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| Humor at Work |
ISSUE 429 - MAR.21, 2012 |
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Sometimes it Really is a Jungle Out There!
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In the on-going battle to attract new employees and stand out from the herd, many companies are putting more and more effort into creating a truly inspiring and/or fun physical work environment. Whether it's fun signs, popcorn machines, ping pong tables or even karaoke machines, businesses are increasingly looking for ways to attract employees, spark creativity at work and help their employees unwind.
And then there's the corporate headquarters of Saveology, where the 600 employees of this technology marketing company can enjoy a koi fish pond, putting green, in-house barber shop, and a basketball court. And if you think business is a jungle out there, well, Saveology agrees. Which is why they've even included their very own jungle - replete with macaws and monkeys (in cages of course). The hope is that by creating a fun, creative environment the Florida company will attract workers from around the country.
Considering that you spend a huge chunk of your life at work, there's no doubt that companies should put some effort into creating a comfortable work environment. It is, after all, your home away from home, and even basic things such as accessibility to easy parking, natural light and plenty of plants can have a huge impact on people's morale. And going a step further might indeed help attract employees, spark creativity and lower stress - as long as the physical workplace is supported by an inspiring, caring and positive culture.
As Jon Wolske, the lead culture guide at Zappos, told me on my tour through Zappos' headquarters: "Our crazy physical environment doesn't necessarily create fun, it reflects the fact that we're already having fun." |
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Mike's Fun at Work Tip |
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At your next meeting, retreat or heck, on a slowish Friday afternoon, give everyone on your team ten minutes to create a fun, creative alternative job title for themselves and award a prize for the wackiest one and a prize for the one that best captures the essence of what that person REALLY does day in and day out.
Here's some of the real life job titles I've come across as of late: Director of First Impressions, Big Kahuna, Queen of Fun and Laughter, Word Maestro and Tech Goddess! |
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Quote of the Week |
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"Common sense and sense of humor are the same thing, moving
at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing." William James |
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It's a Wacky World |
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Apes for Apps is a program in which orangutans at the Toronto Zoo will be given i-Pads to play with so the primates can create art, make music and perhaps even Skype with fellow primates at zoos across North America. So, yes, it's only a matter of time folks, before monkeys start uploading videos to You Tube...so look forward to that sometime in the coming year.
In other news...tomorrow is official "Goof Off Day" so start planning your monkey business accordingly.
And as always...may the farce be with you! | |
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Humor at Work TV
Watch a new 3-minute episode featuring my interview with Beryl's "Queen of Fun & Laughter"
Inspiring Reading
"Inspiring Workplaces - Creating the Kind of Workplace Where Everyone Wants to Work" by yours truly also comes in a handy-dandy instant downloadable e-book format:
Inspiring Savings!
Bring Mike in to speak and save! We have cost-saving opportunities between June 20 - July 31st in the following locations:
- Montreal, Quebec
- Copenhagen, Denmark
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Copyright © 2012 Humor at Work. All Rights Reserved.
mike@mikekerr.com
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