Read on for ten tips to create a fun work environment. 2. To foster an environment where everyone feels they have a voice, make your approach “yes, that’s a possibility” rather than “no, that would never work.”. Company Culture Dos Image via Shutterstock 1. In order for team members to feel good about the work they are producing, they need to fully understand the company’s mission and purpose. Employees put a lot of effort into everything they do, and they like to know their employers recognize them for it. How to Create a Friendly Workplace Environment. By creating a fun, work environment, you will achieve better productivity overall. However, as most people in the office will be preoccupied with work, it is important that there is at least someone who will constantly check on the dog. Scavenger Hunt: Create teams of people to work together to find a list of items either around the office or around town. If you’re focusing on creating a positive work environment, make sure that your company's culture includes work-life balance (such as by allowing remote work), unobstructed flow … Create a Few Rituals or Traditions That Encourage People to Have Fun. Employees shouldn’t be so consumed with work that it affects their family life and leisure activities. Laughter creates a bond that brings others together; people like to be with employees who are having fun. When you make the effort to connect with your team members in person—individually and as a group—you’re establishing a position of caring that motivates individuals in all sorts of crazy-good ways. Do you regularly catch people laughing or smiling at work? Bring Your Pets to Work. Therefore, the goal of every school system is to provide a safe work environment … For example, you could create “games” out of productive activity...who can motivate the most patients in a hospital to smile and say something funny to the head nurse. Encourage a Fun Work Environment. People think more clearly and operate more productively when … 15 Ways for Creating Positive, Fun Work Culture in Company: 1. But any time I’ve taken part in a guacamole making contest, a company softball game, or even a group community service project, I’ve felt so good about myself and my coworkers. And happy employees make a better business. Laughing increases oxygen intake, thereby replenishing and invigorating cells. Bring in an instructor and encourage them to sign up for classes during their break. Creating a fun competition can make the hours fly by, and add leads to the top of the funnel. A key aspect of creating a fun workplace is acknowledging that your employees are human, with strengths, goals, and passions. 4. Billing and Invoicing Apps – Small Business Owners Weigh In (2019), 7 Simple and Effective Ways to Brand Your Business Online, Seven Examples of Professional Out of Office Message Autoresponder, 7 Benefits of Using a Virtual Office Phone System, 15 Responsibilities Small Business Owners Can Delegate, Seven Low Cost Promotional Items Every Business Should Have in their Marketing Arsenal. Make sure employees are professional and team players. Create a ritual like writing a “to do” list and posting it on the board. It should be motivating and challenging that leads people to stretch beyond their comfort zone, grow and learn. Bring cold beers into the office every once in a while, and they will be happy having something to look forward to. Encourage a Fun Work Environment. It’s possible to take yourself lightly and still be competent and productive. When employees know each other beyond a first name basis, it makes collaborations a lot smoother. Changing your job might not be an option if it is a high-stress position by nature, but you can still optimize your workspace to make it a more relaxing place to spend your time and do your work, in turn reducing your stress levels and increasing your productivity. Connect on a personal level. Encourage employees to develop their own style of having fun. Make your workplace a comfortable place to be by encouraging teamwork and adding a bit of levity to the workday. Also, it's important to make sure that you pair up coworkers and create teams based on the different personalities in the office. For wellness to work, you have to get buy-in and make it something that’s enjoyable for your team. Prioritize Work-Life Balance. From this article a number of insights can be pulled on what it takes to create an environment that … Bring in natural lighting to the work environment. Many people enjoy hobbies outside of work, so encourage them to dive in and build their skills. Only number three, making their workplace enjoyable, has a track record of effecting real change. This website uses tracking tools, including cookies. A simple way to create a fun work environment and motivate yourselves at the same time is by having a bucket list board. Create a Work Environment That Encourages Employee Engagement Engagement Is an Organizational Commitment ... What is the employer's responsibility, however, is to create a culture and an environment that is conducive to employees making the choices that are good for your business. Remember that employees create fun in the workplace, not managers. To make the office a fun place, you should organize and encourage group outings. You can also bring in a nutritionist to talk about healthy snacks and how to cook more nutritious lunches. Encourage staff to leave work behind at the end of the day. Encourage team leaders to take out members of their team for a night of fun. You want to show employees if they work hard, they can also play hard. It is not uncommon now for the hospital staff to get requests for “The Singing Anesthesiologist” when they are scheduling their surgery. Imagine creating a fun work environment where your employees want every day to come to work and interact in a friendly way with your customers. One of our favourite things is the GE monthly challenge. They are more relaxed, more accepting of others, and more likely to share their sense of humor. This works as a good reminder of the day’s agenda as well as encouraging office participation. Engage in meaningful (in-person) dialog. The Importance of Quality of Work Life Put fun things and activities in the staff room. It’s a manager’s job to orchestrate fun activities (and not get in the way of them). Use the following dos and don’ts to create a positive work environment that aligns with your values and prevent negativity from festering. Reward outstanding workers with the opportunity to leave work early, or take them out for a long lunch. 