Lean Quote: This Valentine’s Day Make Someone Smile or Laugh

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve.

"This Valentine’s Day either make someone smile or laugh… or both. It will do you and them both some good."  — James Farmer

The words "work" and "fun" shouldn't be antithetical. But for so many people, they are.

Here are 5 of my favorite ways to make work fun so your employees stay happy and motivated…

Laugh.

Work doesn't have to be all business, all the time. Of course, you need to maintain your professionalism — but that doesn't mean you can't crack a smile (or a joke). When you smile and laugh, others around you will do the same (it's contagious!) and your office will be an all-around happier place to be.

Compliment someone every day.

When a coworker tells you they liked the idea you pitched in the morning meeting, or the new painting you put up in your office, it makes you feel good. So, you should do the same to others. You'll actually feel just as good giving the compliment as you do receiving it.

Share community service experiences.

Think back to the most powerful memories you have. They’re powerful because they are emotional—whether inspiring and uplifting or challenging with some struggle or trauma. Giving money to charities is cool, but donating time is far more emotional.

Embrace celebration and appreciation.

Sometimes we forget just to say thank you to our co-workers and the people that helped us be successful. Every day saying thank you and remembering small details about people’s lives is not only important but shows a token of kindness that goes a long way!

Inspire creativity.

Even if your company isn’t a creative one…or if your role is the opposite of creative, you can be creative at work. Just remember “creativity” doesn’t have to be literal, meaning you don’t have to make a piece of art. Creativity can come in many forms and will inspire others to be creative in their day-to-day, and will in many cases bring a smile to someone’s face—that might be you, it may be your co-workers. Either way, expressing yourself in a medium that means something to you can be inspiring for others.

All work and no play makes us crabby and dull! Where there is laughter, joy and fun, high-performance teams thrive. There are countless ways to have fun and even attach empowering meaning to it at the same time. The above ideas will get you started!