Fun With Chairs

This little game can be played in organizations of almost any size - all that is really needed is chairs and a sense of adventure!

OK - Let's say we have 9 people in three groups of three - just for the sake of demonstration - and 10 chairs. The object is for each group of three to design as many shapes, objects, forms, etc. in 15 minutes that make use of all 10 chairs - I would argue there should be a minimum of two designs per group. They do this using a piece of paper and crayons (or pencil or pen, I suppose). When the 15 minutes is expired, each group gets to implement its design using the chairs. When all the groups have displayed an example of their creativity and imagination, their designs are shared with the other groups and then all the designs are shared with the larger workgroup, team, organization, etc.

Then, at your next meeting, start with the chairs in one of your arrangements, or rearrange the chairs at a convenient break in the meeting and give people the chance to see things from a different perspective - you never know what might result. At the least, a smile; at the most, a creative breakthrough - I'll take those outcomes anytime!

Chapeaux Days

Hats off - groan - to Lynne Lysiak, formerly of Applachian State University for this one!

"Years and years ago, we had two annual Chapeaux Days that I organized - amazing how many participated, and how they made their outfits match the chapeaux or related to their work (people in serials came with hats made out of cereal boxes). Great fun was had by all. Everything from suits and gloves and hats to really wacky creations... Created high energy throughout the staff and we had a mutual admiration break for everyone to get together, laugh and take photos."

Santa Clara Workshop - 25 Ideas for Fun!

These are all interesting and attractive possibilties, but only if people use them, otherwise they beg the philosophical question, "Does a falling tree make a sound if there is no one to hear it?"

• Laugh-a-Thon
• SUMO wrestling (http://www.partyoutfitters.com/sumo_wrestling_suits.htm)
• Puppet show
• Mime Fest
• Hawaiian Day: Hula Hoops, Hawaiian shirts, Leis, Grass Skirts, etc.
• Dunk tank
• Pie eating with NO hands
• Pyjamas to work day; also, sleepover in the office!
• Black tie Friday - either wear a formal outfit or just wear a black tie!
• Bring you pet to work day
• Halloween Costumes and Decoration
• Walk Backwards Day
• Technology Free Day (from personal experience this is a winner!)
• Karaoke
• Marathon of Anything
• Corny Joke Day
• Choose Your Character Day
• Show Your Talent Day
• Work Outside Day
• Adult Beverage Day
• Pig Latin Day (also Speak Like a Pirate or Speak Like a CB-er, etc.)
• Trade Places Day (switch work responsibilities with colleagues and administrators)
• Celebrate Unbirthday Day
• Game Day/Grammar School Game Day
• Celebrate April 11th (allegedly the most boring day of the 20th century) - http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/04/11/135314332/if-april-11-1954-was-so-dull-why-do-we-keep-talking-about-it

Thanks to the good folks at Santa Clara for being such excellent participants in the first  Humor in the Healthy Workplace workshop.

The Birthday Hat

I was in a novelty store and found a birthday hat with candles on it and thought - Here's an easy way to celebrate an occasion and have a little fun, too.

The idea is simple. Give a team member, colleague, co-worker the birthday hat to wear on their birthday, complete with a rendition of Happy Birthday. Then, have that person pass the hat along to the next team member on their birthday and so on and so forth. This requires that birthday information be available and that might not always be the case. But if people see how much fun the celebrant and celebrators are having they may wish to provide that information just to have the opportunity to wear the birthday hat for a day. If there are multiple birthdays on a day, the hat can be shared with each person having a chance to wear it.

Photographs are optional but would add a certain zest to the occasion, yes?

A Favor

Friends, if you are reading this Blog and find the information useful, or at least entertaining, may I ask please that you forward the link to similar and like-minded people who might also find the contents helpful.

I'll post again on Wednesday, May 4, after my first Humor in the Workplace presentation at Santa Clara University.