HAVING FUN AT WORK

Some people are sooo serious at work. Going to work does not have to be a chore it can be fun! Here are five simple ways to have more fun at work. I’m sure you can think of more. Why don’t you email me with ways you have fun at work. There is a book in it for the best contribution. Email lindsay@teamocracy.com with your suggestion.

1. Give anonymous and unexpected appreciation.
   Leave a note on a work colleagues desk telling them how they have done a good job recently. Be specific.
2. Play the telephone keypad Competition
   See who can make a tune from their telephone keypad.
3. Organise a game of cricket.
   Use a ball made of scrunched up paper and an office ruler for the bat.
   The game does not have to last long and can be used as a stress relief activity.
4. Share a bouquet of flowers
   An office I used to work in had a dried flower arrangement which was shared around within the office. When someone needed a lift they were presented with the flowers.
5. Plan a surprise picnic
   Have a picnic in the local park or if you don’t have a park nearby, bring a bright cloth and make up your desk to represent the picnic table. Order in some cold chickens and crusty bread and enjoy the company of your team.

DO YOU HAVE A STAFF INDUCTION PROGRAM?

Many large organisations have structured induction programs to make staff welcome and induct them into the culture of the organisation. Smaller businesses do not always have such programs. What do you do to make new staff welcome in your team?

Here are some simple tips to follow:

• Be prepared
• Greet the newcomers personally
• Make them feel at ease
• Make them feel special
• Explain the job
• Show them around, make sure they are familiar with their new environment
• Introduce them to their new job and their colleagues
• Assign them a mentor, someone they can go to and ask for help and advice
• Keep in touch with them
• Review their progress regularly

BUILD TRUST IN YOUR TEAM, IT’S WORTH IT

Trust is an essential element of leadership. Do you trust your staff and what happens when you do? Psychologists have found that the more trusted people feel in a team environment, the more they innovate. Trusted employees are more likely to be happy and well adjusted than those who are treated with suspicion or disrespect. We like people who trust us and tend to seek them out in the workplace and treat them like our friends.

The most effective leadership situations and the most effective teams are those where a high trust environment exists. Again studies show that people who are trusted display the following characteristics:

• They are more open about their feelings
• They are more goal focused and are clear on where they are going together
• Team members feel more satisfied with team outcomes and are motivated to contribute to team decisions.
• Team members also search for more and better alternatives to achieve their outcomes.

What are you doing to build an environment of trust?

Remember trust is earned and is a by product of kept promises. It is not something you can manufacture overnight and it is worth the effort to build.