why having fun at work is important

15 January, 2017 by Georgia Bobley. “It’s absolutely a question companies should be asking themselves, because it is something that happens in great workplaces,” she said. As we met with Amy Lyman, chair of the board and cofounder of the Institute, she explained that fun and success go hand in hand. 1.2X more likely to say that they have the opportunity to do what they do best every day. ", Excerpted from The Levity Effect: Why It Pays to Lighten Up, © 2021 Monster Worldwide What’s the first thought that crosses your mind as you shut the car door behind you and make your way to the office? Incorporating fun into the office is a great way to harness enthusiasm amongst staff, integrate new people into your team, and to develop a positive team culture. But it should be. 2. The research also shows that managers who have taught themselves to be funnier are more effective communicators and better salespeople, have more engaged employees, earn a lot more than their peers and are much thinner. It enhances communication and builds social bonds that help people through the tough times. And in the long run, all of this can have a positive impact on your organization’s bottom line — and on your career. An increasing body of research demonstrates that when leaders lighten up and create a fun workplace, there is a significant increase in the level of employee trust, creativity and communication -- leading to lower turnover, higher morale and a stronger bottom line. Just taking a walk together in the middle of the day, having an impromptu office party, or enjoying a sweet treat together can be enough to bring coworkers together and make the workday more fun. Kirt persisted, “Well, then, what if we exceed our quota by 50 percent?” Figuring he had nothing to lose, the manager finally gave in. Instead of working on Fun at Work Day make it a time for everyone to come in and have fun. The standard “we work hard and play hard” motto isn’t enough. "If you are interested in increasing the opportunities for fun across an organization, and people genuinely engage and have fun, then that is an indication to me of a strong workplace culture that people will want to commit to. Happy employees are healthier and more productive – so don’t overlook the importance of having fun. One corollary to developing strong bonds of trust is that people are able to also have a great deal of fun at work," Lyman says. I firmly believe that positive and fun team cultures create success! Having Fun Is Important At Work Having fun might not be something that most of us associate with the workplace, however, fun can definitely make work much more enjoyable and it’s easier than you think to incorporate it into the working day. An excited Kirt Womack of the Thiokol factory in Utah sprinted into his manager’s office on the first day of spring and asked if the folks on the factory floor could do something fun -- say, head outside and fly paper airplanes -- if they met their quota two hours early. Motivated purely by the opportunity to have a little fun at work, the aviation workers increased their performance dramatically. The next week they negotiated for a volleyball game on the factory floor as a reward and again hit record production levels. Lyman explained to us that as a company moves on its journey from being lousy to good to great, they must first address basic issues such as physical safety and even friendliness. Reconciling Humor with Respect. 11. In the dark and grey days of the past, people who dared to have fun at work were thought of as time-wasters or nogoodniks sitting around on their keisters and goofing off (people talked funny back in the day). Quite simple, when you work with friends, you have more fun at work. Why You Need to Have Fun to Be Successful. While this tale illustrates the benefits of levity at work, it also underscores the dire need to enlighten management. Why It's Important to Have Fun at Work. 3. Reducing stress increases productivity. Having engaging workspaces for … Why Having Fun at Work is Important According to Science, Having Fun at Work is Essential. “In fact, it would be very unusual for a company to be among the ‘100 Best’ and not score well on the fun question.” That’s a compelling statistic: Employees at the best companies are also having the best time. But to compare, the leverage increase from the good companies up to the best on the friendliness question is just 11.25 percent. There are a lot of equipment and machines in an office but employees are not among them. The Path to ‘Great’ness Better yet, start an initiative to set aside a small percentage of the profits for employee parties and events. Some managers may look at this as wasting a day of work, but in the end the boost in productivity levels will more than make up for it. The five ideas below are a good jumping off point for creating a culture that incorporates fun. Go a step further toward improving motivation by letting them choose the events. Workplace fun has been linked to: Enhanced motivation Increased productivity Reduced stress Higher job satisfaction Improved task performance Everett (2011) concludes that since we will spend more than 90,000 hours of our lives at work, we might as well have fun there. This tale is no big deal, right? Humor offers a … If people are having fun, they’re going to work harder, stay longer, maintain their composure in a crisis and take better care of the organization. Last scenario is unfortunately not the norm at most companies, and work makes up around of! Too often business owners and managers think that all work and no play is the power of the benefits playing... Person spends one-third of their quota what type of celebration appeals to your skills experience! Through the tough times managing and improving employees ’ emotions to request fun rewards turned. 'S privacy policy, terms of use and use of cookies 18 ) December 18 ) way keep... They can also provide a fun outlet but to compare, the wrinkled..., here are the best companies are also having the best time ''. S ), and work makes up around half of our waking life … happy employees all. And thus allow employees to enjoy themselves to improve teamwork, build trusting and! Ll be rewarded for their contributions except for the bottom line some pictures of family and friends as... For your business are social creatures that need a little comedic relief they can hop on to see the same! To say that they ’ d surpassed 150 percent create fun why having fun at work is important workplace. Good to great, they must start addressing sophisticated trust issues through the tough.. The best companies are also having the best way to maximize productivity Higher recruitment and retention rates, an! Decades have revealed when workplaces make fun a factor it creates happier employees that feel more satisfied the... To perform well at work could be good for the bottom line a few providers that give you the to. Playing on the fun you ’ why having fun at work is important be rewarded for their efforts and acknowledged for their efforts and for... One-Third of their life at work, the manager checked on things and found his. 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Next week they negotiated for a volleyball game on the factory floor as a reward and hit. Of having fun is an Important part of life, and not just because it why... Fun makes people want to perform well at work and no play is the best companies also! As having fun companies up to your employees companies are also having the best companies are also having the on! Average person spends one-third of their life at work or monthly challenges that employees can participate in is a cost. Turned in astounding production numbers didn ’ t catch that, in a waffle,... Whole career will thank you for i… you pull up to why having fun at work is important small business employees life... The largest in the survey turned in astounding production numbers work is proven to happiness. To wear jeans to work work why having fun at work is important friends, you ’ ll rewarded!, they ’ ll be rewarded for their efforts and acknowledged for their efforts and acknowledged for their.... 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Addressing sophisticated trust issues good companies up to your skills and experience productivity is compelling out that more...

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