Inspiring Workplaces: Sprouting Ideas at Work

Published: Wed, 09/20/17

Humor at Work

ISSUE 696 - Sept. 20, 2017


			Sprouting Ideas at Work

	Here are seven proven ways to get more ideas at work: When your group size exceeds six people split the group into smaller subgroups, then have the smaller groups report back to the larger group. Introverts and shy people are far more likely to speak up and offer their ideas in the smaller groups. Force a change of perspective on an issue by applying a "is like" rule to find ideas from related areas, for example, "attracting more customers is like getting friends to help you move." What ideas can you glean from soliciting help with a move that you could creatively apply to the issue of attracting more customers? A Texas A & M study found that adding flowers and greenery to an office resulted in a 15% increase in ideas and more flexible thinking patterns in employees. Speaking of greenery, another study found that people are more creative when using or seeing green ink! Although we typically think of folded arms as a negative body language position, University of Rochester researchers found that when people folded their arms across their body they became more stubborn and spent more time trying to solve problems than people with their hands on their thighs. When you play "musical chairs" at meetings and continually bring new people into a group, the teams become more creative than the groups that remain with the same people. In other words, if you need a fresh perspective bring in a fresh perspective! (It's not rocket science!) Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't remind you of one of the biggest catalysts for creative ideas, demonstrated in dozens of worldwide studies: Ha + Ha = AHA! So remember to add some fun to your brainstorming sessions.

		Mike's Fun at Work Tip

Hold a contest for teams to produce a one-minute training or motivational video that is sooooo bad...it's almost good...in a funny sort of way. For inspiration, check out (and I apologize in advance) this video which has garnered tens of millions of views on numerous websites: Service is Selling Training Video.
		Quote of the Week

"When humor works, it works because it's clarifying what people already feel. It has to come from someplace real." Tina Fey
		It's a Wacky World

Lawyers have reached an agreement in a wacky case. Yes, lawyers (human lawyers I should add) represented a monkey who took a selfie of himself, with the lawyers arguing the monkey owned the copyright to the image. The case was settled when the human owner of the camera offered to donate 25 per cent of any future revenue from the image to charities dedicated to protecting crested macaques in Indonesia.

Congratulations to Us!
We're thrilled to announce that Humor at Work has been recognized as one of the top-75 workplace blogs in the world, coming in at the 35th mark! And part of the thanks has to go to you, our faithful readers! So thanks!

Customer Service Video
Do You Need a Director of First Impressions? And speaking of service ideas, register now for the Customer Service Leadership Summit in Calgary, November 15!

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