Boost Morale with an Injection of Fun !

1. Boost Morale with an Injection of Fun! ASTPHND 2006 Annual Meeting Seattle, WA Facilitated by Beth Hannley Catalyst Consulting, Inc.

2. Work (wurk) noun. • 1. Use of bodily or mental power in order to do or make something, especially as contrasted with play or recreation. (The Oxford American Dictionary)

3. Objectives • Describe the benefit of a positive work environment • List twelve questions to assess employee satisfaction • Identify 3 strategies to increase employee satisfaction • Identify three ways to inject fun into the workplace • List 3 ways to inject fun into work • Laugh with vigor in public

4. Essentials of Fun At Work • Think about the Specific People Involved • Lead by Example • Have fun – Take Risks • Change Takes Time

5. Side Effects of Fun • Fun is energizing • Happy employees = productive employees • Happy employees = Happy customers • Recruit and retain good employees • Happier employees come to work more! • A hearty laugh burns up 3.5 calories

6. Find someone who: Can juggle Dated someone who is now famous Has the same color eyes as you have. Has been married to the same person for 20+years Has been to the Super Bowl or to an Inaugural Ball. Sings in a choir or plays a musical instrument Has lived outside the US for more than a year Has seen the same movie at least five times Likes to ski, fish or snowshoe. Sketches, paints, knits or weaves. Has hit a home run or a hole-in-one Has owned his/her own business Has written a book or plans to. Has three or more children Can speak two languages Is owned by two or more cats Has climbed a mountain. Is left-handed Ballroom dances – fun or competition Treasure Hunt

7. Purpose: Meet people in a different way Have fun Example: Find someone who juggles… Get his/her autograph Sign up to 3 lines/page Object: Autograph for each line Treasure Hunt

8. Fun At Work Working with a partner, share a story of fun at work • Tell about at time that was particularly fun at work. What was the high point of this time? What made it fun? OR • Talk about a working relationship that is especially fun. How did this relationship develop? What do you most appreciate about this person?

9. Employee Satisfaction & Business Results “Does a positive work environment make a difference in business results?” • So, Gallup surveyed…….. • 105,000 Employees • 2500 Business Units in 24 Companies • 12 Industries, including healthcare YES!

10. Employee Satisfaction & Business Results Twelve questions linked to business results: • Profitability, • Productivity, • Customer Satisfaction, • Employee Retention The Manager is key

11. Twelve Questions • Do I know what is expected of me at work? • Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my job right? • At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best everyday? • In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for doing good work? • Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person? • Is there someone at work who encourages my development?

12. Twelve Questions • At work, do my opinions seem to count? • Does the mission/purpose of my company make me feel my job is important? • Are my co-workers committed to doing quality work? • Do I have a best friend at work? • In the last six months, has someone at work talked with me about my progress? • This last year, have I had opportunities at work to learn and grow?

13. Most Powerful Questions • Know what is expected of me at work? • Have the materials and equipment I need to do my job right? • Opportunity to do what I do best everyday? • Recognition or praise in the last seven days? • Supervisor, or someone at work, cares about me? • Someone encourages my development? Source: Marcus Buckingham, First, Break All The Rules

14. You can't be serious!!! Making fun work • Take yourself lightly • Be sincere • Think small and simple • Practice relevant humor • Practice safe humor • Hire for humor • Make fun a priority Source: Paul Hawken

15. Fun Facts • Smiling makes you happier • Women smile 8 more times a day than men do • People like and trust you if you smile • People can “hear” you smile. • Smiling cools the brain…frowning heats

16. Obstacles to Fun! • We’re too busy • It cuts productivity • We’re professionals • It’s not my style • No budget

17. Top Ten Fun Things to Do at Work • Smile • Eat • Tell jokes • Casual Friday • Dress up for Halloween • Post cartoons on doors, bulletin boards • Celebrate birthdays and anniversaries • Group outing • Dance the Macarena or Electric Slide 10. ?????

