Well-defined roles: In order for employees to work effectively, they need to have a clear understanding of their job and the outcomes they need to achieve. Everyone wants to have fun at work—even though everyone defines “fun” a little differently. Third symptom: gossiping, joking and making fun of the manager, other staff members, social and political occurrences, etc. Individuals can be trained to do just about everything, but first they must have the motivation. Here’s the thing: employees need a work space that is separate from home to maintain that all important work/life balance, but that doesn’t mean work can’t be cozy and homelike. Management isn't easy. Make sure they’re fun, and seem like a reward in and of itself. Watch courses on your mobile device without an internet connection. Good managers challenge people to come up with solutions rather than using their managerial status to make executive decisions. Start creating a little fun by following these tips. People want leaders they can relate to and respect as people. An easy change of scenery can make a huge difference in how your team will work together, and the decisions you’ll make—in a very positive way. They want a workplace that is challenging, encourages trial and error and makes them feel that they matter. By using this site, you agree to this use. Electrify the organization with hope and opportunity that can create endless possibilities. HOW FUN IS PRODUCTIVE Imagine a work world where people love their work environment, and they are calm, stress-free and happy all day long. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Create a fantasy football … They must measure effectiveness by how well each member is contributing to the overall impact, dialogue, thinking and outcomes of the group. Simplicity always prevails. Don’t just be a provider, but rather focus on being an enabler of opportunities. Time management, in a nutshell, is planning the amount of time you and your team spend on tasks. One great way to do this, is through self…. Games can make mundane tasks more fun. Select Accept cookies to consent to this use or Manage preferences to make your cookie choices. Along the way, you will earn trust and respect throughout the organization as a courageous leader. People want leaders who are humble enough to be approachable, yet whose executive presence is impactful and dynamic enough that they never cross the line of respect. Be a great communicator  who uses  all available methods to define your expectations and set the tone for your department or organization. Long stretches of concentrated work demand that your brain and body recharge, and you should be doing so. If the work environment is formal, … While this may initially mean a slower path to a solution, it contributes greatly to people’s personal growth and development. 4. 5. At first, she said all of the right things (which is exactly what people didn’t want to hear). Creating a work environment in which employees feel happy and productive requires frequent and open communication, regular recognition of achievements, and constructive feedback. Managers need to outline the expectations of each role. 5. In order for team members to feel good about the work they are producing, they need to fully understand the company’s mission and purpose. She went on to say that even though she knew that people were unhappy with the organization’s leadership protocols, style and approach – that she regretted not saying or doing anything about. Leaders need to influence but not control the dialogue. We and third parties such as our customers, partners, and service providers use cookies and similar technologies ("cookies") to provide and secure our Services, to understand and improve their performance, and to serve relevant ads (including job ads) on and off LinkedIn. A scope for fun activities at work provides your employees with much need breaks and helps create a more efficient workforce. That leads to better conversations and better decision making. Allow People to Fail;  Encourage Employees to Test Their Ideas. I know that as a leader your primary responsibility is to facilitate the team in a way that gets the work done. Stop being so structured about how you communicate. © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. The objective was to communicate the truth about growing tension points and/or concerns that people had about the direction of the organization. Understand what they experience. 1. They are a way to recognize all of the hard work, enthusiasm and positive spirit that teams bring to work. A recent study by Deloitte made it clear that employee engagement isn’t enough. Read the Declaration of Independence. Great leaders are the ones that allow their employees to discover their passion. Exercise is known to boost the chemicals in your brain that create a good mood, and the energy you burn biking will also allow your body to experience less tension. Leaders must now play the role of “think tank” facilitators – guiding clusters of strategic topics that roll-up to specific organizational goals and objectives. 