Did you know that laughter is actually good for your productivity in the workplace? Reserach suggests that people who smile and laugh are more productive, even if they’re not feeling particularly happy.
The science of laughter is still being explored, but there are some interesting theories about why it has such a positive effect on our mood and productivity. One theory is that when we laugh, we release endorphins, which have been shown to improve our mood and reduce stress. Laughter also forces us to take deep breaths, which oxygenates our blood and helps to relax our muscles.
A smile in the workplace can do wonders for not only your own success but also the success of those around you. In addition to promoting teamwork, smiling has been proven to be contagious, I dare you to try it! Walk by someone today and smile. When you see someone smile, it’s difficult not to smile back. Your smile is a powerful tool so be sure to use it.
Studies show that we can actually fake our way to happiness too, so even if you’re not feeling particularly happy, put a smile on your dial and see how it affects your work! You might be surprised by the results.
You’re probably thinking, “This all sounds wonderful, but how can I promote a culture of humour and happiness my whole team can adopt?”
Here are a few simple strategies:
Encourage breaks:
When people are feeling stressed, burnt out, or just need a mental break, laughter is the perfect medicine. Encourage your team to take scheduled breaks together, even if it’s just for five minutes. Use this time to chat, share funny stories, and engage with one another on a personal level.
Create bonding experiences:
There’s nothing like a little bit of healthy competition to bring people together. Organise team building activities that are fun and promote laughter, such as scavenger hunts, improv games, or even just a good old-fashioned group lunch. The key here is to plan team-building activities that are light hearted and create an environment for people to be themselves. Think outside the box and get creative.
Make someone's day:
Find simple ways to serve or delight people in a meaningful, memorable way. It’s about contributing to someone else’s life—not because you want something, but because, that’s the person you want to be. Encourage others to follow suit by committing to doing something for someone else daily to make them smile, you may just have your day made in return.
Make time for fun:
In the midst of deadlines and projects, its easy to forget why fun is such a vital element of positive workplace culture. Add some levity to your weekly staff meeting by starting off with a joke, funny story or asking your team to share something that made them happy in the last week.
Make it a team effort:
Encourage your team to come up with ideas to make the workplace a more enjoyable environment. By involving everyone in the process, you’ll not only get some great ideas, but you’ll also build a sense of ownership and buy-in for the initiative.
Lead by example:
Show your team that you’re not afraid to laugh at yourself and have a good time. When you set the tone, it’ll be easier for others to follow suit. Choose your attitude before you walk into the office each day and let it shape how you interact with your team.
Choose your attitude:
You have the power to choose how you react to any given situation. Take responsibility for how you respond to what life throws at you. Your choice affects others. Ask yourself: “Is my attitude helping my team or my customers? Is it helping me to be the person I want to be?” Choose to be positive and optimistic, and watch your whole outlook change. Infuse it into your culture by creating a company Facebook page or Whats App group and commit everyone to posting their “choice of attitude” for everyone to see every day. YOUR attitude is contagious… check to make sure you want yours to be caught!
Practice Play:
Play is the spirit that drives the curious mind, as in “Let’s play with that idea!” You can bring this mindset to everything you do. Play is about incorporating tasks, processes and activities into the workplace that put smiles on the faces of staff, creates some laughter and generates a positive vibe. For example, you may develop a playful method to keep track of goals or progress towards targets, and make it everyone’s responsibility to update as they achieve.
So go out there and spread some laughter and smiles, it just might be the key to your success! Try incorporating some of these strategies into your workplace and see how they affect your team’s morale and your workplace culture. A little bit of laughter can go a long way!
Do you have any tips for promoting laughter in the workplace?
We believe success is created though positive fun team cultures. Our passion is to help organisations achieve this through delivering unique and rewarding events, corporate training and team experiences that leave a lasting happiness.
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