Did ever happen to you when you were still young that out of nothing (or for something that today would not even notice) you burst out laughing loud in a classroom? Did other mates follow?Grown up, have you ever been in a situation when you could not stop laughing even you are aware it is not appropriate time/place? Probably, you have not.
And if it happened to you, you very likely tried to hold back and hush up knowing that the sound of (roaring) laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. Therefore, laugh should not interrupt the important meeting or should it?
How many times have you heard the phrase ‘work and fun’? So, do we have fun at work or we work for fun …?
The heresy?
It is well known that when we laugh we change physiologically and psychically. We stretch muscles throughout our face and as well our body, our pulse and blood pressure go up, we breathe faster sending more oxygen to our organs and tissues. Maciej Buchowski, a researcher from Vanderbilt University, conducted a small study and found out that laughter appears to burn calories, too.
In the post Best Ways to Relax Successfully I was talking how relaxation lowers stress. Laugh was purposely not mentioned as you have to have fun to do what was written in previously mentioned post. Increased stress is associated with decreased immune system. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress.Without any study behind I can argue that most people do not equate ‘work & fun’ together. Furthermore, as shows The Employee Engagement we are further and further distancing from engaged employees. The disengaged majority of employees probably wish it could be true to have fun at work but they have never really experienced it or been allowed to have it. And, by not allowing it, what a failure to raise productivity, development and much more. Studies demonstrate that when people are having fun at work, employee turnover is reduced. And not only turnover …
Now, think for just a moment. Think about your personal experience: when last did you have some fun and after felt more energized, focused, willing and able to get more things done?
We all know and have experienced that problems push out fun. Appointments postpone fun. Deliverables delete fun. Deadlines cancel fun. We are all victims of a dreadful disease ‘acute professionalism’ and ‘seriousness’ which become the name of the game in today business world.
Where does that leave us as leaders?
The most important factors contributing to employee’s morale don’t cost a lot or consume a lot of energy and are in-built in all of us. It is known that leaders who encourage an appropriate level of fun on the job are happier and more effective and their people are too.
Woody Allen said: ‘Most of the time I don’t have much fun. The rest of the time I don’t have any fun at all’ – is this what we aim for in our lives, work places and elsewhere?NO !!! And no!!!
Find out what makes you laugh and include it in your daily routine! Spread it and watch the results.
Your employees are the most important resource of your organization.
ReplyDeleteEmployee Engagement and Productivity
Thank you Ashwin for comment and the link. It just happen that I have a question to your statement "employees are the most important resource of your organization" ~ Why are then employee treated as COSTs (unlike tools that are as well resources of a company)?
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