Kicks: Get some
By Bev Kaye
All work and no play will chase your talent away
What's your philosophy about fun at work? Do you believe in it?
Have it? Support it? Make it happen? Discourage it? Check out your
own beliefs and assumptions about fun at work. Then consider the
possibility of creating and supporting kicks in the workplace as
one way to keep your best people.
Myths that create a fun-free zone
Unfortunately the workplace is a "fun-free" zone in many
organizations. In a study of the emerging workforce, workers graded
their bosses on the degree to which they supported or allowed fun
at work. The average grade was a measly C+. If you're one of those
C+ bosses, why is that? Some of your concerns may be based on one
or more fun myths about kicks in the workplace.
Check which of these myths you tend to believe in:
Myth #1 – Professionalism and fun are
incompatible.
Myth #2 – You need toys and money to have
fun.
Myth #3 – Fun means laughter.
Myth #4 – You have to plan for fun.
Myth #5 – Fun time at work will compromise
our results.
Now, think back to the last time you had fun at work. Where, when,
how did it happen? Your own experience with fun can no doubt help
debunk the fun myths.
Debunking the Fun Myths
Myth #1 – Professionalism and fun are
incompatible.
Most concerns about having fun in a serious workplace are actually
concerns about inappropriate humor, loud behavior, or poor timing.
If your employees' timing is off or their behavior is embarrassing
or disruptive, give them feedback, just as you would about any
other of their behaviors. There are many appropriate ways to get
some kicks in even the most buttoned-up workplace.
Myth #2 – You need toys and money to
have fun.
Some of the most fun times at work involve neither toys nor money.
Consider these examples that others shared with us:
" I simply liked the day-to-day laughter —mostly
about small things."
"We decorated my boss's office for his birthday. We used five bags
of confetti from the shredding machine."
"I enjoy verbal sparring with my brainy, funny colleagues."
"Our team had a huge project, a tight deadline and we had to work
all night. I wouldn't want to do that often, but we had a
good time—even laughs in the middle of the
night—and a thrill when we finished the
project."
Myth #3 – Fun means
laughter.
While fun often involves smiles and laughter, people can have fun
at work without laughing or getting silly. An intriguing project
and collaboration with wonderful teammates can truly be fun. Work
that is meaningful and makes a difference can be fun. Building
something new can be fun.
Myth #4 – You have to plan for
fun.
Planned fun makes sense sometimes. The
employee softball team requires planning, as does an occasional
employee picnic or the annual holiday party. But a lot of fun in
the workplace just happens. It is spontaneous and
unplanned.
Myth #5 – Fun time at work will
compromise our results.
Research verifies that fun-loving environments are actually more
productive than their humor-free counterparts. A break, complete
with laughter, can re-energize your employees and ready them for
the next concentrated effort. The secret to allowing fun at work is
to be crystal clear with your employees about their performance
goals. Co-create those goals with your employees and make them
measurable and specific.
To Do
Let fun happen. Don't squelch it.
Support your employees' efforts to create some kicks for
themselves—yes, even during work!
Help fun to happen by getting involved and have fun with your
employees. The fun will energize, motivate and keep them on
your team!