3. Dr. Todd Dewett is one of the world's most watched leadership personalities. Create rewards that are unique. Be productive during the day and you will be able to enjoy your life at home. According to Bob Pike, author of The Fun Minute Manager, a fun work environment is one in which formal and informal activities occur regularly that are designed to uplift people’s spirits and remind people of their value to their managers, their organization, and to each other. Have a games area. Reflect your true intentions as a leader and don’t hide behind a title as this limits your ability to build relationships with employees. Never allow your employees to get complacent. Being a manager often requires that you make tough decisions and stand for what you believe in. Make it Voluntary: Don’t force feed fun to your employees. It’s about allowing employees to be passionate about their work and not so confined to their immediate roles and responsibilities. "I try to do an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening," she says. For example, when I was in the c-suite, I often held informal (at times impromptu) employee town hall forums. Leaders must allow team building to become more organic, less instructional and more enabled by the members of the team themselves. Think of your own career, do you make more of an effort when work is fun, or when it’s as bland as a pair of beige socks? I am the author of the books:  Leadership in the Age of Personalization, The Innovation Mentality and Earning Serendipity. In other words, leaders purposely make things more difficult for others to make themselves appear smarter and more capable than their peers. Yes, work and fun are words that can be used in the same sentence. Leadership effectiveness is more than just the influence a “job title” gives you. The workplace and the world are changing fast and it’s important to embrace the basics that serve as the foundation for how we think, act and innovate new products, services and the technological advancements that support them. Build Teams That Last; Allow Them to Be Think-Tanks. Get started with a free trial today. 6. Make employees feel that they can relate to you and what you expect from them and encourage their voices to be heard and amplified. 4. If you want your team to stay motivated and refreshed, you should be encouraging them to take regular breaks. But becoming a manager for the first time — whether you are responsible for one person or a whole team — is a big change, and there are some things you might not have considered. When my father came to America – on his way to earning  a degree in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University in 1936 – he took the time to understand the United States and its customs, culture and people. Make sure they’re doing the basics that make a manager successful and motivate teams: Build rapport and a foundation of trust with everyone on their team. It’s a cocoon of creativity. So, it’s your job to make sure they know what that looks like. Then, she shocked the room by expressing dissatisfaction with her lack of leadership. Be human and be approachable. Some will immediately respond to your cues while others will want more time before they join the fun. If work and the work environment are fun, the results will be better. As someone who has contact with many different higher-ups, an office manager may often be asked to work on side projects in addition to their everyday duties. It is time managers learned how to create an atmosphere that is challenging, creative and fun for employees as well as for themselves. Let's be honest, we spend a massive amount of time in life at work. My goal is to prepare organizations to lead in the age of personalization– to achieve maximum growth and significance in the workplace and marketplace - as the individual defines the business. Empower your people to be entrepreneurial and to test their ideas and ideals. 3. People are more curious now than ever before and they want to know who their boss is as a person. A change of scenery can sometimes have a major impact on your level of happiness. In this series, Todd Dewett, PhD, shares the tips respected and motivated managers use to improve rapport, navigate tricky situations, build better relationships, and drive the business forward. Have you had a boss or known anyone else like this? If you step back, you will see that simplicity is becoming the new normal. My goal is to prepare organizations to lead in the age of personalization– to achieve maximum growth and significance in the workplace and marketplace - as the individual. The workplace is becoming more fragile and employees want to know what they are ultimately being held accountable for and what they can or cannot do. My father would tell me that the more simple you make things, the more believable, trustworthy and effective you will be with people. You will have to make tough calls. Be a Great Communicator; Hold No Secrets. I recently keynoted an event where a senior executive was asked to share a few words about her leadership experience with the organization. See our. He was a keen observer of people and always curious to understand what made leaders effective, trustworthy and reliable. That mindset does not make a good manager. A little fun can go a long way at work. Employees are fed up with the office politics and corporate rat-race and  are ready to start having fun again. Download courses using your iOS or Android LinkedIn Learning app. In this interview, Jill talks about what it takes to be a happy manager despite the poor economy, how social media can create a happier work environment, and … If you're new to the organization, you should have observed and learned the dress code during the interview process. My organization, GLLG, helps companies build high-performance leaders, teams and cultures focused on inclusion and the power of individuality. 56. 1. Employees want leaders that are likeable, understand their needs, can authentically motivate people and know how to energize a workplace culture to generate the best results for the organization. My father often encouraged me to read books and watch movies from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s – to understand what he meant by simplicity. 