1. People who enjoy their jobs are more likely to engage thoroughly with their work. Smart businesses know that a good work environment starts with hiring the right people. Rituals and fun workplace traditions create a sense of shared history and shared team experience. 12. Gather your co-workers for the “Joy of Work” hour. If we can find new ways to make work more fun, we could lower this ridiculously large statistic as well as build a better environment for all employees. There are 3 ways to motivate people to work harder, faster and smarter: In today's workplace, threatening people has not been effective. Creativity, intuition and flexibility are key to successful operation of organizations today. Laura Walter. For example, if a team meets and exceeds their numbers for the month, try throwing them a pizza party or giving them a small gift card. A positive work environment should be safe and open that includes all the elements of fun, support, openness, and care. Start to promote the benefits of humor at work. Stop and take a moment to give employees and customers an opportunity to see the fun in the event. By doing this, you commit to not thinking about the things on the list until the next day. The more your employees feel accepted and happy, the more motivated they will be to work. This allows people to take their mind off of the seriousness of work for a short period, so they come back to work with a more positive and balanced perspective. Having a dog around will help reduce stress, increase productivity, and make everyone happier overall. Having space with a pool table, darts, and board games encourage employees to take a moment away from their desk. 5. Encourage team leaders to take out members of their team for a night of fun. Companies that treat employees as undynamic and uncomplex money-making machines create a boring and static work environment. Encourage team leaders to take out members of their team for a night of fun. Summary. Commit to being fun and it will change your approach to work. Start a meeting with a humorous story or joke. That’s way more fun to look at than a perfectly posed headshot. Create a Joke Board or a Humor Newsletter. Laughter releases endorphins (a chemical 10 times more powerful than the pain-relieving drug morphine) into the body with the same exhilarating effect as doing strenuous exercise. Patients have appreciated this so much that they have told family and friends about the experience. Give others permission to be joyful! Natural spontaneous humor is a blessing. Encourage fun. Creating a Fun Workplace... 13 Ways to Have Fun at Work! 10. 11. Or it can be bonus based. Bringing in speakers to talk about professional development will also help your employees. Each person should contribute ideas on how to make work more fun. Changing your job might not be an option if it is a high-stress position by nature, but you can still optimize your workspace to make it a more relaxing place to spend your time and do your work, in turn reducing your stress levels and increasing your productivity. Employees are part of an entertainment experience, and they aren’t just doing a job. When there’s a positive feeling in the workplace, it extends to customers as well. Below, here are 20 ways to make work more fun. Laura Walter. Fear of humiliation – or F.O.W.O.T – fear of what others think – often stops people doing things that make work fun. It also increases the pain threshold, boosts immunity, and relieves stress. By showing your employees you’re committed to their happiness, it will instantly change their mentality. Although not all co-workers will be best friends forever, it’s important to encourage friendships and socializing to make the workplace more fun. Foot the bill for a happy hour or incentivize goal-meeting with parties and prizes. And We’ll Have Fun, Fun, Fun, at … Encourage employees to dress up with props such as oversize glasses and feather boas and take photos with their co-workers. Creating more equality in power or control shows people respect and builds pride in their work. Start slowly with a few activities and communicate your desire to create a more relaxed workplace. 6. Look for tools to disseminate fun and funny things daily. You want to show employees if they work hard, they can also play hard. Everyone wants to feel like what they’re doing at work matters. For more information call us at (877) 750-1900 or see our website at www.idoinspire.com, Providing Global Talent Solutions in Agriculture and Food. When a school has effective teachers, the quality of education is higher. 9. A happy (and healthy!) Creating a positive work environment for your team will allow you to get the most out of your employees. 2. Help people belong to your organization and not just work there by giving them a way to solidify and build rapport. On any given week, employees spend at last 40 hours in the office. A healthy workplace environment is good for your company as it could lead to bringing sales for business. Remember what Eileen Caddy once said – “Live and work but do not forget to play, to have fun in life and really enjoy it.”