• http://www.economist.com/countries/ Travelling overseas? Kids want up to date info on various countries around the world for their school projects? Wanting to settle a geographical Trivial Pursuit type argument? Then this site should provide you with most of the information you are looking for.

"All work and no play, makes…" you know how it goes. And I wholeheartedly agree.

Some workplaces are more akin to morgues, with due respect to morticians, than places of fun and enjoyment. Why this is so remains a mystery to me.

It is well known, well researched and well documented that happy people are productive people. So why would any organisation choose to create a working environment where people are not happy and productive?

I think that one of the main reasons is that it actually takes some thinking, some planning and more importantly, some effort in order to create enjoyable working environments. Like most things in life, they just don’t happen by themselves.

Fundamental to the existence of any enjoyable working environment is the underpinning attitude of senior management. As Milo Bloom said, "The first sign of a nervous breakdown is when you start thinking your work is terribly important."

As I often say to my audiences, don’t take life so seriously, you’re not going to get out of it alive anyway.

One of the ways to create fun and enjoyment in the workplace is to have what I call crazy days. Once a month pick a theme for the day. This month it may be ‘circus’ day where staff are invited to do something ‘circussy’ for the day. That may mean wearing a clown’s outfit. It may mean bringing an expert juggler in and teaching the staff how to juggle.

Other ideas include:

A red day, or black and white day.

A TV or movie heroes day.

Crazy ‘t’ shirt day.

Hawaiian day

Mad hatter days.

The variety of ideas for these sorts of days is only limited by your creativity and imagination.

These days may attract a charge of a ‘gold’ coin that goes towards the company’s sponsorship of a child in Africa or it may go to any other nominated charity.

I am not exactly sure what the underlying reason is, however it is interesting to note that when I facilitate Vision and Strategic Planning sessions for senior management teams, the establishment of company values rarely, if ever, include the word fun. Somehow these managers have bought the ticket that says, ‘unless there is struggle, thou art not worthy’. When it comes to establishing your corporate values, make sure that FUN is near the top of the list.

I dare you and you staff to be a little crazier at your place of work. God forbid, you all may just happen to enjoy work for a change.

Until next week, many happy customer returns!

Graham Harvey APS

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