Inspiring Workplaces: Are You Surprising Your Customers?

Published: Wed, 08/06/14

Humor at Work

ISSUE 546 - Aug 6, 2014


			Surprise!

	I hope you enjoyed a safe and humor-filled July! It's great being back at the old office after attending the International Group for Humor Studies conference in Utrecht, Netherlands, followed by hiking, caving, wining and dining in Slovenia, Croatia and Venice. There was always something surprising to discover around every corner, which got me thinking about some of the fun ways we were surprised by businesses throughout our travels: The Hotel Villa Dobra in beautiful Bovec, Slovenia, surprised us with their odd room numbering system. The eleven rooms in this charming boutique hotel went from number 136 to 007 to 50 etc. - there was no rhyme or reason to the numbers until we discovered that each room contained a plaque explaining how the room number related to a local feature of interest. 007 referred to a connection James Bond had to the area. Room 50 referenced the 50 switchbacks on the highway over the Julian Alps. And our own number 136 was the length (in kilometers) of the river flowing through the valley. Each of the 11 rooms had a number that conveyed an interesting story about the region. A waiter in a quaint Italian restaurant in Venice surprised me by flipping over the bill and challenging me to a game of tic-tac-toe for the bill. (And before you ask, sadly, I lost before it had barely started.) The B & B Casa Del Sal in Piran, Slovenia, surprised us with a bottle of Slovenian wine and bowl of locally grown olives and figs from their own orchard as a welcome gift. A professor at the humor conference surprised me when he informed me, in a rather conspiratorial tone, that it was "very controversial here to use humor in presentations on humor." (This one reminded me that not every surprise is a welcome one!) Finally, although this didn't happen to us in Europe, I learned about it while on the trip: TD Bank surprised some customers by turning a banking machine into a "thanking machine". So take some time in your workplace travels this summer to think about some simple and fun ways that you can surprise your customers, colleagues or employees with something unexpected that will get them talking about you.

		Mike's Fun at Work Tip

Borrow an idea from Digital Equipment in Colorado Springs, who created an official "Grouch Patrol" - a team of people whose mission was to identify and counteract grouchiness in the workplace. The tactics they deployed were by no means sophisticated - often involving members of the Grouch Patrol making "bat faces" at the grouches. Since everyone knew the Grouch Patrol's tactics, would-be grumps knew they could be targeted - minimizing the chance of anyone being offended or annoyed. And merely creating a Grouch Patrol helps send a constant reminder for people to check their attitudes every day.
		Quote of the Week

"Humor helps us step outside of ourselves and see our lives with a broader viewpoint. It's like suddenly looking at your life from the top of a mountain." Marti Olsen Laney
		It's a Wacky World

Today, August 6, is Wiggle Your Toes Day, Root Beer Float Day and Fresh Breath Day. And as always, there's a whack of wackiness ahead when it comes to fun theme days to celebrate at work this month, such as: August 7: Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day August 8: Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Night August 10: Duran Duran Appreciation Day August 13: International Left-Handers Day August 18: Bad Poetry Day August 22: Hug Your Boss Day August 24: Pluto Demoted Day August 25: Kiss and Make Up Day August 28: Race Your Mouse Around the Icons Day & Crackers Over the Keyboard Day August 30: Toasted Marshmallow Day August 31: Love Litigating Lawyers Day Cruise over to August offbeat theme days for the entire list.

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Inspiring Reading

Mike is quoted in the Business Insider article: 13 Things You Should Never Say During A Job Interview

Inspiring Watching

Looking for creative ways to surprise your customers or say thank-you? Check out how TD Bank turned an ATM banking machine into a Thanking Machine.

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