| While training and observing groups as a | | | | |
| corporate trainer and team builder over the | | | | 8. Ring a bell or have a special song to |
| past few years, I am always amazed at how a | | | | play when something great happens, i.e. a big |
| group of strangers gel and become a team in a | | | | sale, make budget, or completion of a major |
| matter of hours. Groups on teambuilding | | | | project. |
| retreats can become closer to each other in | | | | |
| one day than some people do in years of | | | | 9. Dress up on holidays and special |
| working with each other in offices. The | | | | occasions. Example: Halloween costumes; |
| major reason I attribute the success of these | | | | |
| groups to and the way they gel is the use of | | | | if your organization commenced in the |
| "fun".Plato said "you can learn more about a | | | | seventies, dress in seventies clothes |
| person in an hour of play than in a year of | | | | |
| conversation." Fun is also a great way to | | | | on the anniversary date. |
| increase employee retention, sales, motivate | | | | |
| and inspire your employees. Who ever said | | | | 10. Turn your mission statement into a fun |
| that "we keep work and play separated" could | | | | statement instead of being boring by having |
| not be any more wrong about getting things | | | | employees recite while dancing the Macarena |
| done. Having fun on the job makes an | | | | or converting it in to a rhyming rap to |
| organization more successful. So how can | | | | repeat at meetings. |
| your organization use and implement fun into | | | | |
| your culture? Here are fourteen ways to | | | | 11. Create "secret pals" within the office |
| manage to have fun at work:1. Orient new | | | | to keep one anther motivated, remember |
| employees to the office by having them | | | | birthdays, and encourage one another. |
| complete a "scavenger hunt". They can meet | | | | |
| key people, learn where things are kept, and | | | | 12. Hang dry erase maker boards around the |
| acquaint them with key functions. The new | | | | building. Use them to draw out new ideas, |
| hire must get a signature or bring something | | | | make quick signs, put encouraging statements, |
| back to get credit for that scavenger hunt | | | | and communicate rapidly changing information. |
| assignment. | | | | |
| | | | 13. Give weekly creative recognition |
| 2. Have an ugly tie or shoe contest just to | | | | awards, for example: super phone answer of |
| have a few laughs. | | | | the week, best new idea the week, dressed for |
| | | | success award, the biggest smile of the week; |
| 3. Put on a fashion show when it is time to | | | | give out silly toys or trinkets with the |
| choose new uniforms. | | | | paper award and watch the smiles and hear the |
| | | | cheers. |
| 4. Have a company picnic or team building | | | | |
| retreat. | | | | 14. Try taking your meeting out of the the |
| | | | boardroom. Go outside if it's a pretty day, |
| 5. If asking employees to work late, order | | | | or meet at a park if possible.Just because |
| pizza to their house for dinner. | | | | management suddenly thinks that its time to |
| | | | have some fun, does not necessarily mean that |
| 6. Keep Nerf foam toys around the office for | | | | employees will respond enthusiastically. It |
| "fun breaks". | | | | is important for a manager to first establish |
| | | | a convincing rationale for the benefits of |
| 7. Give out silly and descriptive job titles | | | | fun at work before asking employees to try |
| such as "King of All | | | | something new. These are some basic |
| | | | "fundamentals". Go to my website to submit a |
| Production" or "The Keeper of the Phone | | | | question to the trainer, or to learn more |
| Lines". | | | | about adding fun to your work place. |