Inspiring Workplaces: An IDEO Kind of Idea

Published: Wed, 02/19/14

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Humor at Work ISSUE 526 - FEB 19,  2014
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An IDEO Kind of Idea 

 

IDEO is an award-winning design company that is known as one of the most innovative companies on the planet. They are also known for their exceptional culture where, as they put it, "people are the magma of the center of our earth."  Their seven core values are what you'd expect to find in an enterprise focused on churning out great ideas, and they're seven values that any team or workplace needs to embrace in the pursuit of innovation: take ownership; talk less & do more; make others successful; be optimistic; collaborate; learn from failure; embrace ambiguity. 
 
As you'd hope for a company known for its creativity, IDEO took an innovative approach to communicating their values by challenging seven different IDEO teams from around the world to produce a video that would help bring one of those values to life. Not only is that a great way to communicate your values in a fun way, it's also a great team building exercise and a fun way to connect across different offices. To see the results, cruise on over to The Ties That Bind Us.  
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    Mike's Fun at Work Tip
 
In the CIA Book of Secret Humor, author Ed Mickolus shares insights into humor, CIA-style, including their motto: "It could have been worse." Watching the Olympics this week, I'm reminded of this motto as a humorous way to deal with stress. Research suggests that often the silver medalists are less happy with their medal than the bronze medalists because the silver medalists are thinking, "I lost gold" whereas the bronze medalists are thinking, "Whew...I made it onto the podium!"  One is thinking, "It could have been better;" the other is thinking, "It could have been worse." 
 
A great reminder, following up on last week's topic, of the importance of attitude and in talking to the voice (or committee) in your head to help you reframe your stress in a humorous way by exaggerating how things could have been so much worse. Exaggerating the possibilities is a form of what's called "paradoxical intervention," and it works extremely well in certain situations. A word of caution though: Some people hate having this foisted upon them by someone else, so best to either practice this alone to reframe your own challenges, or suggest it as a team event to see who can come up with the funniest "worst case scenario" the next time your entire team needs to laugh instead of cry.   
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    Quote of the Week
 

"Comedy has to be the truth. You take the truth and put a little curlicue at the end." Sid Caesar  (1922-1914. Thanks for all the laughs Sid!) 
 
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    It's a Wacky World

An Air India pilot didn't score any hits with his former employer after posting a YouTube video of himself singing a rap song about how lousy the airline is. On the upside, he is considering an album and tour, though he'll presumably be booking his flights through another airline.    
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Cost Savings to Book Mike 
 
Kelowna/Penticton: Special "need to see Mom" discounted rates all year
New York: April 28-May 5
San Francisco: May 12-15
Europe: July 7-July 17

 
 
 
Inspiring Reading
 
Mike is quoted in the Forbes article: 12 Tips for Overcoming the Fear of Change at Work

 
 
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