leadingtoday.org

Leadership Tip of the Month

August 2005

Copyright 2005 ã weLEAD, Inc.

Playfulness in the Workplace

Many leaders are discovering a quality that was once taboo in the workplace. In the traditional “command and control” work environment, there was little room for laughter or playfulness. It was felt that for work to be effective, it had to be hard and serious. The leader was expected to display a cool and aloof demeanor. The corner office that the leader cloistered himself in was almost sacred and a fearful place! As a young sales manager 20 years ago, I can recall a day when I was cautioned in the corporate office where I worked that the overt laughter and joy I expressed was unacceptable. The good news is that this archaic mindset is changing.

It is certainly true that work, as its name implies, is the physical or mental effort directed toward the production or accomplishment of something. This requires concentration, diligence and analytical activity. The workplace is not intended to be a comedy club or a “roast” of fellow coworkers. However, healthy organizations actually encourage and promote an environment that is seasoned with lighthearted humor and joy. Many leaders are discovering that the correct balance of humor during the workday actually makes everyone more effective and productive! Southwest Airlines is famous for nurturing and achieving a fun-loving and colorful workplace environment!

American General and former United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell has offered this advice, "Have fun in your command. Don't always run at a breakneck pace. Take leave when you've earned it: Spend time with your families. Corollary: surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard."

Here are some valid reasons why playfulness is important in the workplace…

1. Playfulness is a natural human expression. Laughter is a quality that makes us uniquely human and individual. It is unnatural to be in an environment where the expression of joy is forbidden or discouraged. Anyone who works in an unnatural environment become anxious and stressed over a period of just a few hours.

2. Humor helps to reduce stress and tension. Making a timely humorous remark is a well known technique in high-tension situations! It can be used to “break the ice” and reduce conflict among a group of people. Skillful negotiators use this technique to overcome tension because it is effective and produces results.

3. Laughter has scientific health benefits. Studies of human physiology show that laughter releases powerful endorphins into the blood stream. This natural chemical is reputedly 10 times more powerful that morphine, a commonly used pain-relieving drug! This has a stimulating and invigorating effect on the body similar to physical exercise. Laughter is also shown to replenish our cells because of increased oxygen intake. It has been shown to boost our immunity against disease and reduces stress!

4. Leaders can use laughter and playfulness as a way to bond with others and show they are human… with a warm personality. Humor reveals a side of our persona that most folks don’t typically see. Being playful in a balanced way lets others know we care for them and are relaxed enough around them to show the emotion of joy and laughter. It helps to level the playing field and promotes open communication.

5. A playful and humorous environment stimulates creativity. Most organizations today lack a creative and innovative spirit within their workplace culture. A corporation that encourages a healthy appreciation for humor stimulates a creative environment and makes employees more adaptable to change. This is also the kind of culture that allows for others to take balanced risks to solve problems.

The truth is that it is both unnatural and unhealthy for playfulness and humor to be discouraged in the modern stress-filled business world! If you want to work in a balanced and productive environment, encourage humor and model it! Be willing to laugh at yourself and you own foibles, but avoid mocking or chiding others. Schedule regular recreational activities for everyone to enjoy, and encourage everyone to use their vacation time to relax and rejuvenate themselves away from work.

If you would like to learn how to create a more playful work environment, read an excellent weLEAD article by Jody Urquhart entitled, “Creating a Fun Workplace”.

For weLEAD, this is Greg Thomas reminding you that Henry Kissinger once said, “There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full”.