August 21, 2011

Are You Having Fun at Work?

One of the most important values in our company is “have fun!”

We all work a lot.  Who said being professional and achieving greatness had to be done with a serious face?  I don’t know about you, but in my book it’s not that fun to be serious all the time.

I find that when people have fun they’re more relaxed and comfortable.  And when they’re more relaxed and comfortable, they are more happy and productive.

At VietnamWorks and Navigos Search, we take our work seriously but we do like to have a good time.  We let our hair down.  Sometimes we’re just plain goofy.

I encourage people to express themselves and their unique personalities.  One fun way we do this is through “team show” tradition during each of our monthly “All Hands Meetings.”   A different team each month puts on a show.

The video below contains my and Hang’s show from last year.  You can see we’re both having a great time.  Which is important, because the leader of the organization sets the tone.  A leader should make it safe for people not to be so serious all the time.

Are you having fun at work?  Why not try something fun today?  Both you and your team will love it!

(I learned the power of goofiness and fun from Southwest Airlines.  Thank you Herb Kelleher!!)

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