| Humor at Work |
ISSUE 609 - Dec. 2, 2015 |
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Ho Ho or Humbug? |
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In my neck of the woods there are many organizations forgoing their annual Christmas/holiday/year-end party due to financial constraints. I think this is a huge mistake. Of course companies need to be mindful as to how they spend their limited dollars on celebrations when the economy is in the dumps, but if your organization has had a tough year then that's all the more reason to make sure you celebrate properly!
Get creative and understand that you don't have to spend a fortune - it's the spirit of the gathering that matters. If you can't hold it in the usual swanky location or have an open bar or bring in the Rolling Stones then don't sweat it! Look for simple ways to celebrate and/or to give back to your community. Consider a few options such as:
- Get involved in a local charity event, especially one that allows your entire team or company to get engaged in a fun way.
- Create a "reverse" advent calendar where people bring in an item each day to contribute to a local food bank or charity.
- Create a time capsule for 2015 - everyone must bring one object to their final team party that best represents the year they had at work.
- Have a year-end party where you create a "memory wall" of highlights from the year.
- Can't afford a band? I guarantee you there are talented musicians within your organization that would love to help out.
- Can't afford a fancy meal? Have the meal catered in, hold a chili cook-off contest, or do a potluck lunch. Or, as some of my clients do, get the management team to cook for the employees.
- Create a fun awards ceremony with offbeat awards to end the year on a high note.
- Do a gift exchange but rather than using actual gifts give the gift of time. Offer to cover someone's shift for an hour, drive them to work one day, or bring them lunch.
- Hold a "stupid human tricks" contest in your lunch room.
- Have everyone share their top 3 highlights from the year and the top 3 things they are most looking forward to in 2016.
Just do something that lets people blow off some steam, celebrate the great work they did all year, and connect at a fun, personal level. And if your organization is doing something creative and different this year please let me know.
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Mike's Fun at Work Tip |
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My good pal Nancy passed along three fun team building activities her organization did at their year-end Christmas party that you might want to consider if you are looking for ideas to liven things up a bit:
1. Challenge people to either wrap or unwrap gifts while wearing oven mitts. (For a detailed explanation of one variation of this game visit Oven Mitt Unwrapping Game)
2. Provide an assortment of materials and have teams dress someone up as a Christmas tree. You can award prizes for either the fastest or best dressed. (I've also had clients do a variation of this where they have to do a creative makeover on a free-standing coat rack).
3. Provide assorted supplies (red noses, nylons, headbands, balloons, etc.) and have teams dress someone up as one of Santa's reindeer and offer up a prize for the best or fastest dressed.  |
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Quote of the Week |
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"Never will I allow myself to become so important, so dignified, so powerful, that I forget how to laugh at myself and the world." Og Mandino
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It's a Wacky World |
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Santa has gone rogue - at least in Brazil, that is, where a man dressed in a Santa Claus costume stole a helicopter after tying up the pilot. No word yet on whether Rudolph or any of the other reindeer acted as accomplices.
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A Great Team Gift
Many of my clients have been taking advantage of our special "conference rate" pricing to purchase bulk copies of The Humor Advantage for their management team, employees, or favorite clients. (We think it's a fabulous idea!) If you'd like details on our pricing for bulk orders please phone 1-866-609-2640.
Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas?
Check out what my friend, diversity speaker, Tina Varughese, thinks about this annual conundrum: Ho Ho or Humbug?
Cost Savings to Bring Mike to Your Event
- Okanagan Valley: "I need to see Mom" SUPER-special, one week only: December 7-15
- Toronto: January 18-22
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Copyright © 2015 Humor at Work. All Rights Reserved.
mike@mikekerr.com
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