Posts Tagged ‘humour’
Quotes Of The Week
“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.”~ Anatole France
“When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.”~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
“A vigorous five-mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world.” ~ Paul Dudley White
“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.” ~Soren Kierkegaard
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”~Albert Einstein
“Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency.”~Natalie Goldberg
“Know yourself and you will win all battles”~Sun Tzu
“The world leaders in innovation and creativity will also be world leaders in everything else”~Harold R. McAlindon
“If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.” ~John Cleese
“Experience is determined by yourself — not the circumstances of your life.”~Gita Bellin
Seven Ways to Reward Employees without Breaking the Bank (Plus a bonus for when you have funds)
The downturn has left many companies short of funds; leaving employee rewards programs in the dust. Yet, ignoring achievements leaves people upset and feeling unappreciated, reducing productivity and employee engagement. Here are seven ways to reward employees for free, plus a bonus for when a little funding trickles through. Enjoy.
Surprise them with an early end to the day: Show your appreciation for all their hard work by giving them a little time off to rest and re-energize. After all, who wouldn’t rather be on holiday?
Bring in treats: Make work a more enjoyable environment with surprise food at break time – candies, ice cream or fresh fruit work wonders. Not only will this reward employees- it could also give them the nourishment they need to boost performance.
Recognise Effort and Creativity: The employee of the month is cliché but it works. Create a method of public recognition for employees, such as a notice board or wall of honour.
Give out Personalised Thank you Notes: This takes only a few minutes, yet is a great recognition. Write a personal note to an employee by hand, referring to them by name and accomplishment, and thanking them for their contribution.
Reward Good Work with Better Tools: Hand out comfort ballpoints or novelty erasers to employees who perform well as a reward for excellent use of materials before.
Special Spaces: Make a special space in the workplace such as a relaxation room and encourage employees to use it. This will give them a place to de-stress and recover their energy.
Take it outside: Do something unique for employees such as taking a meeting outside to a park or patio. Everyone will appreciate the fresh air and your attempt to shake things up.
And when you have Funds for Employee rewards, remember:
Purchase Appliances: Items like kettles, microwaves and fridges may have an upfront initial cost, but in terms of cost per use and employee satisfaction, they have the highest value.
Power of Humor: Making it work at the office
I have spent a lot of time in hospitals lately as my dad deals with severe radiation burns. Despite the challenges, stress and lack of resources within the healthcare system, I’m amazed at hospital staff who use humour
* Prior to surgery in August, staff had to put a hair net on my dad. When they gave him an unattractive cap, they joked about having to take his picture. Next when they had to get him slippers, they promised him the ‘Armanis”. It was the perfect way to help lighten the stress of surgery.
* While my dad was waiting for one of the many tests, scans and procedures, one of the nurses told him “Running away was not allowed”.
* An orderly, who took my dad for a CT scan, walked in calling him ‘handsome’ in the most respectful yet fun way. Once he found out my dad’s last name was Woods, he started calling him Tiger after the famous golfer. My dad and those around him laughed especially in light of the recent controversy surrounding Tiger.
If hospital employees can use humor
1. Find funny quotes instead of making up your own humor. There are many sources but try these two to start http://thinkexist.com/quotations/funny/ and http://www.quotes-museum.com/
2. Share a funny story. It’s easy to find funny stories or news however the best stories are ones that involve you. Laughing at yourself allows your colleagues to see your humility, ability to take yourself lightly and your sense of humor. Just ensure the story is appropriate for the office and won’t risk offending anyone.
3. Repeat a great one liner or joke from a show, movie or comedy routine. A few good examples for the office are” “Houston, we have a problem” (Apollo 13), “I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore” (Wizard of Oz), or “Show me the money” (Jerry Maguire). Obviously it’s up to you to find an appropriate time and place to use any line.
The more you practice using humor at work, the more you’ll see its workplace benefits.
Want us to bring laughter that reduces stress and boosts morale to your organization, email us info@watershedtraining.ca.
