Inspiring Workplaces: Workplace Happiness Makes Everyone Smile

Published: Wed, 02/01/17

Humor at Work

ISSUE 664 - Feb. 1, 2017


			Workplace Happiness Makes Everyone Smile

	Another edition of random thoughts, ideas and musings... Here's a great idea to acknowledge different customer needs: A Tesco grocery store in Scotland has added a relaxed, slower checkout lane (intentionally slow!) for elderly customers or customers with medical conditions. What can you do to address different customers needs in your business? A study of 20,000 nurses in the U.S. over a four-year period found that unhappiness at work is just as bad for your health as smoking; while a Manchester Business School study of 250,000 employees found that low workplace happiness is a risk factor for mental health problems, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Are you making workplace happiness a priority in your workplace? A great idea from the Let's Grow Leaders Blog: One leader would write a "why I hired you" letter, frame it, and give it to his new employees as a welcome gift and reminder of the strengths and commitments the new employee brings to the team. Another reason to encourage employees to get to know each other at a personal level: A study reported in Psychology Today found that when people discovered personal commonalities with each other (such as sharing the same birthday) they were more motivated to work together and performed better on assigned tasks. Marketing guru Seth Godin suggests companies need to spend more time thinking of new products or services for their customers, rather than just looking for new customers for the same old services. Never underestimate the power of the office joker: Leonardo da Vinci employed singers, musicians and jesters to chase away his melancholy while he painted the Mona Lisa, leading to the creation of one of the world's most famous smiles!

		Mike's Fun at Work Tip

"Mouthy Mike Sidewinder Kooter" here with another alter-ego name generator to use at your next meeting or to help you laugh your way through a Friday: Cruise on over to Cowboy Nickname Generator to find your cowboy nickname.
		Quote of the Week

"Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow." Mary Tyler Moore (RIP Mary, and thanks for all the laughs)
		It's a Wacky World

It's February! Some of the February themes include Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month, Pull Your Sofa Off the Wall Month, Time Management Month, Responsible Pet Owners Month and Spunky Old Broads Month! And there's the usual assortment of theme days up on the website, including: February 1: Spunky Old Broads Day February 2: World Play Your Ukulele Day February 3: Working Naked Day February 6: Canadian Maple Syrup Day February 8: Laugh and Grow Rich Day (what a fabulous idea) February 9: Read in the Bathtub Day February 11: Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day February 18: Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day February 23: Curling is Cool Day February 28: Tooth Fairy Day

Cost-Savings to Bring Mike in to Speak
Okanagan: "I need to see Mom" special rate on-going! (50% savings!)
Saskatoon: March 3 (50% off!)
Florida, July 2-9 (50% extra!)

More Reading
Customer Service Ideas to Help You Laugh All the Way to the Bank

Calling All Managers
If you are a manager can you kindly take 5 minutes to fill out a survey? (And thanks to all those who responded last week!) We're creating a Leadership Master Peer Coaching Program and we value your feedback! To take the survey please cruise on over here: Leadership Survey

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