Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Laughing Dog

I read about a speaker who focuses on using humour to make change within organisations. In particular , his views are that laughter needs to filter through the organisation to help leaders connect with their teams.

The minister of Bhutan was talking about the same sort of thing when he talked about the Gross Happiness Index of their country, that he measured their success by how happy the people were.

Laughter and Tears are connected . Both evoke high emotions and pave the way for change. Ever noticed how you feel light headed after laughing alot and how sometimes we laugh till we get tears in our eyes. We also get the same sort of feeling after crying, some say that its the endorphins, our body's own morphine that get released.

I choose laughter over tears anytime (although sometimes we grow most in pain ... )
We take ourselves too seriously especially at work and it helps to ease up a little and laugh a bit. It builds bonds and bridges.

Somethings that made ( and still make) me laugh:

  • Having a water fight after work and coming back to the office to soak those who didn't want to play

  • Finding my office filled with balloon
  • Setting out a treasure map for hidden chocolates around the office

  • Kidnapping other people's toys and holding them ransom ( in a fun, light hearted way no meanness or cruelty to toys)

  • Themed parties

  • Playing hide and seek

  • Leaving notes on people's desk

  • Sending someone an anonymous card

  • Celebrating for any reason - birthdays, anniversaries, any kind of milestone

  • Sending messages to each other when we are stuck in really boring meetings and then trying not to look at that person /make eye contact so that you don't burst out laughing

  • Sending someone a cup of coffee or a cup cake

  • Sending surprise presents to people within the team with no card or sender information.

  • Taking over some one's office the minute they leave their office and pretending that its yours

  • Photocopying .... anything other than work

  • Plotting with others and pretending to see something that isn't really there

  • Playing follow the leader

  • Bringing in a card game or board game to play
Who says that adults cant play, they should...maybe this is why children are more creative, they don't have any qualms about playing a game or prank at any opportunity.

The people you work with won't remember the targets they achieved and their sales revenues after they retire, but they will remember the fun times they had and recollect them with their loved ones.

Making each moment count and making it memorable, is about "floating above the mundane and prickly parts of the day " by taking a step back to seeing the funny side of things and seeing the little child in each one each of us who wants to come out and play now and then.

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