Fun and fish

Imagine this…

You are in a world where people love their work

environment, they feel calm, stress-free and

happy all day long. People in good spirits are

more productive….

Facts about laughing…

• We used to laugh 20 minutes out of every day in the 1950’s.  Now we laugh for 6 minutes out of every day.

• Laughing for 10 minutes each day can burn the same amount of calories as a 1/2hr workout!

• Children laugh about 400 times a day. Adults laugh an average of 15 times a day.

Facts about laughing…

• A good “belly laugh” will lower BP below normal resting rates for 45mins!

• People smile only 35% as much as they think they do!

• 10minutes of laughter can lead to one hour of being pain free….

Is it okay for people to have fun at work?

• YES!

• DesCamp & Thomas (1993) found that people who engaged in humour/laughter at work had HIGHER job satisfaction & LESS workload stress!

• Previously frowned upon, humour at work is now recognised for the benefits it brings

The “nay-sayers”

“work is not meant to be fun”

“…distraction from the ‘real’ job”

“you get paid to work not play”

“humour is unprofessional”

How do you as a leader address this?

• Approach your manager with your ideas – get them on side

• Form a “fun committee”

• Win by numbers

• Fight them with humour

Benefits to you:

• Endorphins released create a sense of wellbeing – Montague (1991)

• It can help you think and be more creative - when stuck on a problem have a good laugh!

• You become a better team player & communicator

• Humour builds self confidence

Benefits to the organisation:• Abramis (1992) state people who have fun have fewer late

and sick days than those not having fun

• Von Oech (1982) & Abramis (1992) note that a fun working environment is more productive than a routine one

• The staff turnover rate may decrease saving many dollars to the organisation!

• Fahlman (1996) states humour improves creativity, communications, wellness & reduces burnout

Question time

1. Do you feel you currently have fun in the workplace?

2. How do you have fun in the workplace?

3. What is appropriate and not-appropriate fun?

What is appropriate?• Common sense – ask someone if unsure

• Humour should always make other people feel good/smile – does not have to be over the top

• It should poke fun at situations but not at people

• Humour should never be about people’s appearances, religion, ethnic background…

• Humour has very little to do with practical jokes

FISH Philosophy

Have fun!

Finding your funny bone

When you go looking for humour it will find you….you don’t have to be naturally funny, nor do you have to create humour of your own – it is all around you just waiting to be

foundwww.docfunny.com

Remember

• Work place stress is never going to go away – we just have to learn to deal with it better

• Humour in the workplace doesn’t always need to evoke lots of laughter, just pleasant feelings – something everyone is capable of….

• By releasing our “inner clown” we can all work in healthier workplaces, have increased morale and team spirit…

References • Abramis, D.J (1992) Humour in healthy organisations. HR Magazine 37,

72-75• DesCamp & Thomas (1993) Buffering nursing stress through play at work.

Western Journal of Nursing Research 15.1 619-627• Von Oech,R. (1982) A Whack on the Side of the Head. Menlo Park, CA:

Creative Think

• www.ryanandassociates.com.au • www.workplaceissues.com• www.leadingtoday.org• www.docfunny.com• www.entrepreneur.com• www.drhumour.com

Thanks for listening & participating

Adrienne, Bronwyn, Rangi & Toto

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