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FEAST IN FUN AT WORK
By Marsha Lindquist

Getting too little out of the work you do or the people that work for you?  Do you want to take a journey on the freeway to fun instead of staying on the highway to work nightmares?  Take the next turnoff onto your own road to fun at work.  If your work atmosphere is a negative one, maybe it's time for a feast.

 Fun and work are not mutually exclusive!  At many companies, workers are encouraged to relieve stress in creative ways and are welcomed to lighten up their day.  Enlightened firms understand that employees are far more likely to shine when they are allowed to break from some of the traditional and expected corporate norm - and the companies reap the benefits.

 Want to build a long lasting high performance company?   If you are the President of your company, you set the tone for the rest of the organization. It all starts at the top.  When you lighten up from time to time, you send a clear message to your organization that "We are open to new ideas".  When you encourage some fun, there is room for people to be themselves and that creates an environment of trust, creativity and buoyancy.  New ideas start to emerge and people can't wait to get to work.

 If you are one of people in your organization that thinks your company needs some loosing up, you are probably not alone.  Open your eyes to other possible "players" and find some ways to loosen the serious knots in your establishment.  Be a leader in the fun department even if you are not in charge.  Consider forming a small group of fun seekers to find creative, non-destructive, and non-threatening ways to release the fun in you.

 Bust the stress 
Stress busters can be anything.  Here's a good place to begin.

• Come up with silly mottos that you can attach either to a project you are working on or an upcoming organization event.
• Consider lunchtime play or theme workdays that are not threatening to the wary.
• Think about a once a month unusual dress code or a day when everyone wears their slippers to work.
• If you are the leader of your company, rent a movie theater for your employees for a day and allow them to watch movies that day.
• Have a late afternoon mask party even if it's not Halloween.

 Find healthy ways to smash the work pressure and re-energize with laughter. You will make more money and have more fun while you work.

About the Author
Marsha Lindquist, a business strategist for over 15 years, draws on her proven “down in the trenches” experience, creativity, and participative manner to provide real solutions to businesses to assist them in building and growing their businesses. She is an energetic presenter and is also the Chief Executive Officer of The Management Link, Inc.  As well as being the author of “Why Are You Still Working Your A** Off?”, she has written and published several professional journal articles on business strategy and negotiations.  She can be reached by E-mail at marsha@marshalindquist.com. 

Marsha Lindquist
Marsha@MarshaLindquist.com
www.MarshaLindquist.com
480-473-9977