Managing to Have Fun : How Fun at Work Can Motivate Your Employees, Inspire Your Coworkers, and Boost Your Bottom Line

Rating:
Summary: The Advantages of Fun at Work and How to Grasp Them!
Review: I was delighted when I found this book. I have been thinking about how much better work would be if fun was deliberately emphasized. Wow! Then I found a book that not only subscribes to that idea, but is full of practical advice for how to pursue that liberating concept.

Weinstein is the self-described emperor of a company called Playfair. He and his colleagues give a lot of speeches, and only charge if they fail to get a standing ovation. So far, they've always gotten paid. So here are some people who know how to generate enthusiasm.

In the beginning of the book, Weinstein uses an example of Marshall Hall, a CEO who came to one of his speeches, to show how the ideas can be pursued. At first, Hall could not imagine how he could take any of the pressure off his people. With coaching, he began to make steady progress in adding fun in ways that are consistent with the trust he has established in his enterprise. Skeptical people on the subject of fun will find these examples helpful.

In the middle of the book are 52 examples (one for each week of the year) of ideas for adding fun. You don't have to follow them blindly, but they can stimulate your thinking. One of my favorites was paying the toll for the person behind you at the toll booth, and lingering behind to see the expression on the person's face when they catch up to you on the road. I've done that, and it can be a lot of fun.

In the end, Weinstein tells a story from his own organization about someone who was having trouble dealing with a lot of fears about flying in small planes. Playfair evolved some fun ways to help him that made all of the difference.

Beyond the fact that we would all like to have some fun at work, the book makes a decent case for the role of fun in team building, better customer service, morale, generating loyalty, and in reducing stress. For example, in one study, those who found coins in a pay telephone were 4 times as likely to help someone who dropped packages in front of them as they finished their call as those who did not find any coins.

One of my very favorite examples in the book was of a boss who put little candies and rewards into his memos to encourage his assistant to have fun typing them up. Then, he surprised her one day by inviting her into the office, closing the door, and dancing with her for one minute. He knew she liked dancing, and they do this once a month or so. Basically, it is an affirmation of his respect for her. It was this story that led to Marshall Hall feeling that he could never add fun to his company. He was sure his assistant would sue him for sexual harrassment!

Be sure to read the story about Aunt Jemima. It'll give you a good laugh as well.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in making work more meaningful and satisfying for themselves and others. It is the essence of the fun part of the book, Nuts!, about Southwest Airlines.

Rating:
Summary: The Advantages of Fun at Work and How to Grasp Them!
Review: I was delighted when I found this book. I have been thinking about how much better work would be if fun was deliberately emphasized. Wow! Then I found a book that not only subscribes to that idea, but is full of practical advice for how to pursue that liberating concept.

Weinstein is the self-described emperor of a company called Playfair. He and his colleagues give a lot of speeches, and only charge if they fail to get a standing ovation. So far, they've always gotten paid. So here are some people who know how to generate enthusiasm.

In the beginning of the book, Weinstein uses an example of Marshall Hall, a CEO who came to one of his speeches, to show how the ideas can be pursued. At first, Hall could not imagine how he could take any of the pressure off his people. With coaching, he began to make steady progress in adding fun in ways that are consistent with the trust he has established in his enterprise. Skeptical people on the subject of fun will find these examples helpful.

In the middle of the book are 52 examples (one for each week of the year) of ideas for adding fun. You don't have to follow them blindly, but they can stimulate your thinking. One of my favorites was paying the toll for the person behind you at the toll booth, and lingering behind to see the expression on the person's face when they catch up to you on the road. I've done that, and it can be a lot of fun.

In the end, Weinstein tells a story from his own organization about someone who was having trouble dealing with a lot of fears about flying in small planes. Playfair evolved some fun ways to help him that made all of the difference.

Beyond the fact that we would all like to have some fun at work, the book makes a decent case for the role of fun in team building, better customer service, morale, generating loyalty, and in reducing stress. For example, in one study, those who found coins in a pay telephone were 4 times as likely to help someone who dropped packages in front of them as they finished their call as those who did not find any coins.

One of my very favorite examples in the book was of a boss who put little candies and rewards into his memos to encourage his assistant to have fun typing them up. Then, he surprised her one day by inviting her into the office, closing the door, and dancing with her for one minute. He knew she liked dancing, and they do this once a month or so. Basically, it is an affirmation of his respect for her. It was this story that led to Marshall Hall feeling that he could never add fun to his company. He was sure his assistant would sue him for sexual harrassment!

Be sure to read the story about Aunt Jemima. It'll give you a good laugh as well.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in making work more meaningful and satisfying for themselves and others. It is the essence of the fun part of the book, Nuts!, about Southwest Airlines.

Rating:
Summary: More Fun = More Production
Review: Mr. Weinstein proves again how happy employees are more productive employees. I have worked in jobs that would have been far more rewarding had the other employees not been in such bad moods all the time. With all the corporate scandals lately, companies would definately benefit by using these strategies to boost moral and efficiency.

Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey is another great book for companies to share with employees because it offers entertaining stories and goal oriented advice about improving your workplace and your life.

Rating:
Summary: Fun in the workplace is not a lost art
Review: This book is highly valuable in a work culture that seems to uptight for its own good. This book gives wonderful ideas on how to make that stiff upperlip quiver into a smile.