morale, workplace



Related Forum Posts
Re: Email Marketing - Yes, true. What kind of changes happened in Email campaigns except the opt-in? Finding the exact target and reaching them is always a challenge. What new methods can we have to reach the new customers? Thanks Robert
Re: Where is the best place to find a web developer? - That's a really tough one. Finding a business partner is like finding a wife - it takes a lot of trust to get the right one. I would try to hang out at tech-related startup events and see if you hit it off with anybody. Good luck!
Re: Hello from Missouri - I have been unsuccessfull thus far finding an online resource of people who operate in the market I'm serving. Finding those people are a big part of why I posted here, but I'm not certain this is the right area either. The search continues...
Re: Before you spend all your money on a prototype - Its hard to pick out a favourite part. But one thing I really LOVE is the whole idea that if we could see what lies ahead for us, it would help us all stay focused and positive. While we dont often get the chance to see into the future, we can try harder to remember that we do create our own realities. I also love the Disney quote at the and it reminds me of Finding Nemo, just keep swimming, just keep swimming... J
Re: Backlink Partnerships - Tyrone gives good advice about outsourcing. Thanks for reminding us about his Philippines outsourcing tip. Finding someone who can deliver what you want - and more - can be a matter of trial and error. But once you find that person or team, keep them busy! Don't give up the search just because the first one or two underperformed or failed to perform at all. Remember, every successful entrepreneur gets there with the help of others. You just have to go out and find 'em!


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Unspoken Yet Important Rules for Book Proposals

The Basics Of A Home Based Internet Business

Do You Pretend To Listen To People?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.