18. How do you have fun? • On an index card, briefly describe your favorite way to inject fun at work • Print or Write legibly 7-5-35 Exercise

19. Great Ideas Round One • Exchange cards with five people. • Find a partner • Compare the ideas on the cards you have • Score the ideas by splitting 7 points between the two cards. (7-0, 6-1, 5-2, 4-3) 7=High • Write the score for each card on its back 7-5- 35 Exercise

20. Great Ideas Round Two • Exchange cards with five people. • Find a partner • Compare the ideas on the cards you have • Score the ideas by splitting 7 points between the two cards. (7-0, 6-1, 5-2, 4-3) • Write the score for each card on its back 7-5- 35 Exercise

21. Great Ideas Repeat for Rounds Three, Four,and Five At the end of Round Five, add up all the points on the back of the card you’re holding. Maximum is 35 points (7 points X 5 rounds = 35) 7-5- 35 Exercise

22. Injecting Fun! How can you inject fun into your work? Hiring Orientation Staff meetings Celebrating successes Recognizing performance Training/Communication

23. Fun Ideas!

24. Hire for Fun • Include ‘sense of humor” in job competencies • Ask Fun Interview questions: • Describe a time when you had a lot of fun at work • Tell me about a time when you used humor to manage job stress • Describe your ideal work place • Look for smiles; listen for fun!

25. Welcome New Employees • Give them a welcome present: eg a keychain for their new office keys • Send them on a scavenger hunt to help learn their new teammates and the work area. • Give them a “buddy” • Create a crossword puzzle with co-workers names on it. • Check in at one month, three months “Are you having fun here?”

26. Meeting Mania • Open with a video…. • Meetings, Bloody Meetings - with John Cleese • Celebrate What’s Right With The World • Old Movie Serials – Flash Gordon, Lone Ranger • Show and Tell Time – Chance to share success • Use Icebreaker questions: • If you could have fifty pounds of anything, what would it be? • What was your first job? Strangest? Most fun? • Bring toys to play with… • Crayons, paper airplanes, bubbles

27. Fun Stimulates Thinking • Graffiti Board • “Think Outside the Box” Lunch • Photoshop staff pictures into your presentation…. • Create a Mirth Committee

28. Reward and Recognition Informal and inexpensive • Ask staff how they want to be recognized’ • Catcher Program – reward “Right-doing” • Personal note from the supervisor • Small rewards: favorite latte, funny PostIt Notes, Movie tickets • Time off –15 minutes extra at lunch • Email a Standing Ovation - • www.Playfair.com

29. Powerful Praise • Soon • Sincere • Specific • Personal • Positive • Proactive Source: Bob Nelson, 1001 Ways to Recognize Employees

30. Powerful Praise Four Steps to effective recognition. • I saw what you did • I appreciate it • It’s important because • Here’s how I feel about it. Source: Bob Nelson, 1001 Ways to Recognize Employees

31. Most popular fun recognition gifts Top Ten List • #1 Coffee mugs, (preferably with a cartoon) • #2 T-shirts, and • #3 Dinner out (or breakfast or lunch) • #4 Gift certificates • #5 Balloons (with or without gorilla delivery) • #6 Plaques and trophies • #7 Tickets to movies or sports events • #8 Books • #9 Popcorn tins or fruit baskets • #10 Gag gifts

32. Random Acts • Pay for the guy behind you • Do the 3’oclock spin • Leave voice mails in character – a historical figure or TV/Movie character • “Think Outside the Box” Lunch • Photoshop staff pictures into your presentation…. • Silly Socks and Terrible Ties

33. Resources for Fun • Office and Meeting Toys • Coloring books • Play-Doh • Kaleidoscopes • Bubbles • Nerf ball • Post-it notes • Puzzles • Prisms • Crayons/markers

34. Resources for Fun • 1001 Ways to Reward Employees by Bob Nelson • Fun Works – Creating Places Where People Love to Work by Leslie Yerkes • Managing to Have Fun: How Fun at Work Can Motivate Your Employees, Inspire Your Coworkers, and Boost Your Bottom Line by Matt Weinstein • Fun and Gains: Motivate and Energize Staff with Workplace Games, Contests and Activities by Carolyn Greenwich

35. More Resources for Fun • Looking for even more fun ideas? Check out these websites about laughter and play: • Matt Weinstein: www.playfair.com • Bernie DeKoven: www.deepfun.com • Joel Goodman: www.humorproject.com • Allen Klein: www.allenklein.com • Clifford Kuhn, M.D.: www.humorbeing.com

36. Exit laughing Great way to close (or open) a meeting For a full minute, continuously repeat the following sound…….. HA

37. For more information Beth Hannley Catalyst Consulting, Inc. Mill Creek, Washington bhannley@aol.com