Inspiring Workplaces: Workplace Lessons Learned

Published: Wed, 03/30/16

Humor at Work

ISSUE 624 - Mar. 30, 2016


			Workplace Lessons Learned

	Another edition of random musings and ideas... A study reported in the Academy of Management Journal found that displaying moral symbols (such as a small Buddha statue) or inspiring quotes from moral leaders causes people in the vicinity of the quotes or icons to behave at least slightly more ethically. The U.S. Army has an entire Center for Army Lessons Learned. What can you do in your workplace/business to ensure a thorough debriefing of all the lessons learned takes place after a major project is completed? At the end of their "immersion week" for new employees, Vancity Credit Union offers new hires $1,500 if they realize the job isn't going to be a fit for them. A sniff of vanilla, according to several studies, can help make you feel instantly happier. People often prefer to go to an ATM or an automated checkout rather than talk to a live person. Yes, it's often for the sake of expediency, but what might it also say about the state of customer service that customers so often opt to speak to a live person only as a last resort? Websites that blog 5x per month get 5x more traffic; websites with 100-200 pages get 2.5x more traffic over smaller sites. What is your business doing to constantly add fresh material to its web presence? It's April Fool's Day & Fun at Work Day this Friday, April 1st - for some suggestions check out last year's Humor at Work April 1st edition. When was the last time you randomly surprised your customers? (Psst...the first seven people to respond to this e-mail with a message in the subject line reading, "Happy Hump Day Mike!" will get a free copy of the e-book The Humor Advantage: Why Some Businesses are Laughing All the Way to the Bank.)

		Mike's Fun at Work Tip

A study highlighted in the book,Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be More Persuasive, reveals that sending a funny, inoffensive cartoon to someone you are negotiating with generates higher levels of trust and leads to 15% larger profits. Recipients of the cartoons are also twice as likely to make an opening offer deemed more acceptable. So consider how the strategic use of creative, funny cartoons could help you connect with clients, communicate a message effectively in your next business presentation, or get a message across succinctly and effectively to your employees. A terrific source for creative business cartoons is Tom Fishburne at The Marketoonist. (I don't get any kickbacks - I just love his work!)
		Quote of the Week

"My friends tell me I have an intimacy problem. But they don't really know me." Gary Shandling (RIP - thanks for the great laughs Gary!)
		It's a Wacky World

April is official Humor Month and International Customer Loyalty Month, so it's a great time to leverage your humor advantage to turn long term customers into truly loyal customers! And the daily April theme days are up on the website, including... April 1: Fun at Work Day & April Fool's Day April 2: International Pillow Fight Day April 3: Fun Dance Day April 7: No Housework Day April 12: Walk on Your Wild Side Day April 14: International Moment of Laughter Day April 16: Wear Your Pajamas To Work Day April 17: Blah Blah Blah Day April 23: Talk Like Shakespeare Day April 25: Hug a Plumber Day April 27: Administration Professionals Day April 28: World Day for Safety and Health at Work Day

Cost Savings to Bring Mike to Your Event

- Okanagan Valley: "I need to see Mom" special rate is on-going!
- Winnipeg, April 28
- Norway, July 2-12
mike@mikekerr.com

Mike is the keynote speaker at the first annual Winnipeg Leadership Symposium, Friday, April 29: For tickets cruise on over here!

Mike is the closing speaker at the GoodLife Health & Wellness Summit in Calgary, May 16: For tickets cruise on over HERE!

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Mike is quoted in the Business Insider article: 19 Signs Your Company Doesn't Care About You

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