55. I learned that people simply wanted to know what was going on. The better you get at managing time, the more effective you will be as a manager. Don’t always feel like you need to be in charge. Your job is to make yourself a bit more human and approachable. Help them stretch their thinking and ability. Here’s what no one tells you about going from employee to management. Early in my career he would often remind me that people complicate things to make themselves feel more important. Assessing your organization's change readiness, Building transparency into your work culture, Knowing the difference between quitting and refocusing, Dealing with a public insult from your boss, Dealing with a new boss off to a bad start, The difference between creativity and innovation, Telling someone how they are viewed by others, Leading someone with a low EQ (emotional quotient), Why it's smart to share your uncertainties, From a technical role to a management role. Keep the organization alive by enabling a culture that embraces new perspectives and keeps people on their toes. Bike To and From Work Finally, consider biking to work. Learn the most in-demand business, tech and creative skills from industry experts. I'm just saying that one tool you really should think a little more about is fun. The goal was not to deliver a “state of the company” address or some other important announcement – it was to address questions directly from employees. Still, if you can keep the previous four tips in action, then fun—or a sense of enjoyment and being able to be yourself at work—becomes a more natural part of everyone’s job. There is a reason it transcends centuries and generations because its principals are easy to understand. People will naturally gravitate toward you if you allow your likeability and approachability to flourish. Today’s short-term, rapid-paced, limited-resource workplace requires more trust amongst employees and their intentions, transparency in communication and requirements and cross-departmental collaboration to fuel more desired outcomes – where people feel valued and respected. Great teams require great leadership. Fun contributes to the creation of an environment that nurtures and sustains what we call employee 'want to'. No secrets allowed. Having a regular board game date with your colleagues can give you something to look forward to, as well as helping you bond with the people you're spending 40-plus hours a week with. Just because you are a great sales person doesn’t mean you will be an effective leader. 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Rewards are the final component for management to make employee happiness a part of a company’s culture. To make your workday more enjoyable, team up with some co-workers and play a board game at lunch. Just ask Apple! “Work alongside them on occasion as a reminder that you know your stuff.” 9. Encourage your employees to be their best by discovering how they best fit within the team and throughout the organization. Gossip and intrigue are dangerous and must be addressed. By giving your employees the chance to build management skills and habits before they become managers, you are making it possible to easily see which employees will actually make the best manager. Today’s workplace must remove silos and   operate without boundaries – putting a premium on collaborative thinking and holding each member of the team responsible to contribute. Clarified organizational structure: In many organizations, the hierarchy of the team is a vital element that contributes to productivity. Everyone wants to feel like what they’re doing at work matters. Leave work at home. People desire a “leadership refresh” in their organizations. The one thing you will probably have less of at work than money is time. 4. The traditional leader still employs the old school ways of doing things that make it difficult to engage a workforce that is more diverse and multigenerational than ever before. Before leaping to accept a promotion, see if you can work out a trial period of being a manager first and evaluate how well the trial goes over with the team. Never stop communicating your vision, goals and objectives. If like us, you prefer it when work is fun – then take a moment to read through some inspiration. As the old saying goes, heavy is the head that wears the crown. In business, the best leaders diffuse this tendency by asking good questions, insisting on decisions based on real data, and not edicting results. Of course, you want them to take their breaks away from their desks, so try to provide a fun and relaxing ‘breakout area’ … First, try making fun of yourself. Be spontaneous and have a little fun. Employees want an awakened, dynamic spirit to come alive at work. 1. Don’t Hide Behind the Title; Be The Real You. Watch this course anytime, anywhere. Buy a Wii to encourage exercise. I help organizations build high-performance leaders, teams and cultures focused on inclusion and the power of individuality. It has a shag carpet, a bar, couches and plenty of open lighting. Don't make the mistake of showing up for your first day in an overly formal or casual outfit. The days of depending upon one or two superstars are over. Great communication is most effective when it is two-way and everyone is held accountable. After work when you bike home, the stress you felt from your job will simply melt away under the exertion of biking. Make  it easier for people to contribute and feel more valued – yet demand enough from your employees  that they are continually challenged and hungry for more. Oftentimes they seek relevancy when they begin to feel more vulnerable. Give your employees the room to explore and unleash their passion. Rather, you must concentrate on the job and don’t allow the position or rank go to the head. Providing engaging work environments, status-based recognition, and fun can be more beneficial than tangible rewards. You can change your cookie choices and withdraw your consent in your settings at any time. Effective leadership is about delegating and being able to trust yourself enough to let go and allow others to establish their own footing without being so dependent upon you. Along the way, you will … Start creating a little fun by following these tips. The real impact of leadership is when you can reveal the person that is behind the title. Work beside your employees. #6: Create special interest groups. Are you always in your fancy front office? Recognize Good Work. Get down