Some people say, "I'll play when I feel better." Funny Inspirational Speaker says, "You'll feel better when you play!" Kansas Women's Leadership Conference Fox News
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Play is valuable because it brings about whole brain thinking. Using the logical left brain and creative right brain together enables you to see the big picture. In the book IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE the author speaker states, "Success is a function of one's ability to innovate, which in turn is a function not of one's capacity for focused, analytical logic - but freewheeling flights of fancy." This is the kind of thinking people indulge in when they think humorously.
Creativity leadership expert Roger Von Oech, author of the book A WHACK ON THE SIDE OF THE HEAD has this view: "If necessity is the mother of invention, play is the father. It's when you're not taking yourself seriously that your defenses are down, your mental locks are loosened, and there is little concern with the rules, or being wrong."
Another perspective on the value of play comes from Dr. George Sheehan: "We need play to leaven what we do. Without play, work is labor; it is doing something for money. But if we have work that's play then we have beaten the system."
Healthy people tend to be the most productive and laughter contributes to good health - mental and physical. Laughter improves circulation, fills the lungs with oxygen-rich air, stabilizes blood pressure and causes beneficial changes in the chemistry of the body. Leadership Laughter Pioneer, Dr. William F. Fry has been studying laughter for more than 40 years. He says that 20 seconds of intense laughter, even if faked, can double the heart rate for three to five minutes, an accomplishment that would take three minutes of strenuous rowing exercise. Motivational speaker, patch adams had a movie built around his hospital designed to help children heal with humor.
Why we need to have more fun at work:
- Studies on show staff want to work in a fun, lighthearted environment
- Humor and Fun increase energy and inspiration for the job
- Laughing ignites whole brain thinking that enhances creativity and productivity
- Hearty laughter speeds up the heart rate, improves blocked circulation, accelerates breathing and increases oxygen consumption
- Laughing instantly decreases stress, increases wellness
- Happy employees create happy customers. It enhances interpersonal skills
- Fun broadens your perspective and enhances leadership skills.
- A sense of humor is one of the essential leadership qualities. Leadership looks like they know what they are doing when they smile. It inspires confidence.
- People with a good sense of humor are easier to get along with
- Humor builds self confidence when you are able to laugh at yourself it makes you less afraid to communicate mistakes
- Well placed humor softens criticism
- Humor and Laughter defuse tension
Also, watching Dr. Fry give one of his inspirational speeches he says laughter stimulates the production of catecholamines, the alertness hormones.
The How To’s:
Including fun and play in job descriptions will be more common in the future as employers realize how cost effective it can be. How about a late afternoon break for employees to play a video or computer game? How about a joke telling break?
Humor should always feel good ( happy, relaxed, effective)
Humor should poke fun at stressful situations not people
Humor has very little to do with jokes (less than 12% of what we laugh at is joke like) and more to do with laughing at common stresses
Humor should not be used to insult or sarcastically get away with inappropriate comments
Consider starting your meetings with humor. As humor becomes more a part of your business, the more it will be perceived as acceptable. With humor in every meeting there would be a portion that everyone would look forward to. Humor, as a natural part of communication, also helps.
When you send out your next memo, write it in a light-hearted fashion.
Adopt a fun and playful attitude
Hire a humorous motivational speaker. Fun in the workplace speakers can inspire the funny bone in people show you how to keep it alive.
The best way to use humor is to have the self confidence to laugh at yourself. Make sure people understand why you are encouraging humor, most people have only one way to deal with stressful situations and it is a negative response you are training them to see things in a positive way.
Studies show that we spend 75% of our time in work related activities! So, if we spend 75% of our time somehow involved in work, shouldn’t it be fun?
Jody Urquhart is a motivational speaker who for the last ten years has motivated and inspired professionals to use humor to change there lives. Please contact us to see how we can recognize and inspire professionals at your next event.