Another picture of what fun looks like

I was surfing the web this morning and came across this article in Inc.

http://www.inc.com/erik-sherman/have-tech-start-ups-lost-their-sense-of-fun.html

I like that the author goes beyond my rather limited ideas of what constitutes fun to something stronger, to wit:

"... At that point, it's time for a fun break. Not what often passes for fun in many companies: ping pong tables, beers at the end of a long week, or—heaven help us!—some officially sanctioned team-building exercise. What you and your company need is doing a bit more of what you love.

Give employees a chance to work on some ideas they've thought might make a real difference, without worrying how much extra profit they might bring in. Let R&D people dream and ponder. Talk to customers and ask about their lives, what they enjoy, what keeps them awake at night—not about your products and services—so you can get to know them. Let yourself be fallible, uncertain, delighted, and filled with wonder."

True enough. There is hardly anything more fun than doing what you love. This might also resonate more strongly with senior management than those ping pong tables!

Laughter Works-Take a Look

I want to thank my cousin David (again) for a timely, useful and entertaining link.


http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Other-News/Laughter-Works-Take-a-Look

I especially like the quote from Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain:

"When people laugh together, when they have a good time together, guess what? They develop a relationship. That’s what we’re trying to do."

Again my question is, if there is so much empirical and scholarly evidence that laughter, humor, fun, etc. enrich the workplace, why isn't it a more intentional part of an organization's culture?

OREO Cookie is 100

Please feel free to forward, repost or link to this Blog. And while you're at, have an Oreo for me!

According to my local paper, today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Oreo cookie. 'Nuf said. Get some packages - regular and double stuff - and pass 'em around and celebrate the genius that created this lip smackin' yummy snack!

Here are some ideas on how to celebrate: http://www.freep.com/article/20120306/FEATURES01/120306033/1027/features/Oreo-celebrates-100th-birthday-Here-5-ways-honor-cream-filled-treat

And this looks like fun, too: http://www.omaha.com/article/20120305/NEWS01/703059943

Just Say Yes

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I had a wonderful dinner tonight with friends and at the end we had the chance to meet the manager of the restaurant  and express our appreciation to him and his staff. As he was leaving the table, we asked, on the spur of the moment, if we three could split an Irish Coffee. He replied that he had won the restaurant's "Yes Man" award several times and immediately placed our order. Not only did our coffees arrive within minutes, but the restaurant picked up the tab for them! Will we be going back? You bet your bippy we will.
So, does your team, work group, organization have a Yes Man (or Woman)? Do you honor those who go out of their way to get the customer, consumer, client (or co-worker) to Yes? Is getting to Yes part of your organizational culture? It is such a little thing and yet can make an enormous difference.

I am going to try to be more attentive now to helping myself and others get to Yes. Do I think you should too? Yes:)

Do My Job for a Day

Please feel free to repost or forward this, and all other, blog entries.

This idea has floated around in different incarnations for a while and it is deceptively simple. On a given day, the people in your organization (or team) trade jobs with one another. This is an excellent way to get acquainted with and gain an appreciation for the work that your colleagues do; it can lead to stronger teams; career opportunities that might not have been apparent might be unearthed; and it is fun!

Ideally everyone participates, right up to the head honcho, the big kahuna, the leader of the pack, etc.

There would have to be some time planning when to do this and what limits if any to impose on the day. But as I have said before, a lot of the most fun in the workplace comes from planning fun events!