Catalyst Ranch, our innovative meeting venue in Chicago’s West Loop, is known for its unique environment. Many words have been used to describe the atmosphere and decor at the Ranch, including eclectic, bright, inspiring, quirky, whimsical, and . . . FUN! Back in the olden days, some folks said, “Work isn’t meant to be fun, that’s why they call it Work.” Plenty of companies – including a little known company called Google – beg to differ! It turns out (and plenty of studies have proven) that people like FUN! In fact, ten out of ten Ranch Hands say they like FUN! Adding a bit of fun, in ways that are appropriate and not distracting, to professional settings has become more common over the past few years as companies have seen fun benefit their bottom lines. Fun company activities and whimsical office decor can really boost a company’s culture. The culture of an organization has a huge impact on employee loyalty, well-being, and productivity which in turn affects customer service, product development, and profitability.
Google Zurich
“When you bring recreation to the workplace, you not only promote creativity and innovation, which can increase your profitability, you also reduce costs in employee turnover and health care,” says Sarah Hansen of Team Gannt. Invest in your company culture by upping the fun factor in your workplace. We’re not suggesting you throw your laptop out the window and replace it with a disco ball, but here are a few ideas to improve morale and productivity by infusing a dash of fun into your company culture.
Encourage (a reasonable amount of) Socializing
“Humans are social creatures. There are a lot of managers out there that see employees talking to each other as a waste of time, and unproductive,” Jacob Shriar, Growth Manager at Officevibe explains. Of course, too much chitchat can be a misuse of time, but conversations between colleagues can build trust and unity in the office. Sometimes joking around at the Ranch spurs an innovative idea for something new we can offer our clients and then we get down to business implementing those ideas.
Researcher Helen Stockhult says in Gallup Business Journal, “Human beings are social animals, and work is a social institution . . . the evolution of quality relationships is very normal and an important part of a healthy workplace.” In Stockhult’s article she also explains that employees who have friendships at work are more likely to report receiving praise or recognition, receive feedback about their progress, feel that their jobs are important, and that their opinions are heard. So, take two minutes to chat while you refill your coffee. You may discover a co-worker has expertise that can help you with a project, or you may give a compliment that makes your co-worker’s day!
Add Friendly Competition to Incentivize Staff
NextJump is a company that provides internet-based Rewards and Loyalty programs to corporations, affinity groups, and institutions worldwide. NextJump believes in changing the world by changing workplace culture because “culture is the process which leads to a successful sustainable business.” When they sought to make a change within their own company culture, they implemented a health and wellness program for their staff. They built a gym inside their office and tried a few different ideas to motivate employees, but it didn’t really take off.
So they made the program more fun with weekly competitions between the employees which were tracked on a leaderboard. They raised the stakes, offering the employee with the best results a $1,000 cash prize. Prizes, even if they’re just bragging rights, can increase the energy, enthusiasm, and camaraderie in the workplace.
Celebrate the Small (and Big!) Things
Sometimes in the details of the everyday, employees can lose sight of
the progress they’ve made or how much their department has accomplished. They may not see how the tasks they complete fit into the bigger picture at their company. When something goes well, take a moment to celebrate and recognize everyone who contributed to the success of a certain project or a particularly profitable quarter. Who doesn’t appreciate positive feedback? Creating an opportunity for staff to socialize and do something fun recharges teams and motivates them to keep up the good work!
At Catalyst Ranch, we always celebrate our company anniversary in some way. Whether it is sharing a cake with our clients and staff or throwing a big bash, an anniversary is a great time to reflect on the journey from the company’s origin to the present and congratulate one another on a job well done. Inevitably, annual Ranch gatherings like these evoke feelings of nostalgia. The more experienced staff members share fun – and funny! – stories from the early years at the Ranch, so this folklore is passed on to newer employees. It is a unique way for employees to connect as they discover and celebrate the company’s history.
So, dear Creative Juice readers, this is your charge: socialize, compete, and celebrate to make your workday more fun, productive, and profitable! How does your company already incorporate the spirit of fun into its culture? Share your tips in the comments!
