As an advocate for a happier work environment, I endeavor to make everyone’s day a little more pleasant by being friendly, energetic and a little wacky whenever professionally acceptable. I find in doing this that other people enjoy their day just a little bit more and, by proxy (or osmosis in some cases) I enjoy mine a little more too.
The Canadian Armed Forces is an entity which is very serious and totally lacks any sense of fun by it’s very nature. So how do I go about bringing a little fun to my workplace? Here’s a few examples I employ on a semi-regular basis:
- Office-centric by nature, almost everyone in my unit has access to a common network drive, here I’ve stashed a hidden directory filled with funny pictures, small comic strips, and any or all e-mails people have received (internally through work) which are HILARIOUS. I spread the word about (and location of) this secret folder to people I know by word of mouth, and the response has been remarkable.
- Whenever I get up from my workplace terminal I am requried to lock my screen. So before I do I change my background to this: [crazy2.jpg] Or another equally funny background while I am away. This is a subtle way to get some giggles.
- While walking through the halls at work, when I spot someone I know at a distance I _ALWAYS_ give them the goofiest wave I can muster, smile and ask how they are doing. This instantly will brighten almost everyone’s mood.
- Occasionally while passing some of these same people I will just offer up a [high five]. This instantly boosts their energy as it brings out a little of that inner child they have to hide a little too much 😉
- I answer the phone in my office with “[extension number][name]” just like everyone else, as it is the policy where I work… However, I do that in an energetic radio announcer voice! It just perks up the phone calls that extra little bit.
- Whenever possible I twirl in my office chair until I get dizzy.
- At every opportunity I like to pretend my keys are nun-chucks and spin them around from arm to arm making cheesy martial arts movie noises while doing so.
- A group of people were listening to a lecture beside an armored vehicle (about how to maintain it or something), but I noticed that there was a lonely little puddle right by one of the rear wheels… I walked by, slapped the hull (loudly) and yelled ‘BAD BISON! YOU DO THAT OUTSIDE!’ and just kept walking.
A few examples of what I have seen other’s in my workplace doing:
- I was in the washroom a few days ago and someone poked their head into the room (not the stall or anything) and just said “Hang in there gentlemen! The worst of it is over!” and left. There were three of us in there and we all laughed.
- I saw a mechanic in our vehicle bays drumming with a couple of wrenches as he was waiting for someone to roll a tire over. This made me smile.
- I saw a janitor mopping the main corridor, but he looked more like he was auditioning for the musical Stomp. It was quite entertaining.
- A few people will randomly salute people.
- Our DCO (2nd In Command of the unit) has been known to wander out to the smoking area, flop down on a chair, and “bum a smoke” from a private and just “shoot the shit” for twenty to thirty minutes (not wearing his rank flap). He says that “The rank flap tends to intimidate people and discourages them from being casual, and in a smoking area, casual is key.”
So that’s how I view the Fight For Fun in my workplace.
How do you Fight for Fun?