Inspiring Workplaces: If Your Walls Could Talk, What Would They Say?

Published: Wed, 05/22/19

Humor at Work

ISSUE 774 - May 22, 2019


			If Your Walls Could Talk, What Would They Say?

	Your workplace culture is created and reflected not only through your values, traditions, behaviors, and language, it's also reflected through your physical environment, from the things that hang on your walls to the look, feel and even names of your meeting rooms. For example, the health care call center Beryl, features framed artwork created by employees' children to send a message about how much they value families at Beryl. One of my clients has a Monty Python-inspired "Hallway of Silly Walks" to encourage people to walk in a silly manner while they amble down the corridor. So, consider your own workplace. Does your office environment reflect your values and send a message about your culture? Is your reception area truly welcoming, or does it come across more like a "move along" area? Are your meeting rooms as inspiring as they can be; do your meeting rooms encourage creativity or make people wish they were anywhere else on the planet? Here are a few questions to help you get the wheels churning: What's one change you could make to your physical environment this week that would have the biggest impact and/or send a powerful message about your culture? What's one thing you could add OR remove from your entrance/reception area that would make an immediate difference? If you had just $200 to spend on improving your workplace environment, how would you spend it? If you pitched your leadership team with a request for $10,000 dollars to improve your workplace environment, how would you spend it?

		Mike's Fun at Work Tip

With the recent series finale of The Big Bang Theory and official Geek/Nerd Pride Day coming up on May 25th, why not get your nerd on and hold a nerd pride theme day, nerd party, OR a contest where people voluntarily submit their nerdiest photos of their past selves to win some valuable nerd swag!
		Quote of the Week

"I've never really taken anything very seriously. I enjoy life because I enjoy making other people enjoy it." Tim Conway (RIP, thanks for the belly laughs)
		It's a Wacky World

It's always fun to stumble upon weird laws still lurking on the books...and wow, you just can't make this stuff up. In Milan, Italy, although rarely enforced, it is illegal to frown in public unless you're at a funeral or visiting someone at a hospital. In New Zealand you cannot fly with a rooster in your hot air balloon. (I so want the back story on this one.) In Baltimore, Maryland, it is illegal to bring a lion into the movie theater with you. (OK, the backstory please on this one too!) In the state of Georgia, it is illegal for a chicken to cross the road....so don't even ask!

Cost-Savings to Bring Mike in to Energize Your Workplace!

Calgary: Savings on dates in May and June!
Edmonton: May 30 or 31
Toronto: June 10-12
Halifax: June 25-27
Denver: July 26-31
Montreal: August 17, 21
Toronto: Sept. 10 or 11

Humor at Work TV
Mike's Fun at Work Tip #26 of 1,001: Create an On Purpose Hallway

Inspiring Workplaces Webinars If you want to reinforce Michael's inspiring messages and keep those ideas alive OR, you've never heard Michael speak but would love to "beam" him into your workplace for an idea-packed, energizing presentation to inspire your leadership team or employees, then reply to this email for information on Inspiring Workplace webinar prices for your team.

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