Fun - Managed/Structured or Natural/Organic?

When I have been referring to fun in these little posts, I have been assuming the organic, spontaneous fun that most of us enjoy every day and in a myriad of contexts - home, work, etc.

But as I read more deeply into the literature, and which was brought out at a recent visit to University of San Francisco, there is a dark side to the fun force. I speak here of organized or, better, managed fun.

Here is a quote from "Benefits and Challenges of Fun in the Workplace" by April Everett from Library Leadership & Management, Volume 25, No 1: "Manufactured fun, that which is imposed or required, may create an environment of cubicle-decorating cynics."

And from Sharon Bolton and Maeve Houlihan's article in Employee Relations, Volume 35, No 6, 2009: "However worthy these ideas (fun at work), their translation into practice might be seen as cynical. Fun - official fun - is the order of the day. (The following citations can be found in full in the bibliography of their article.)

They proceed to quote J. Gordon: "Structured fun is fun for the whimsically impaired; fun with all the fun squeezed out; fun, hold the fun."

And one more cautionary quote they cite from J. Hamilton: "I am here today to speak for the victims. The poor downtrodden employees yearning to go home. The party-pooping, costume-hating working stiffs. Those who dream about letting certain colleagues flop straight to the floor in the trust-building, don't worry we'll catch you exercise."

The point is that while there is considerable literature that tells us that humor in the workplace is a good thing it is important to remember that you cannot make people have fun or participate in fun activities or anything else for that matter. And exercising such caution is imperative in developing a corporate culture that welcomes fun and a natural, organic byproduct of the work environment.

45 Fun Ideas from USF

45 Fun Ideas from USF

4/19/12

Buzzword Bingo

Library Prom (3)

Bay Cruise

Visit pin ball museum

Attend a baseball game

“Potomac” boat cruise

Whale watching

Movie Night

Flash mob (3)

Campus architecture tour

Slippers/pajama night

Themed clothes day (2)

Samba/Conga on April 1

Flying kites

Bike riding

Petting zoo (3)

Stacks hide n seek

Prank: rearrange shelves at some other library

Tyrone mask day

Plant/flower day

Horseback riding

Switching job roles

30” humorous clip

Unplug day (no wired technology)

2 truths and a lie

Smoothie bar

Scavenger hunt

Party on the roof/bar on the roof

No quiet zone for 15”

Staff party at wax museum

Dance lessons

Dance-off contest

Roller skating in the library

Shuffleboard in the library

Close library on Monday and Friday

4 hour work days

Departmental novel

Baby picture day

Dunk the Dean and/or the Library Leadership Team

Corporate naps

Cartoons at Noon

DJ day

Staff retreat in Hawaii or Paris

Staff dress like student day

Talk show(s) on TV in library lobby

Happy Birthday, Shakespeare

Although there is competing historical evidence surrounding the birth of one William Shakespeare, there seems to be consenses that it was on April 23, 1564.
And, although there continue to be scholars who debate whether Mr Shakespeare actually was the author of such boffo hits as Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It and all those Henrys and Richards, I've yet to hear or read anything to convince me against him.

So, what are you doing to celebrate the Bard's birthday? Maybe a contest to see who can name all the Shakespeare plays (no smart phones, IPADs, computers, etc. allowed!). How about a trivia contest on some one of his plays? Hamlet might be good. Or perhaps just sit and read some of the most glorious prose/poetry ever written.

Or, maybe you can find a recording of the Reduced Shakespeare Company performing all of Shakespeare's plays in about an hour and a half! (http://www.reducedshakespeare.com/)

In any event, this could be a good time to "Brush Up Your Shakespeare." (http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/kissmekate/brushupyourshakespeare.htm)

Play Ball - 6 novels about baseball

I found this post of 6 excellent baseball novels available on bookriot.com. I was disappointed that neither The Southpaw or Bang the Drum Slowly (both by Mark Harris) were incliuded. What baseball novels would be on your list?

http://bookriot.com/2012/04/05/top-six-baseball-novels/

In the meantime, how about setting up a nerf or whiffle ball baseball league at your place of employment?

Batter up!

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