27 September 2023

Having happy days in a virtual world

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Remote work has reduced the opportunities to relax and have fun with co-workers. Lisa Earle McLeod* suggests ways to get people laughing again.


When was the last time you laughed at work?

Not a polite ‘ha-ha’ response to a cringey joke; not that maniacal laugh either, you know, the kind of crazy howl you do alone when everything is going wrong.

I’m talking about a deep belly laugh with your co-workers. The kind that fills you with endorphins, wakes you up, and connects you to the people around you.

Has it been a while? You’re not alone.

With the compounding stress of a pandemic, constant industry disruption, and awkward return-to-work plans, work is lacking in the fun department these days.

However, we need fun at work to survive, and it also fuels our engagement and creativity.

So, how do we add fun back into the day? Here are four tips to help.

Bring fun into the flow of work

Waiting until there’s more blank space in the calendar is not an option.

In fact, times of great stress are actually when your team needs fun the most — and you don’t have to carve out a half day to play ‘never-have-I-ever’ to make it happen.

Try opening a meeting with a funny story from over the weekend or by playing a silly game.

I was in a meeting recently where we spent the first five minutes trying to guess animal sounds. By the end, we were all laughing.

The ice breaker was a teammate’s idea and we all saw first-hand how something initially silly contributed to more open, creative conversations down the road.

Outsource it (to get started)

When you feel like you’d rather take a nap than lead virtual team building, bringing the energy can be tough.

Try hiring it out, at least at first.

There are tons of options from external facilitators, virtual events, even watching a pre-recorded Netflix special together can add some levity.

The added ‘external’ factor will also help your team mentally step away from day-to-day business.

Build real relationships, and the fun will follow

If your rah-rah is falling on deaf ears, all hope is not lost.

Bringing ‘fun’ to someone in the midst of intense challenges will likely be ineffective.

Instead of focusing on fun, shift your focus to developing a more deep, human relationship.

We have the most fun with people who we trust; our protective instincts must relax in order to make way for the vulnerability and empathy required for humour.

Make it tangible (virtual version of bring snacks)

Whether it’s a make-your-own-cocktail kit, or just some company swag, tactile elements break up the groundhogs-day feeling.

If you’re finding that most days are full of back-to-back Zoom calls, think about what you can do to add an element of physicality.

Our physical environments send us cues and when you change the environment, even in small ways, people’s brains can’t help but engage.

I get it: Your to-do list is long, and ‘fun’ typically lands at the bottom. It doesn’t have to be this way.

There is no need to wait for the offsite team building. Use small bursts and your own vulnerability to bring the joy back to daily work.

*Lisa Earle McLeod is the leadership expert best known for creating the popular business concept Noble Purpose. She is the author of Selling with Noble Purpose and Leading with Noble Purpose. She can be contacted at mcleodandmore.com.

This article first appeared at mcleodandmore.com.

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