| Seven Ways to Keep Work Fun | | | | not much to the game. They are definitely in |
| | | | competition, but nobody wins anything and you |
| I used to love the commercial where the guy | | | | can see the fun on their faces as they play. |
| would have to wake up at an insanely-early | | | | What competitions can you set-up for your |
| hour to go make donuts. He did this so the | | | | staff that will not cost much and be fun at |
| donuts would be fresh when all the morning | | | | the same time, even if you do not win? |
| commuters came in to grab a donut and coffee. | | | | |
| Unfortunately, he didn't get up early enough | | | | 5. Take it Outside: Change the environment. |
| to prevent Dr. Atkins and Starbucks from | | | | If you normally meet inside, go outside (and |
| taking his customers! I digress. The | | | | visa versa). Change things up a bit. Heck, |
| commercial came to mind for this subject, | | | | maybe even rent a school bus and have your |
| because the guy looked so sad having to get | | | | next meeting in the bus! Put your team in a |
| up and go into work. Many of us face that | | | | new environment and you are sure to spark |
| feeling when we stroll in at 9am! The | | | | some new energy. Take all of the chairs out |
| following tips are meant to help you put some | | | | of the conference room and invite people to |
| fun back into your job. | | | | sit, stand, walk around the room, or anything |
| | | | they feel comfortable doing during the |
| 1. Get Over Yourself: You are not all that! | | | | meeting. I must warn you, there are bound to |
| Okay, so you are a big important leader now. | | | | be groans from the skeptics, but if you lead |
| Good for you! But guess what, the world was | | | | your team based on avoiding the dreaded |
| turning before you became the boss and odds | | | | eye-rolls, get help for that! That is no fun |
| are it will be turning after you leave. Not | | | | at all. |
| to say that you are not making major | | | | |
| contributions to your organization, but there | | | | 6. Just Because: Do something for no reason |
| is no benefit in getting caught up with how | | | | at all. Announce that next Tuesday is crazy |
| important you are - instead, be thankful to | | | | hat day - you could also tie that into tip |
| be in such a position to help so many people. | | | | #4. Or, put a cake in the break room for no |
| | | | reason at all. Just looking at a cake makes |
| 2. Be Goofy: Or Mickey, or Minnie. It is | | | | things seem better. Leave it blank, or you |
| difficult to be animated and not have fun. | | | | can write something like "Our team is so |
| Tell a joke once in a while. Even better, | | | | good, we can have our cake and eat it too!" |
| tell a bad joke. Make the bad joke at your | | | | When there is something to celebrate, |
| expense and fun can't be far behind. Tell | | | | receiving something is expected. However, |
| people about how you couldn't find your keys | | | | doing something for no reason at all really |
| because you put them in the refrigerator. As | | | | hits home. That gives me another idea: pick |
| a leader, you often focus on getting things | | | | up the phone and call someone you care about |
| done and getting them done right. Your staff | | | | and say, "I just wanted to say I care about, |
| might sometimes start to look at you as a | | | | love, and/or appreciate you." Stevie Wonder |
| constantly-perfect robot. It is not fun to | | | | and I will be very proud of you! |
| be around someone that is always right (I | | | | |
| don't know how my wife does it!) Show your | | | | 7. Actually Make Donuts: Do a team building |
| goofy-side once in a while. But don't get | | | | activity that doesn't relate to work. Ask |
| carried away with this tip. Few people want | | | | everyone to come together to work on a |
| to be led by the Nutty Professor! | | | | non-work project. This will stir up some |
| | | | energy and creativity that will help people |
| 3. Yoda Says: Don't try to have fun, do it! | | | | get more work done when they return to their |
| It may impress you that you have agreed to | | | | desk, cubicle, or spot in the coal mine. |
| try and have more fun on the job, but I say | | | | Making donuts could be a great activity. |
| you can show me better than you can tell me. | | | | Break into groups responsible for different |
| If you are climbing Mount Everest, I will be | | | | steps in the process, or break into separate |
| impressed by you just trying, even if you | | | | teams (see tip #4 again). What about |
| don't succeed. That is a tough challenge. | | | | designing a donut lto ike your company logo? |
| Having fun on the other hand, a good try is | | | | Even if you do not like donuts, you can find |
| just not good enough. Have fun. Even if you | | | | so many fun activities to do with your team. |
| are having a bad hair day. Even if you look | | | | Try to break a world record of some sort. |
| fat in that outfit. Even if you rip your | | | | After you are done, ask one of my favorite |
| pants and everyone sees your Tuesday | | | | questions: "how does all of this relate to |
| underwear (and it's Friday!) It's just fun, | | | | our work?! " |
| now have at it! | | | | |
| | | | In the spirit of being fun, I would like to |
| 4. Hush Puppies: Compete for fun. My kids | | | | close with some words on fun from SpongeBob |
| play a quiet game called Hush Puppies. I | | | | Squarepants, "F is for friends who do stuff |
| love when they play this game! Whoever stays | | | | together, U is for you and me, N is for |
| quiet for longer wins! Great game. What is | | | | aNywhere any time at all, down here in the |
| really cool about the game is that there is | | | | deep blue sea! |