Please feel free to repost or forward this blog entry, or any other :)
Leap Day, Feb 29, is almost here and it is time to start thinking about ways to celebrate this once every four years phenomenon. For example, you could collect a list of people who got married, started their job, have a birthday, etc. on Feb 29 and have a celebration for them. This could also be the moment to celebrate that special occasion that has been put off and put off...
You might also consider turning this into a day of aerobics and simply leaping (or hopping) instead of walking. Or, have a leap frog competition.
There are really no proscribed limits on how to celebrate Leap Day. It is up to you and your organization, team, etc. to boldly leap where no team has leaped before!
For some tidbits on Leap Year please click on over to these links.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/22/leap-year-2012-what-will-_n_1293857.html
http://listsoplenty.com/blog/?p=11922
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Do you have a FUNU?
All credit on this one to the syndicated cartoon The Fusco Brothers.
http://www.gocomics.com/thefuscobrothers/2012/01/09
Universal UClick Copyright 2012 J.C. Duffy 1-9
I think every organization/team should have a FUNU, a collection of things that make you and others smile, and that can be distributed as needed and required or just for the heck of it. (Beanie propeller hats encouraged but not required!)
http://www.gocomics.com/thefuscobrothers/2012/01/09
Universal UClick Copyright 2012 J.C. Duffy 1-9
I think every organization/team should have a FUNU, a collection of things that make you and others smile, and that can be distributed as needed and required or just for the heck of it. (Beanie propeller hats encouraged but not required!)
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Why not have fun in the workplace?
I read a couple of tidbits in the last few days that prompt me to speak for a little bit on why fun in the workplace. I mean, in some ways it seems counter-intuitive, and yet, it also makes a lot of sense.
First, this from Larry Lagid, columnist for the Bay Area News Group and occasional commentator for KCBS news in the Bay Area:
"What Facebook and Google offices have in common is that sense of openness and the constant mixture of work and play.
"It's become a Silicon Valley tradition to offer on-sire distractions, ranging from foosball tables to volleyball courts, and to give employees maximum flexibility as to how to use their time.
"There are plenty of people working long and odd hours because - as any aware manager understands - creativity doesn't always strike between 9am and 5pm. Google and Facebook encourage their employees to stay around.
"Sure I've seen Google employees 'waste time' by playing impromptu soccer games on the company's parklike lawns. But when the game is over, they're back at work within minutes and - who knows - there may very well be some creative work getting done in their heads as they play."
(Full link: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19640733?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com)
And then there is a group called The Humor Group which has publishes a newsletter and blog and offers a lively series of ideas for incorporating fun into the workplace. What is most interesting and relevant is their client list which includes such organizations as Hewlett-Packard, IBM, New York Library Association, and Walt Disney Co. (Full list available at: http://www.humorproject.com/about/clients.php)
What do these two articles mean for your organization? Simply that your competitors in recruitment and retention have decided to invest time, energy and money to find way to provide a "value-added" experience for their employees through the use of fun in the workplace. (I use fun and humor interchangeably.)
(Here is a link to an article from FastCompany with some ideas they have for fun in the workplace. Fast Company describes themselves as "the world's leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, ethonomics (ethical economics), leadership, and design. Written for, by, and about the most progressive business leaders, Fast Company and FastCompany.com inspire readers and users to think beyond traditional boundaries, lead conversations, and create the future of business."
Please also note the quote embedded in the article. "Yet, research at California State University Long Beach showed that people who have fun at work are more creative, more productive, work better with others and call in sick less often"
And here's the link to the list: http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/tom-stern/my-work-life-balance-sheet/ten-ways-inject-fun-workplace
This is a big deal especially when you think about how to keep and and/or attract the best and brightest. It might could be the kind of work your firm does that attracts them; or the salary and benefits; but isn't it nice to know you can offer something that does not take a big chunk out of the bottom line, is easy to do, and has the potential for such excellent results.
First, this from Larry Lagid, columnist for the Bay Area News Group and occasional commentator for KCBS news in the Bay Area:
"What Facebook and Google offices have in common is that sense of openness and the constant mixture of work and play.
"It's become a Silicon Valley tradition to offer on-sire distractions, ranging from foosball tables to volleyball courts, and to give employees maximum flexibility as to how to use their time.
"There are plenty of people working long and odd hours because - as any aware manager understands - creativity doesn't always strike between 9am and 5pm. Google and Facebook encourage their employees to stay around.
"Sure I've seen Google employees 'waste time' by playing impromptu soccer games on the company's parklike lawns. But when the game is over, they're back at work within minutes and - who knows - there may very well be some creative work getting done in their heads as they play."
(Full link: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19640733?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com)
And then there is a group called The Humor Group which has publishes a newsletter and blog and offers a lively series of ideas for incorporating fun into the workplace. What is most interesting and relevant is their client list which includes such organizations as Hewlett-Packard, IBM, New York Library Association, and Walt Disney Co. (Full list available at: http://www.humorproject.com/about/clients.php)
What do these two articles mean for your organization? Simply that your competitors in recruitment and retention have decided to invest time, energy and money to find way to provide a "value-added" experience for their employees through the use of fun in the workplace. (I use fun and humor interchangeably.)
(Here is a link to an article from FastCompany with some ideas they have for fun in the workplace. Fast Company describes themselves as "the world's leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, ethonomics (ethical economics), leadership, and design. Written for, by, and about the most progressive business leaders, Fast Company and FastCompany.com inspire readers and users to think beyond traditional boundaries, lead conversations, and create the future of business."
