Humor at Work: The Fun Theory Revisited

Published: Wed, 04/11/12

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Humor at Work ISSUE 432 - APR. 11, 2012
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The Fun Theory Revisited



Some readers may recall that a few years back I wrote about the "Fun Theory" campaign launched by Volkswagen. The campaign was based on the premise that you can change human behavior by making it more fun to switch to the new behavior. Volkswagen, for example, believes that more people will drive environmentally friendly cars if they can make it more fun to do so.
 
The example the campaign used to garner contest submissions from around the world was a musical staircase created in Stockholm, Sweden, which encouraged subway users to take the stairs instead of the escalator. The results were music to everyone's ears. After all, why use a boring escalator when you can make music while walking up and down the stairs? 
 
The hunt for creative ideas came to an end, so I thought we better check back in on which fun theory project won this creative award. The winning entry came from Kevin Richardson from the U.S., who proposed an idea so great that Volkswagen and The Swedish National Society for Road Safety actually implemented it in Stockholm. The winning idea was for a photo radar lottery. Fines collected from speeders would go into a lottery pot to be dispensed to random drivers who were photographed driving within the speed limit past the same photo radar where the speeders were fined. The result was a reduction in the average speed limit by 22%. You can see the photo radar lottery and all the finalists at The Fun Theory.
 
So what fun theory ideas have you seen in action in your workplace? Whether it's a humorous safety sign or a wacky contest that changed some behaviors or attitudes, please drop me a line with your examples of the fun theory in action!  

 

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    Mike's Fun at Work Tip

An audience member recently shared her technique of dealing with the stress of the office commute. When a fellow commuter cut them off or tailgated aggressively, she and her co-pilot would make up a hilarious story about the person driving the car. So rather than killing themselves with road rage, they'd end up killing themselves laughing.  

So why not test drive this stress-busting technique yourself? It's a simple way to reframe any situation and an easy way to remind yourself that stress truly is in the eye of the beholder. Creating a fictional, funny perspective on any situation that stresses you out can remind you that you are in the driver's seat when it comes to choosing your reactions. 
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    Quote of the Week

 
"Humor is the affectionate communication of insight."  Leo Rosten
 
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    It's a Wacky World
 
Next Wednesday, April 18 is "Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day." A day, I'd venture to guess, that very few people actually celebrate, save perhaps for folks like me and, maybe, Supreme Court judges.   
 
But before you slip into your favorite one-piece bunny pj's for a hard day at the office, consider this story. Fourteen employees from a Florida law firm are claiming they were wrongfully dismissed after showing up at work wearing orange shirts to celebrate payday. It had become a tradition for the group, a simple way to celebrate payday so they all looked alike when they went for drinks after work. The new management, however, thought the tradition was a form of protest, and so they canned the orange crushers without any notice. The management, now known as Fun Suckers and Associates, perhaps also thought this might be a great way to rehabilitate the stereotype that lawyers are incapable of having any fun and take themselves far too seriously.     
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Inspiring Reading  
 
Speaking of The Fun Theory and influencing change, for anyone wrestling with change in their workplace (which should be everyone),  I highly recommend the book "Switch - How to Change Things When Change is Hard" by Chip & Dan Heath. 
 
 
Inspiring Savings!
 
Bring Mike in to speak and save! We have cost-saving opportunities between June 18 - July 31st in:
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Stockholm, Sweden 
 
Contact us for details info@mikekerr.com
 
 
Funny Reading 
 
If the Alberta election isn't providing enough comic relief for the Albertans in the crowd,  then you may want to have a gander at my best-selling book, What's So Funny About Alberta? 
 
 


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mike@mikekerr.com