| Humor at Work |
ISSUE 834 - Aug. 5, 2020 |
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Laugh Before You Leap |
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According to a study in Harvard Business Review, 70% of all change initiatives in the workplace fail. Ouch! Change management is a massive and obviously challenging topic; I want to touch on one small aspect of change: Letting go.
When you do something new you're usually saying good-bye to something old, and too often we forget that part of the equation. We rally the troops to embrace the new, but we forget to acknowledge the past and empathize with employees who might be struggling with letting go. So make sure you give each other a voice so everyone can express their feelings about what they're letting go of. Better still, add some humor into the mix, like a New Jersey hospital did when they
transitioned to a new software system.
To properly pay their respects, they held a fun mock funeral for the old system, complete with a New Orleans-style jazz funeral procession, mourners dressed in black, a casket with the software logo painted on its side, a burial mound, and funny eulogies. They then transitioned to a mock birth ceremony, that featured the CEO of the new software company dressed in a giant diaper and wearing a baby bonnet to talk about how adopting a new software system is a lot like giving birth.
Now, you might be thinking that's a bit over-the-top for just a new software system, but it helped employees manage their stress and laugh through the transition. You need to spend time celebrating the new, but you also need to help people say goodbye, and if you find a way to help them laugh before they leap, even better!
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Mike's Fun at Work Tip |
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Have a Jar of Awesomeness somewhere in your office (you may need a virtual one for the time being) where everyone can add small, simple things that are, well, awesome. They don't have to be life-altering events, include simple, cool things that happened or things that people saw or read about. Every week (or whenever) read a few entries at random to open or end your meeting.
It's a simple way to encourage everyone to be more grateful and focus on the awesomely positive.
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Quote of the Week |
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“You can do the very best you can when you’re very, very relaxed. I realized the more fun I had, the better I did.” Bill Murray
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It's a Wacky World |
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Thank you Julia for forwarding this "accidentally funny" first aid training notice: “I am offering an instructor re-certification workshop on Wednesday. If you are expiring soon, please sign up.”
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Every Other Wednesday
We had a great conversation last week with Camille Washington, the head of culture for FedEx International. Next up, on August 12th, The Culture Club will talk about what it takes to create a "Jerk-Free Workplace." Register Here for Free (11:00 a.m. MST/1:00 PM EST, 45 minutes)
Wanted: Recognition Ideas
If any of you have done something new or creative to recognize your employees while everyone is working remotely, I'd love to hear from you! Please respond to this email or drop me line: mike@mikekerr.com
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mike@mikekerr.com
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