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December 2004 - Make it Lighter
- Make it Lighter (Fun at Work)
- Resources (links, books, articles, humor)
Make
it Lighter
There are plenty of ways to add "light" to your workplace in the form of fun and enjoyable events to balance the shortage of light from the sun at this time of year
When people enjoy their work, the time seems to fly by. That's why so many workplaces promote holiday parties - they make people feel good! People who feel good, work better and get along better with others.
Imagine getting up every day excited about what you face at work that day! Your own individual positive "light" helps keep the mood upbeat. Whatever you can do to help yourself feel good at work, helps everyone else.
As we head into December, may people find they can let their creativity show
as they decorate their office with tinsel, shiny balls, glitter strings or other
bright, shiny objects. These also help reflect the light and add a bit of
sparkle that will tickle the fancy of those who come by.
Others wear brighter, livelier colors that have the same effect. Battery-powered low voltage light strings are often allowed in workplaces where adding electric lights may be a problem.
Individual homeowners and entire neighborhoods light up their homes for the holidays, which provide enjoyable scenery on the drive home from work on those dark evenings.
Some people find that practicing with the company singing group, church choir or local community group provide the extra uplift they seek at this time of year.
Many organizations choose to help others at this time of year. They may have auctions of holiday baskets with proceeds going to charity. The group effort of working together to achieve something worthwhile helps pass the time quickly, and the excitement of winning something pretty carries over in a positive way to other work throughout the day. Certainly the good feelings associated with helping others reminds us of how prosperous we are and provides another reason to be grateful.
If you are a boss, how about declaring a "silly day" when everyone can just relax and be silly? Radical? You bet! For those courageous enough to try it, you will reap major benefits by giving your employees the opportunity to relax and get to know you as a person instead of just "the boss."
Dennis Bakke, in his book Joy at Work, likes to ask the question, "What is the most important factor that makes a workplace rewarding satisfying, exciting — fun?" Typical answers include:
- Good friends
- Good environment
- It's challenging
- I get to do what I'm good at
- Fair play
- I learn a lot
- Doing something worthwhile
- I'm needed
- I'm thought of as a person
- Winning
- Being part of a team
- Significant responsibility.
What would people at your workplace say makes it fun? Share the answers in your department or company newsletter. Encourage people to make suggestions for making it even more enjoyable this month.
At your staff meetings during the winter, how about dedicating 10 minutes to the subject of having more fun at work? Then, start implementing those suggestions. You may be surprised at how it changes the work dynamic in a positive way.
Wishing you a December of light and laughter!
If you have comments about this month's topic, please let us know or take our
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Internet Resources
- Fun Stuff http://www.almorale.com/fun.html
- 12 Fun Gift Ideas for Bosses and Co-Workers! http://www.almorale.com/HHGG.html
- It's fun to work here http://www.fisher-price.com/us/hr/fun.asp
- Fun in the workplace http://personalweb.smcvt.edu/dstever/fun/information_page.htm
- Deep Fun http://www.deepfun.com/
- Dilbert's official website http://www.dilbert.com/
Books - Disclosure:
We get a small commission for purchases made via links to Amazon.
