I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kim Axelson, the CEO of AFA JCDecaux, in beautiful Copenhagen, Denmark several years ago to discuss their workplace culture. They had recently ramped up their culture in only six months by doing a "values blitz" where all employees were asked to live one of their four new core values out loud in outrageous ways for one week before moving onto the next value. One of their core values was "Spread Humor" and here are just a few ways they spread some humor around:
 

• They rigged their computers so that when everyone's computer started it opened up with a funny message to start their workday.
• Their receptionist asked clients phoning in to say a funny phrase before she would transfer their call, promising them a bottle of red wine if they did so, which they would later hand deliver. 
• They created a photo wall featuring baby photos of employees and photos of employees participating in fun activities.
• They announced spontaneous random activities in the lunchroom over the PA system, including salsa dancing lessons or desert-eating contests where participants' hands were tied behind their backs.
• When someone placed a big order with their company a "Hugging Squad" would drive over to their client's company and offer everyone free hugs. 
• When a client arrived for a meeting in their office, a "Greeting Squad" would greet them in an outrageously funny and fun way in the parking lot.
• They collected funny quotes and put up humorous posters throughout their offices.

Keep in mind this was just one of their four core values that they brought to life! And no, you didn't have to participate if you didn't want to, after all, coerced fun tends to be, well, not so much fun. And as silly as some of this may sound, the results speak for themselves. After intentionally focusing on their culture with an intentional focus on their new values, everyone working there agreed that within just six months they now worked for a brand-new company! And on top of that, sales went up, employee absenteeism and retention rates dropped, and applications to work for their company skyrocketed.