It is June — the start of summer — which puts most everyone in a better mood. While some bosses fear that having a good time at work interferes with productivity, most studies show that employees who take time out from their tasks to laugh are more effective employees.
Taking a break to laugh is good for employee health. As they say, laughter is contagious. Get one person in your office laughing and it will likely spread. That can help diffuse a stressful situation or just allow people to reset their mood and their brain, making them more effective when they get back to work.
When organizations can foster a culture of fun in their office, they are able to better communicate with their employees. People tend to listen and remember the message when it is delivered in a different or humorous way.
A fun corporate culture also fosters connections between colleagues, which can lead to more shared ideas because people feel more secure in thinking outside of the box. In serious, hushed offices, workers tend to keep their heads down and complete their tasks rather than potentially rock the boat.
No manager wants to be a pushover, but showing some humility through fun or even self-deprecation shows your employees that everyone is human. It can endear employees to their bosses, making them more loyal, more productive and more likely to share their ideas.
There is, of course, a fine line between having fun at work and having too much fun at work. Laughter should never be at someone else’s expense, either, but a little laughter can go a long way to improve workflow.
Providing workflow solutions to boost productivity is our No. 1 goal at Pacific Office Automation. Our multifunction printers, document management systems and facilities management services help organizations focus on their core business and work as efficiently as possible. Contact us today to find out how we can help improve workflow and give your employees more time to work — and have fun!