. This will allow them to socialize, meet new people in the office, and even brainstorm about work—all while having fun. Everyone must talk about something good at work. 15 Ways for Creating Positive, Fun Work Culture in Company: 1. Sometimes, though, it’s easy to take the idea of happy employees and think, “Oh, I need to make it fun!” But that’s not necessarily the case. Here at GE we craft our own ways to make work more fun. When employees work with toxic workers, they are more likely to become toxic themselves.\"It's amazing to watch one bad attitude affect everyone's daily performance,\" said Claire Marshall Crowell, chief operating officer of A. Marshall Family Foods/Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant. Put Fun Items and Activities Throughout the Office This allows people to take their mind off of the seriousness of work for a short period, so they come back to work with a more positive and balanced perspective. Integrity, collaboration, dedication, purpose, and empathy are all crucial values in any positive work environment. Want to put a smile on your employees’ faces? Or, if someone has a hobby they’d like to share, offer to let them host a class for your team after office hours. 4. Respond to fun when it happens. To make the office a fun place, you should organize and encourage group outings. Inc. helps entrepreneurs change the world. The more you try the bigger dividends it will pay. More than anything else, the best way to create a friendly work environment is by asking and listening. Don’t expect things to turn around overnight. The following six techniques will help you create a “motivating environment.” 1. Here are five tips to create a positive work environment for your team: 1. Recognition, praise, appreciation, gratitude and flexibility: These are just a few ways to make your work force happier and more productive. To make sure fun days happen, select the most creative employees and allow them to form a “fun committee” to plan special events for the staff. Fear should never be used as a motivation strategy. Read on for ten tips to create a fun work environment. Objective: Create a game that teaches your employees all the aspects that are necessary for their success – trust, unity, communication, problem-solving, and more. Create a Fun Competition. There’s more to life than work, and the happiest employees have managers who understand that fact. Consider creating a “fun squad” whose job is to dream up ways to bring lighthearted fun into the office. Make Work Fulfilling. When there’s a positive feeling in the workplace, it extends to customers as well. They also clear the way for themselves and others to work on those issues with greater enthusiasm and clarity. While many people claim that they thrive in high-stress environments, others work best in some place that is relaxing and tranquil. This allows individuals to have a 10 minute break to clear their minds. Imagine a work world where people love their work environment, and they are calm, stress-free and happy all day long. It is time managers learned how to create an atmosphere that is challenging, creative and fun for employees as well as for themselves. Sounds corny, right? Management should care about the employees: The management should keep an eye upon the employees and their needs, wants and facilities. Inclusiveness reduces the toxicity from the working environment and helps people get connected to each other irrespective of their varied cultures, personalities and diversities. Attracting customers is easier in an environment of hospitality. Chill/games area Fill a section of the office with comfy beanbags or couches. To ensure long-term motivation, managers must create a work environment that provides employees with the opportunity to satisfy these needs on a consistent basis. Fun is not a reward for performance, but can be a way to encourage employees to perform. Having a virtual work environment doesn’t mean that it has to be sterile or boring, with workers who are disconnected from each other. Hopefully now you are convinced you could use a “fun injection” in your own place of employment. You want to show employees if they work hard, they can also play hard. One of the best ways to keep your team motivated is to have a game area where they can recharge their batteries. harmful humor, off-color jokes, sexual humor, humor tarnishing the organization). Many workplaces like to organize a fitness or steps challenge and make it a competition. Inclusiveness helps create more love into workplace and reduces competition among each other. The AgCareers.com University Partners program is designed to showcase and share information about educational advancement opportunities in agriculture for our users. People who are in good spirits are more likely to be productive. 1. 20 Ways to Make Work Fun You can also offer them discounts to lectures, online courses, or conferences. A good scavenger hunt will last a few hours and yield funny stories and solid bonding opportunities. As you put the fun back into your business, use the opportunity to see if there are negative forces in your company. To create that kind of environment, it takes a strong top down and bottom up approach. These challenges can be anything, be it a bake-off or a one-legged race. We also suggest ways that you can create a consistent work environment no matter where you are working from. It’s a fact: having friends at work just makes going into the office more fun. Surprise everyone by ordering in lunch or by starting out the day with coffee and pastries in the kitchen. Paying them lots of money (even if you can afford it) has only shown short-term success. To make the game area more inviting, try adding beanbags, a coffee area, and refreshments. Collect and share your favorite cartoons and jokes. Dress comfortably . From there, the real work begins. Have fun with it. You’re probably thinking, "Organized fun is lame.” I’m right there with you. 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