- Get Weird! 101 Innovative Ways to Make Your Company a Great Place to Work, John Putzier. AMACOM, 2001. ISBN: 0814471145
- Work Like Your Dog: 50 Ways to Work Less, Play More & Earn More by Matt Weinstein and Luke Barber Villard Books; (June 2002) ISBN: 0812991990
- Managing to Have Fun : How Fun at Work Can Motivate Your Employees, Inspire Your Coworkers, and Boost Your Bottom Line, Matt Weinstein. Fireside, 1997 ISBN: 0684827085
- Joy at Work: A CEO's Revolutionary Approach to Fun on the Job, Dennis Bakke. PVG (March 30, 2005). ISBN: 0976268604
Articles- Fun at Work http://careers.asia1.com.sg/newest/features/ceo/ceo20030124.html
- How Can We Loosen Up At Work? http://www.west2k.com/wpdocs/q364.htm
- Fun Things You Can Do Now http://www.playfair.com/fun.htm
- Fun & work= increased productivity http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/jobs/0311/2003111200220900.htm
- Tools for Personal Growth: Having Fun http://www.coping.org/growth/fun.htm
- Discover the Fun of Work http://www.gwsae.org/ExecutiveUpdate/2002/March/fun.htm
- Humor and Fun in the Workplace http://www.workplaceissues.com/arhumor.htm
- Flinging Fish for Fun and Profit http://www.internetworldstats.com/articles/art029.htm
- Making Work Fun http://www.businesstown.com/people/motivation-fun.asp
- Fun at work http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/catalyst/2004/11/04/stories/2004110400140400.htm
- Managing To Have Fun http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FAU/is_7_17/ai_64270322
- Encouraging fun at work produces positive results for employees and employers http://www.employerhelp.org/jimcollison/stories/naysayer.htm
- Fun Things to Do at Work http://www.discoverfun.com/freeinfo/500fun/work.html
- The right blend of fun and work http://www.expressitpeople.com/20040426/careers2.shtml
- 2 Minutes of Fun at Work http://www.junecline.com/funatwork.htm
- Putting fun into work http://www.terranovatraining.co.uk/fun.htm
- Fun at Work: Enliven Your Culture http://www.inc.com/articles/1999/05/16637.html
- A Fun Read http://www.inc.com/articles/2003/01/25083.html
- Humor at work http://www.funsulting.com/h_humor_at_work.html
- Workplace fun can boost bottom line http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Sep/20/bz/bz14a.html
- Author angles for workplace fun http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2001/Oct-12-Fri-2001/business/17152124.html
- Guinness UDV toasts workplace fun http://www.bandt.com.au/news/5a/0c00f15a.asp
- Workplace fun can chase away holiday doldrums http://www.humoru.com/articles/art_doldrums.htm
- Jest Practices: Humor that Works in the Workplace http://www.craigspeaks.com/jest_practices.htm
- Is Your Business Fun? http://www.dealconsulting.com/operations/fun.html
The Lighter Side
Christmas
Wishes 2004 (Power Point slide show- A
Visit from the Yuletide Spirits
- Official certificate of membership in the Society of Childlike Persons (
pdf) - Business cartoons http://www.newslettercartoons.com
- Workplace Fun http://www.lotsofjokes.com/cat_74.htm
- Humor In The Workplace http://www.winstonbrill.com/bril001/html/article_index/articles/251-300/article274_body.html
- Top 7 Suggestions For Making Your Workplace More Fun: http://www.christopher-knight.com/resources/articles/energy-development-tips/030298.html
- Always have fun at work, that's what work is for http://www.joysikorski.com/FunAtWork.html
- The School Teacher http://www.jokesplace.com/joke/theschoolteacher.html
- More than 1000 Business and Computer Cartoons http://www.glasbergen.com/cat.html
Hoping means seeing that the outcome you want is possible and then working for it — Bernie S. Siegel, M.D.
Where there is life, there is hope — Marcus Tullius Cicero
You gain strength, courage and confidence by each experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." — Eleanor Roosevelt
When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us — Helen Keller
There ain't much fun in medicine, but there's a heck of a lot of medicine in fun — Josh Billings
The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it. — Anonymous
The greatest discovery of any generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering the attitudes of their minds — Albert Schweitzer
In order to laugh, you must be able to play with your pain — Annette Goodheart
Nothing is quite as funny as the unintended humor of reality — Steve Allen
He who laughs, lasts — Mary Pettibone Poole
In order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles — David Ben-Gurion
The most important medicine is tender love and care — Mother Teresa
About our resource links: We do not endorse or agree with all the beliefs in these links. We do keep an open mind about different viewpoints and respect the ability of our readers to decide for themselves what is useful.
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