“Persistence is what makes the impossible possible, the possible likely, and the likely definite.” Robert Half
I was reading The Manager’s Intelligence Report, no, I am not staging a coup so quit it, and came across an article on nine tactics to boost morale. Naturally I shared it with my office mate. Some of them had us laughing so hard I decided to see if any of the places you work do these things.
For example, one recommendation was sponsoring a “Noon Movie” as in set up a TV in the lunchroom once a week and show a funny movie. Or, if time is a constraint, show an episode of a preferred sit-com. Right, I’m sure that’ll happen.
How about setting up a “Humor Corner”? Designate an area in the office and then encourage employees to post cartoons, jokes, or other funny material. Can you imagine the sorts of things you’d get?
Along the same lines they suggest managers liven up their memos by including a one-liner at the bottom. Hm.
Whenever possible, hold meetings outside of the office, say at a local coffee shop or restaurant down the street. Even outside, weather permitting. Yes, they actually felt the need to clarify the weather bit. No, I say we wait until the next torrential downpour and then all go out and get drenched together.
Play with the dress code by holding an “Ugly Sweater” day. Fine but what about the person who shows up in the same ugly sweater they wear all the time? Do you award them the prize even though you’re not sure they’re participating?
There was one tactic I really liked. “Late Day Mondays”/”Early Day Fridays”. That’s where everyone is permitted to come to work either an hour late Monday or leave an hour early Friday. Yeah, let’s do that, leave early on Friday. Only, just my opinion here, if they really want to boost employee spirits, let’s leave two hours early. Even better, give me the whole afternoon off, with pay of course and without using vacation time. Yep, I guarantee that would do wonders for my morale!
“Trust our instincts. Your mistakes might as well be your own instead of someone else’s.” Billy Wilder
I was reading The Manager’s Intelligence Report, no, I am not staging a coup so quit it, and came across an article on nine tactics to boost morale. Naturally I shared it with my office mate. Some of them had us laughing so hard I decided to see if any of the places you work do these things.
For example, one recommendation was sponsoring a “Noon Movie” as in set up a TV in the lunchroom once a week and show a funny movie. Or, if time is a constraint, show an episode of a preferred sit-com. Right, I’m sure that’ll happen.
How about setting up a “Humor Corner”? Designate an area in the office and then encourage employees to post cartoons, jokes, or other funny material. Can you imagine the sorts of things you’d get?
Along the same lines they suggest managers liven up their memos by including a one-liner at the bottom. Hm.
Whenever possible, hold meetings outside of the office, say at a local coffee shop or restaurant down the street. Even outside, weather permitting. Yes, they actually felt the need to clarify the weather bit. No, I say we wait until the next torrential downpour and then all go out and get drenched together.
Play with the dress code by holding an “Ugly Sweater” day. Fine but what about the person who shows up in the same ugly sweater they wear all the time? Do you award them the prize even though you’re not sure they’re participating?
There was one tactic I really liked. “Late Day Mondays”/”Early Day Fridays”. That’s where everyone is permitted to come to work either an hour late Monday or leave an hour early Friday. Yeah, let’s do that, leave early on Friday. Only, just my opinion here, if they really want to boost employee spirits, let’s leave two hours early. Even better, give me the whole afternoon off, with pay of course and without using vacation time. Yep, I guarantee that would do wonders for my morale!
“Trust our instincts. Your mistakes might as well be your own instead of someone else’s.” Billy Wilder
5 comments:
Actually my last company had a meeting once a month in the "round room" (because it really was round) with cookies and coffee provided. Better than a poke in the eye.
I love the Friday idea, B. Can you imagine everyone being late on a Monday and no one being there to answer the phone? lol
Yep. Every Friday would look like a stampede around 4 p.m. I always like the 'casual friday' concept.
Treat people with the respect they deserve at work and that boosts morale
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