are we having fun yet? the many benefits of humor in the workplace

Are We Having Fun Yet?

The Many Benefits of Humor in the

Workplace

Celebrate Good Times, C’mon!

First Celebration of P & T

Second Crazy Hat Party

Summer Celebration 2005

The Crooked Branch Bunch

The Desperado Deans

Turning an Idea into an EVENT

Use Themes

Get Buy In From Management

Brainstorming Happens – Watch Out!

Promos and Props

Rehearsals

Summer Celebration 2006

What We Learned With the Summer Celebrations

Start early (so you’re prepared for surprises) SchedulingNot everyone will participate (That’s OK)No bar is too high when you have:

Management’s trustCreative & open-minded teamSuperb technical/graphics support

What We Learned With the Summer Celebrations

Offsite meetings stimulate creativityPoke fun at yourself (Publicly and often)Take risks!BudgetThe Rumor Mill – Use it to your advantageRehearsals are a good thing!Good food is criticalHave Fun!

How Two Librarians Got Into The Fun Business

Who Else Is Having Fun?

Southwest Airlines

Pike Place Market

Land’s End

Blackboard

Microsoft

Sprint

Rogat-Russell

Many More!

Managerial Resistance to Fun

I don’t have time

It costs too much

I don’t know how

I don’t want to look silly

No evidence this will work (YES THERE IS!)

Take your work seriously.

Take yourself lightly.

Survey Says…..

Advantages of a Fun WorkplaceAttract and Retain EmployeesImprove Communication

And promotes …Organizational Commitment Customer SatisfactionLower Absenteeism Productivity

Gen X and Y

Want a career that provides

Job Security Meaningful Work Personal and Family Time FUN! Matures and Baby Boomers Want to

Have Fun, too!

Source: Families and Work Institute, “Youth and Employment Study, 2000”

FUN Is Not Another Trendy Fad Like…

X MBOX CQIX SPCX QFDX TQM

FUN IS A CULTURE!

Fun @ Work

Fun Starts @ the TopFun Must be AuthenticManagement Must Give PermissionEmployees Drive FunRewards Should Be Individualized

“A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done.” Dwight David Eisenhower

Fun will be allowed on Friday

October 20thFrom

10-11 AMParticipation Mandatory!!!

Library

Library

Harvard Business Review July-August 2001

Mission Impossible?

The Importance of Having Fun at Work

It makes you SMILE!

S timulates Team SpiritM otivates StaffI mproves ProductivityL owers AbsenteeismE nergizes Meetings

“If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide.”  Mahatma Gandhi

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” George Bernard Shaw

“You can only be young once. But you can always be immature.” Dave Barry

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Dr. Seuss

Thank You!Debbie Sharp, M.L.S.

Information LiteracyWilliam T. Young LibraryUniversity of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506

dsharp@email.uky.edu859.257.0500 x2099

Susan K. Smith, M.L.S.Shaver Engineering Library

University of KentuckyLexington, KY 40506susan.smith@uky.edu

859.257.7176