By Kristen Rampe
Many people think that fun and
work are mutually exclusive. Others have trouble convincing co-workers that
“fun” isn’t a bad thing. No matter which camp you’re in, here are tips on why
fun can be value-add at the office.
1.
Fun is more than playing
around
The concept of fun is broader
than you think. Fun incorporates leisure and recreation – both of which fill
the need for “taking a break” from long hours at the office. And it includes
play (think: brainstorming) and humor which add value to our
interactions and increase innovation.
If you’re stuck in an office or
work environment where people are having trouble communicating, consider adding
in some gentle, light-hearted fun to get everyone back on track. Since food is
universally appealing, try bring in treats one day and have a mini-awards
ceremony where everyone gets acknowledge for a recent good-deed then awarded
their “Donut of Achievement.”
2. Fun can be profitable.
When you have a culture that
includes fun, many other components fall into line. More fun leads to a
stronger culture. That culture creates cohesive teams. Those teams work well
together and have strong performance. High-performing teams
contribute to more efficiency and profitability.
An enjoyable work environment
with a healthy and balanced level of play and recreation contributes to reduced
costs in recruiting, turnover, disengagement, and stress-related illness. On
the flip side, fostering an environment of all work and no play may work well
in short bursts, but is hard to sustain without long-term consequences.
3. Need talent? Attraction and Retention are improved with a relevant
culture.
The current generation of
new-job-seekers want to know where you stand on the office-culture scene. It’s
no longer an unexpected gift to work in a fun, engaging culture: it’s
essential. If your organization is one that seeks next-generation talent,
take an inventory of your current culture and see how it measures up to what
recruits are interested in.
Retaining employees can often be
easier than attracting new ones. Most employees have a creative side, even if
they focus more on technical work and problem solving most of the day. Having
an outlet to fire up underutilized areas of the brain adds to the
attractiveness of the job and a reason to stay on with the company.
How are you using fun and
creativity to engage your top talent? Try adding in job responsibilities that
are more interesting and even fun to keep your favorite staff from drifting
away to a competitor.
4. It’s not too hard to give Fun a Try
Be sure you know your audience
before you begin. Not everyone considers all activities, jokes and events
“fun.”
If you have a champion of office
or departmental fun, let them take on the role of Culture Club President or
similar. Their work in bringing people together works better than something
prescribed. Allow those who aren’t into it bow out.
There are countless ways to add
in fun at your workplace. A few are written up here to kick
off your inspiration.
About:
Kristen Rampe,
CPA is a consultant to professional
service providers, and is the author of the humor book “Accounting Dreams and Delusions”.
She provides consulting and customized, in-house CPE to professional service
firms who value communication skills, client service and team building. Follow
her at http://kristenrampe.com/blog for great ideas on how to improve your practice! On Twitter
@kristenrampe
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