080: F is for Fun [ABC’s of EYB]

080: F is for Fun [ABC’s of EYB]

I’ll make today’s episode short and sweet.

Have more fun at work… it’s OK.

Your people aren’t coming in each day and doing their work because they’re robots.

They want to be able to work and make a difference. But they also want to enjoy their time there.

So, as much as possible, look for ways to add some fun or humor to the job.

Don’t make meetings so boring. Ask people fun questions in meetings or add some humor to spice up the serious stuff.

Plan special lunch events where your team can compete or just have a good laugh.

Add some kinds of competitions or games creatively into your organizational structure and schedule.

Get creative.

Bottom line is that work can be fun, if you allow it to be. Yes, there are things to get done and they need to be done a certain way and there are deadlines and budgets and all of that.

But I think that the rule that I’ve seen with each of my kids when they were growing up still applies to us as adults.

All parents have been there with this. Books all over your young child’s floor. You ask them to clean them up and put them on the shelf. Nope. A little while later you ask them. Nope. You tell them that they can’t do the thing that they want to until they do it. Nope.

Then, finally, you pull out the nuclear option: make it a competition.

You tell them you don’t think they can clean them all up in 30 seconds. And Boom!!! Book problem solved, floor cleaned. Because you made it fun.

It’s the same way for us now. That part of us didn’t go away, it just got smashed into submission with the idea that work has to be stuffy and serious.

It doesn’t have to be that way. The more fun you can add into your workplace I believe the more productive your people will be and the more they’ll enjoy their work.

If you’ve been enjoying the podcast and haven’t left an Apple Podcasts or iTunes review, I’d love it you’d take a minute to do that. You can head to shawnwashburn.com/apple to take you right there. Thanks for spending some time today to help you and your business thrive.

036: Work Can Be Fun… It’s OK

036: Work Can Be Fun… It’s OK

Today’s episode is a public service announcement that it’s OK to make work and your workplace fun.

I’m hereby giving you permission to have fun in your emails or your meetings. To add some laughter to your powerpoints and charts. To liven things up even while staying focused on the tasks at hand.

Because, honestly, I believe you’ll get more done and have more motivated people in the long run.

Now, personally, this is a big one for me. I usually have to try to reign myself in because I often have something humorous to add in a meeting that half of the time just might not be appropriate or necessary.

But it’s OK to add in that humor, to make light of what can be stressful things at work.

No one is meant to just carry a load and trudge through the hours each day and be super serious about everything.

So, have some fun with your team and your organization. Be the spice that brings some flavor to the daily work grind.

It’s OK.

Tell a joke. Play a prank. Make a funny video. Write an ode. Leave a humorous note for your coworker who often forgets their tea mug in the microwave, written by their mug, saying that you knew they would come back for you. You know, just some random suggestions here.

Whatever it is for you, bring some new life to your work and let others know it’s OK to have fun. Work can be fun… if you make it.

Thanks for listening to today’s episode. You can shoot me an email at shawn@shawnwashburn.com.

I’d love to connect: website / LinkedIn / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

021: Ode To The Coffee Brewer

021: Ode To The Coffee Brewer

Today, we’re going to continue on with our Ode to the Office series.

A few weeks back, in episode 11 we gave a shout out to the Sticky Note.

Today, we celebrate those brave heroes of the office… the ones willing to brew a new pot of coffee when the post has run dry.

Ode To The Coffee Brewer

If, while getting your coffee the pot has run dry
Please don’t run away… there’s no need to cry
For you have been chosen, right here on this spot
To make some more coffee to put in the pot

A nobler task would be hard to devise
For you’ll fuel tired bodies and open closed eyes
With this liquid that’s brewed over dark ground-up beans
You’ll power a workforce to do some great things

So go be that hero! Use bravery and skill
Grab beans and a filter, but try not to spill
Make sure to align well the pot with the basket
And push the brew button, that’s all that we’re askin’

Then fly off anew to do more super deeds
Because of your efforts, so many are pleased
All future brew-takers will collectively shout
“Thank you for brewing when the coffee ran out!”

If you’ve got an office or work topic you’d like me to do an ode on, just shoot me an email at shawn@shawnwashburn.com. I’d love to hear from you and see what we can create.

Thank you so much.

If you’ve been enjoying the podcast, I’d love it if you’d leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts at shawnwashburn.com/apple   Thanks for listening to today’s episode.