Please also note the quote embedded in the article. "Yet, research at California State University Long Beach showed that people who have fun at work are more creative, more productive, work better with others and call in sick less often"
And here's the link to the list: http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/tom-stern/my-work-life-balance-sheet/ten-ways-inject-fun-workplace
This is a big deal especially when you think about how to keep and and/or attract the best and brightest. It might could be the kind of work your firm does that attracts them; or the salary and benefits; but isn't it nice to know you can offer something that does not take a big chunk out of the bottom line, is easy to do, and has the potential for such excellent results.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Happy New Year - and how are you going to add fun to your work environment?
My thanks to those of you stop by from time-to-time for doing so; and my best wishes to you for a healthy, happy, and, I hope, fun-filled, 2012.
So, how are you going to try to incorporate some fun into your work environment (or personal life, for that matter)? I plan to stick to some tried and true methods, like hanging out with people that are fun and continuing to wear silly hats and mismatched socks for no reason except that people smile when they see me so attired to name but two.
As I pick up new ideas I will share them; and I hope you will do likewise.
Cheers!
So, how are you going to try to incorporate some fun into your work environment (or personal life, for that matter)? I plan to stick to some tried and true methods, like hanging out with people that are fun and continuing to wear silly hats and mismatched socks for no reason except that people smile when they see me so attired to name but two.
As I pick up new ideas I will share them; and I hope you will do likewise.
Cheers!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
MBTI
Shortly after I started work at University of the Pacific I met with all the members of the library to get better acquainted with them. Even though most had met me during the interview those impressions were probably incompletely formed.
Even then I was looking for ways for us to get to know one another better so I played a little game involving my Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). There are basically four sets of indicators and each person has their own based on answering many questions. The types are:
Favorite world: Do you prefer to focus on the outer world or on your own inner world? This is called Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I).
Information: Do you prefer to focus on the basic information you take in or do you prefer to interpret and add meaning? This is called Sensing (S) or Intuition (N).
Decisions: When making decisions, do you prefer to first look at logic and consistency or first look at the people and special circumstances? This is called Thinking (T) or Feeling (F).
Structure: In dealing with the outside world, do you prefer to get things decided or do you prefer to stay open to new information and options? This is called Judging (J) or Perceiving (P).
It was great fun; almost everybody participated; and those who guessed correctly were fed pizza.
So, can you guess my MBTI? (I can't guarantee pizza if you guess correctly).
(PS - My team did something similar at Santa Clara, but there we had to guess one another's MBTI; again lots of fun.)
Even then I was looking for ways for us to get to know one another better so I played a little game involving my Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). There are basically four sets of indicators and each person has their own based on answering many questions. The types are:
Favorite world: Do you prefer to focus on the outer world or on your own inner world? This is called Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I).
Information: Do you prefer to focus on the basic information you take in or do you prefer to interpret and add meaning? This is called Sensing (S) or Intuition (N).
Decisions: When making decisions, do you prefer to first look at logic and consistency or first look at the people and special circumstances? This is called Thinking (T) or Feeling (F).
Structure: In dealing with the outside world, do you prefer to get things decided or do you prefer to stay open to new information and options? This is called Judging (J) or Perceiving (P).
It was great fun; almost everybody participated; and those who guessed correctly were fed pizza.
So, can you guess my MBTI? (I can't guarantee pizza if you guess correctly).
(PS - My team did something similar at Santa Clara, but there we had to guess one another's MBTI; again lots of fun.)
Monday, December 19, 2011
What are your 12 gifts?
We all know the routine of what's given/received on the 12 Days of Christmas, but this has been extended to 12 gifts of San Francisco, wine lovers, and so forth and so on and way beyond the carol.
Well, what gifts would you/your team/your organization like to give/receive? and can you get to 12? This could actually be a fun internal and/or external public relations opportunity to put on your web page at the appropriate time of year.
In any event, best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season and a joyous new year :)
Well, what gifts would you/your team/your organization like to give/receive? and can you get to 12? This could actually be a fun internal and/or external public relations opportunity to put on your web page at the appropriate time of year.
In any event, best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season and a joyous new year :)
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
One Fun Thing
Credit for this must go to onefunthing.com which I saw on a bumper sticker in the parking lot of the hotel where I stayed the last weekend for my nephew's wedding. That said, it is a nice idea, right?
It might not be that every day we could or should try to think of one fun thing to acknowledge, but there are days when there is something obvious; and on those funkilicious days - see previous post - a little effort might bring something to the fore.
Here is my fun thing for today. I had a a delightful lunch with two former colleagues from Santa Clara University. The time just whizzed by with chatter about the mundane and, at moments, the sublime. Before we knew it, it was time to start thinking about out next get together and that's always a good way to end a visit.
What is your fun thing for today (or whatever today you happen to come across this)?
As for me, I'm going to keep on staying attuned for that obvious or subtle occurrence that brings a smile to my face.
Cheerio!
It might not be that every day we could or should try to think of one fun thing to acknowledge, but there are days when there is something obvious; and on those funkilicious days - see previous post - a little effort might bring something to the fore.
Here is my fun thing for today. I had a a delightful lunch with two former colleagues from Santa Clara University. The time just whizzed by with chatter about the mundane and, at moments, the sublime. Before we knew it, it was time to start thinking about out next get together and that's always a good way to end a visit.
What is your fun thing for today (or whatever today you happen to come across this)?
As for me, I'm going to keep on staying attuned for that obvious or subtle occurrence that brings a smile to my face.
Cheerio!
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