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Humor In The Workplace. If I am having this much fun, can I really be at work? Bill Hendry Northwestern Michigan College Spring Conference, May 14-16, 2008 Mackinac Island, Mission Point Resort. Welcome to the Island!. Who would you rather work for?. Complete this phrase….
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Humor In The Workplace If I am having this much fun, can I really be at work? Bill Hendry Northwestern Michigan College Spring Conference, May 14-16, 2008 Mackinac Island, Mission Point Resort
Complete this phrase…. • If they’re busting a gut, they’ll bust their _______
Reading list • The Levity Effect: Why it Pays to Lighten Up by Adrian Gostick and Scott Christopher
The Levity Effect • Leaders who lighten up and create a fun workplace = A significant increase in: • Employee Trust • Creativity • Communication Which leads to lower turnover, higher morale, and stronger bottom line.
The Research • Great Place To Work Institute • Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For • 81% of respondents in Great Companies said it is a fun environment • 62 % said so at the Good companies
The important links for leaders • Fun and the celebration of an accomplishment • Fun benefits from high trust
What do you show your people? • Can you laugh at yourself? • Can you use levity to diffuse tense situations?
At your table, identify a TV boss/personality who reminds you of your own boss….
Retention and a manager’s sense of humor • On a scale of 1-10, 10 = highest
Manager’s sense of humor on retention • Rated 1-6 77.5% chance of staying • Rated 7-10 90 % chance of staying
Humor is essential for HR pros • Enhance your negotiation skills • Rapport building • Get their attention • Get your listeners to relax and hear your message • Help them remember
Laughter – can it really reduce stress? • Stress reduces blood flow. • Blood delivers oxygen to the brain and keeps the heart beating. • These are very important to keeping your employees around!
Tips for your presentations “If you're going to tell people the truth, you better make them laugh; otherwise they'll kill you.” George Bernard Shaw (cited in the lead credits to the movie C.S.A. Confederate States of America; also sometimes attributed to Oscar Wilde
In the next few minutes, share in your small group what you do to… • LIGHTEN UP!!
Real-life examples of levity • Mystery Field Trip • Telling stories on myself • The Boxer Shorts and The Full Monty • Slide party of summer vacation • Chocolate kisses • “No-kill” policy for screw ups in HR • Put on the
Signs in the office • “I have only two speeds, and if this one isn’t fast enough then I’m sure you’re not going to like my other.” • “A Creative Mess is Better than a Tidy Idleness” • “Never get so busy making a living you forget to make a life.” • “We laugh to survive.”
Safe humor rules • Yourself • The situation you all face
Areas to stay away from • Co-workers sexual preference • People’s appearance • Everything Mom told you about… • Bodily functions….ewwwww!!
Contact Information Bill Hendry, SPHR Executive Director of Human Resources Northwestern Michigan College 1701 E. Front St. Traverse City, MI 49686 bhendry@nmc.edu (231) 995-1025 work phone (231) 995-1590 fax
"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."