“Fun at Work” is Not an Oxymoron

That’s right, when it comes to work, “fun” is no longer a dirty word – in fact, it’ s highly recommended. With more evidence that fun and success go hand in hand, business leaders are beginning to realize that a little bit of playful fun at work is not such a bad thing.

According to Adrian Gostick and Scott Christopher, authors of “The Levity Effect: Why it pays to Lighten Up”:

An increasing body of research demonstrates that when leaders lighten up and create a fun workplace, there is a significant increase in the level of employee trust, creativity and communication — leading to lower turnover, higher morale and a stronger bottom line.

The benefits of the Levity Effect are built on extensive research and case studies from some of the world’ s mo st successful organizations, including Boeing, Nike, KPMG, Yamaha, Enterprise, Zappos and dozens of others. These models show how lightening up can drive real business results.

To Get from Good to Great, Just Add Fun

More than a decade of research by the Great Place to Work Institute is also supporting the rise of the “levity at work” movement. Trust us – these folks know a thing or two about best practices. The organization’s massive research database reveals that “great” companies consistently earn significantly higher marks for fun than those organizations deemed merely “good”. That’s a compelling fact worth repeating – employees at the best companies are also having the best time.

Fortune Magazine analyzes the Institute’s data to compile their annual list of  “100 Best Companies to Work For”. An overwhelming majority of employees in the great companies respond that they “work in a fun environment”. Just read Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh’s compelling (and fun to read) book, “Delivering Happiness – A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose”, and you’ll understand why this online retailer is consistently ranked near the top of the list.

The Best Way for Planners to Mix Business and Fun

It’s so obvious (at least to us)…book a meeting at sea. Using a cruise ship for your venue is the best way to throw some fun into your business agenda.

The benefits to meeting planners from a business perspective: dedicated conference and meeting facilities with complimentary use of state-of-the-art AV and multi-media equipment, all meals included in multiple dining venues, built-in activities, a self-contained environment that fosters relationship-building and creative exchange of ideas.

Talk about Fun! After their meetings, attendees will find ample onboard sports & recreational facilities – complimentary. Not to mention an amazing variety of evening entertainment options and top-tier productions on board the ship – also included. There’s a whole world of fun ashore as well, whether your attendees are adventure seekers, culture or history buffs, nature lovers, or wanna-be beach bums.

So lighten up, already! Really, it’s OK – fun is good for business.

Filed under: Fun & Happy Stuff, Meeting & Incentive News, Miscellaneous