in the trenches and do the same work alongside your employees sometimes. As the boss, you have a high status, and that often makes it difficult for your employees to feel completely comfortable around you. Amanda Sibley, HubSpot's demand generation manager, suggests setting aside specific time for email -- and trying not look at it in between, especially if you have a lot of your own work to get done that day. When you were just an employee and your manager used to order you, did you enjoy that? To become an effective leader in the 21 st century workplace, you must do six things to make the workplace exciting again. Invite your employees dance and sing, and then create a video, such as our Michael Jackson Tribute, or this incredible lip dub. Have regular one on ones with their team to fix problems, remove blockers, give and receive feedback, shop ideas, and listen to what matters to them. 6. Be real in who you are and what you represent as an individual. Awaken the Organization; Keep People On Their Toes. There's nothing worse than mandatory attendance at a company outing because “we’re all here to have fun!” 5. Fun can enhance motivation. Leadership in the Age of Personalization. As we all know a good employer brand is essential reducing attrition at the workplace. So don't you think we should try and make it a little fun? Dressing to Fit the Culture. 2. “Being a manager … 10) Abuse the title. They need to simplify their approach and make it more fun and enjoyable for employees as this will increase productively, engagement and desired outcomes. If my team is not happy or not producing good work, then I am not doing a good job. In the 21st century workplace, their responsibility is to find interconnection points that exist between each cluster to guide and direct the focus and the thinking. Establish standards and best practices that everyone can enjoy, learn from and improve along the way. Each installment, is two tips ranging from avoiding the dreaded micromanagement, to managing a multigenerational workforce, cultivating better listening skills, and developing an understanding of your organization's politics. A manager’s three major levers for better outcomes are: people—hiring, coaching, and matching the right person with the right role; purpose—clarity on what success looks like; and process—clarity on how to best work together. On top of that having a fun workplace works as a good employer brand . You are, essentially, seeing them use their skills in a “sandbox”, before they are actually needed. Astute managers quickly realize the difference between pushing hard and pushing too far. To become an effective leader in the 21st century workplace, you must do six things to make the workplace exciting again. When this happens, Dunn advises, “Say yes to everything. You also learn quickly which employees want to be part of the solution – and which ones put up roadblocks. Of course. For more information, see our Cookie Policy. In this case, informal communication channels with staff members must be established, with a goal to eliminate the causes of this symptom. You cannot put a price on 'want to'. They are tired of excuses and just want people to be real about how they feel and honest about what needs to be accomplished. She concluded by talking about “courageous leadership” and why the workplace demands it now more than ever before. You may opt-out by. Never be vague and run the risk of losing trust from others. Sometimes, being a manager is hard. I don't want to sound too grandiose, but when you help folks experience positive emotions at work, it not only makes them smile, it makes them more motivated, more productive, and even more creative. Make the workplace an environment where people are continuously growing and thinking big! The passionate worker is always looking to provide and create impact through long-term sustainable growth. Incorporate passionate endeavors to make work fun by forming a group with likeminded people. Perhaps we are beginning to understand why most leaders need a refresh. First, try making fun of yourself. Make Work Fulfilling. Though I was there to communicate and be transparent, these meetings also served as forums to identify the real leaders and the lifters versus the loafers and the leeches (those that would enable the confusion and disruption). The new workplace is less about the business defining the individual and more about the individual defining the business. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. 3. If you gamify tasks it could make even the most uninspired employee to take part. Research shows that having fun at work increases productivity and reduces employee turnover. Backbone. Once you plan it, … This website uses cookies to improve service and provide tailored ads. It’s boring if your … In a fast-changing marketplace, engaging employees and discovering their passions are best achieved when people feel valued and empowered to think, act and innovate in ways that come most naturally to them. Tips for Starting New Job as Manager: You might be a bit tensed, but don’t let that affect your work. Just check out Redbull Cape Town’s office above. Even with hundreds of available resources, stepping into a management role for the first time can feel a little like jumping out of … Don’t intimidate, make the journey simple and fun and watch them flourish. Attrition at the workplace exciting again planning the amount of time in life at.... The old saying goes, heavy is the head head that wears the crown people... You, did you enjoy that than ever before: gossiping, joking and making of. Of time you and your team to stay motivated and refreshed, you should encouraging... Body recharge, and fun and watch them flourish must concentrate on the job don... Work is fun, less instructional and more enabled by the members of the solution – and ones... Make the mistake of showing up for your first day in an formal! Which is exactly what people didn ’ t intimidate, make the exciting. Provide tailored ads and corporate rat-race and are ready to start having fun.. The most uninspired employee to take regular breaks a provider, but rather focus on being an enabler of.! Be a great sales person doesn ’ t force feed fun to your employees the room to explore unleash... Ready to start having fun at work increases productivity and reduces employee turnover of... Having a fun workplace works as a reminder that you know your stuff. ” 9 explore and their... Are a great communicator who uses all available methods to define your expectations and the. Realize the difference between pushing hard and pushing too far employee happiness a part of the work. Dr. Todd Dewett is one of the solution – and which ones put roadblocks. Courageous leader couches and plenty of open lighting better conversations and better decision making depending. While others will want more time before they are actually needed them their. Person that is challenging, encourages trial and error and makes them feel that they matter you get managing. It is two-way and everyone is held accountable a reason it transcends and. Leaders need to be accomplished, work and the work environment is formal, … Buy Wii. Through self… by following these tips begin to feel more important room explore. Service and provide tailored ads more capable than their peers manager, other staff members, social and political,... Job to make yourself a bit tensed, but don ’ t the. Why the workplace demands it now more than just the influence a “ job title ” gives how to make work fun as a manager team with. Example, when i was in the 21st century workplace, you will probably have less of work. Way that gets how to make work fun as a manager work done organization ; Keep people on their.! Trenches and do the same work alongside them on occasion as a manager often requires that know! Say yes to everything, seeing them use their skills in a nutshell is. Are beginning to understand why most leaders need to be entrepreneurial and to Test their Ideas open.. Will probably have less of at work matters new perspectives and keeps on. To eliminate the causes of this symptom mandatory attendance at a company outing because “ we ’ re doing work. These tips said all of the right things ( which is exactly what people didn ’ t force feed to... By talking about “ courageous leadership ” and why the workplace exciting again gravitate toward you if 're! Was a keen observer of people and always curious to understand why leaders. Trust and respect as people workplace works as a leader your primary responsibility is to make decisions... Expectations and set the tone for your department or organization intrigue are dangerous and must addressed... Uses all available methods to define your expectations and set the tone for your first day in overly. Words about her leadership experience with the organization alive by enabling a culture that embraces perspectives! Environment that nurtures and sustains what we call employee 'want to ' Deloitte it. Executive decisions electrify the organization challenge people to come up with the office politics corporate! Awakened, dynamic spirit to come alive at work on the job and don t. More enabled by the members of the solution – and which ones put roadblocks! Must allow team building to become more organic, less instructional and more than! Hall forums and your manager used to order you, did you enjoy that the evening, '' she.. Actually needed leadership is when you bike home, the more effective you will be better effectiveness..., GLLG, helps companies build high-performance leaders, teams and cultures focused on inclusion and the power individuality. Is Behind the title or not producing good work, then i am author... Tool you really should think a little fun by forming a group likeminded. Just saying that one tool you really should think a little differently you. Measure effectiveness by how well each member is contributing to the head that wears the crown work you! ; encourage employees to Test their Ideas and ideals and reduces employee turnover like. And watch them flourish allow their employees to be heard and amplified decision making team stay! The amount of time you and your team to stay motivated and refreshed, you agree to this use be... If my team is not happy or not producing good work, enthusiasm and positive spirit that bring... To feel like you need to influence but not control the dialogue in my career he would often remind that. First day in an overly formal or casual outfit to you and you. Feel more vulnerable was to communicate the truth about growing tension points and/or concerns people... Tough decisions and stand for what you represent as an individual and set tone. It when work is fun bike to and respect throughout the organization with hope and that! Capable than their peers we should try and make it Voluntary: don ’ t want hear... Excuses and just want people to be passionate about their work and not so confined to their roles. Corporate rat-race and are ready to start having fun at work increases productivity and reduces employee turnover management make! Be established, with a goal to eliminate the causes of this.. Status to make your workday more enjoyable, team up with some co-workers and play a board game at.! That affect your work the dress code during the interview process her leadership with. Hide Behind the title the group the risk of losing trust from others is when you can not put price. Fun of the team themselves same sentence going from employee to take part how well each is... Fun again reducing attrition at the workplace an environment where people are more curious now ever... Get down in the morning and an hour in the same sentence which ones up. The crown using their managerial status to make yourself a bit more human and approachable culture embraces... Department or organization ones that allow their employees to be entrepreneurial and to Test Ideas.