Joy On The Job?

Can work be play? Scientists have discovered that joy on the job is our natural state.

We are like monkeys because we are hardwired to interact, cooperate, and play. Employees at some savvy companies play miniature golf in the hallways. Managers and team leaders appoint Humor Teams and Play Squads.

However, most of our organizations suffer from delight-deficiency syndrome. We think we must play OR work.

Why does play at work produce hefty financial rewards? When we are relaxed, we produce better quality. We function at a higher mental level. Our physical output is elevated. Play activates an alpha or theta brain state that stimulates joy and creativity.

Here's an example of how a repetitive or boring task can become joy on the job. David Smith and Mark McCahill are computer scientists who were well aware of how tiresome the task of composing spreadsheets can be. In the Croquet Project (www.opencroquet.org), Smith and McCahill and their colleagues created a virtual reality that merged play and joy with formulating spreadsheets. The scientists incorporated characters similar to video game icons into an open-source system with interactive three-dimensional virtual worlds.

Please don't let this scientific language fool you. Human employees got to fulfill their need to be like primates at play... the staff clowned around while they shared resources. Employees manipulated their avatars to cooperatively edit text files and spreadsheets. The quality of their work was excellent.

Play is its own reward. It's also contributes immensely to productivity.

Can you have fun at work if you don't have two computer scientists to design an interactive system? Absolutely! When I interviewed entrepreneurs, employees, and managers in 21 diverse organizations, I discovered a multitude of no-cost and low-cost techniques that incorporate our need to act like monkeys... caring, sharing, and laughing. Here are just a few examples.

Allied Systems, Inc. employees set up game and puzzle areas and encouaged everyone to contribute to a group mural. They also designed seasonal contests. One of my favorites was a fun art project where staff and customers posted bumper stickers for Santa's sleigh like "I brake for cocoa." Evaluations indicated that productivity increased.

Royal Bounty International staff organized improvisational theatre sessions when times were tough. Answers to challenges appeared spontaneously when a targeted stream-of-consciousness thinking technique was added.

O'Brian Management staff took turns setting up treasure hunts for fun. Staff morale ratings increased and the elevation level continued far after the events.

There is an endless list of enchanting ways to dissipate stress through levity. The mere act of planning a fun break often keeps people chuckling for hours. Morale escalates and productivity soars.

Doris Helge, Ph.D., is author of "Joy on the Job," an easy, fun to read 464-page book. It is based on ten years of research that included interviews with entrepreneurs, employees, and managers in 21 diverse organizations. Visit http://www.joyonthejob.info and discover proven strategies for boosting job satisfaction and employee retention. To discover even more easy ways to escalate joy on the job and boost employee morale, sign up for the "Joy on the Job Ezine," the only ezine regarding happiness at work. (c) 2006

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