Work Made Fun
Robin Kennedy, SPHR
My HR Department
www.myhr.biz
FISH!
Catch the Energy -
Release the Potential
• Re-Energizes the workplace
• Fosters teamwork
• Enhances productivity
• Boosts employee morale
• Creates memorable experiences for customers
Work Made Fun
Gets Done!
The Philosophy
Play
Be There
Make Their Day
Choose Your Attitude
FISH Principle 1
Play
PLAY
• Go to work and have fun with it
• Throwing fish, kidding with customers, yelling after each other
• Invent new ways to enjoy the experience and make others enjoy
it with them
PLAY Ideas
• Bulletin Board with employee photos (kids, pets, hobbies)
• Centralized point for sharing good news: weddings, births,
new home
• Candid photos at work
• Cartoon of the day
• Tell a funny story about yourself
• Have “silly” days: NASCAR Day, Christmas in July
• Bubble wrap under someone’s desk chair
• Department of the Month: Highlight them, Activity for them
• Toy Box: stress balls, paddle ball
• Fun screensavers
• Music
• Adopt a cheer or code phrase to start each shift
FISH Principle 2
Be there
Be There
• Actively Listen
• Make the conscious effort to be engaged no
matter where their minds are
• Living in the moment and not being a “feather
in the wind”
• React to others and work with others
Be There Ideas
• Smile more often
• Look them in the eye
• Say ‘Good Morning’
• Listen to what others have to say
• Don’t interrupt
• Ask how someone is, and really listen
• Restate what you heard … for clarification
• Give your undivided attention
• Act glad to see people
• Support someone’s idea
• Notice another person’s mood and respond appropriately
• Pay attention – no matter what is distracting you
FISH Principle 3
Make
their
day
Make Their Day
• Engage customers in a way that creates
memories, good feelings and stories
• Focus on them, let them know they are there
and they are appreciated
• Form connections both physically and
mentally
Make Their Day Ideas
• Every 100th customer gets something
• Give an extra effort
• Host a customer (or employee) appreciation event
• Deliver an unexpected kindness
• Hug someone
• Laugh with someone
• Take a wildflower to a client
• Write a note
• Managers wash cars for employees
• Birthday or Work Anniversary
celebration/acknowledgement
• Random act of kindness … Pay it forward
• Lunch together
• Popsicles on a hot day
FISH Principle 4
Choose your
attitude
Choose Your Attitude
• Choosing to stay positive and engaged is a decision
you can make
• Not easy when there are other distractions
• You control your attitude and how you want to
respond
Choose Your Attitude Ideas
• Count your blessings, not your troubles
• Be grateful for every day – every client – every opportunity
• Write down things you like about your job
• Celebrate your successes
• Start fresh every day
• Each morning – decide to be happy
• Don’t gossip
• Surround yourself with inspirational items: pictures, quotes
• Enjoy the moment – Whale photos
• Don’t sweat the small stuff
• Stop complaining and blaming others
• Distance yourself from negative people
• Positive thought for the day or Daily devotional
• Look for the good in everything
• “This too shall pass”
• Play
…is synonymous with work. It’s about having fun, enjoying yourself, being spontaneous and
creative. Life is too short to spend it frowning… and FISH! brings a smile to your face!
• Make Their Day
…It’s about doing something special for your customers and co-workers. When you make
someone’s day, you have given them a special gift they won’t soon forget.
• Be There
…It’s about being focused on the moment and on the person or task with which you are engaged.
When we are fully present with others, we are actively listening and important opportunities won’t
escape us.
• Choose Your Attitude
…It’s about accepting responsibility for all of our choices, even our attitude at work. A positive
attitude is a decision we make.
FISH! in Healthcare
This idea’s fine for the fishmarket …
but I work in healthcare!
FISHing Practice
• I usually sigh and roll my eyes when …
• The next time I want to roll my eyes I will …
• I really hate it when … happens at work. My
normal reaction is to … For fishing practice I
will try …
• The worst part of my job could become at
least tolerable if I could …
• I think my fellow employees and/or patients
would love it if I …
Envision An
Ocean of Opportunities
• If my workplace were more fun and playful it
would …
• I could help make my workplace more fun and
playful by …
• I can see myself ‘making someone’s day’.
This is what it looks like …
• I can ‘be there’ for my clients. The best way I
can do this is …
FISH! gets into the hearts and minds
of everyone at work,
empowering them to be alive and engaged.
New attitudes develop.
Performance improves.
Customers notice.
Trust increases.
Motivation utlook
o
iti ve Prod
em Pos uctiv
ity
ste Commitm
ent
el f- e
S
Po Confidence Emotio
nal Hea
sit lth
ive
Ou
tc Stress levels
om
es Moral
Toleranc e
e
lth
H ea Job sa
tisfacti
Self-resp
ect t al on
M en
Energy
For more on this and other training programs
for your workplace, contact:
Robin Kennedy, SPHR
Human Resource Consultant
My HR Department
www.myhr.biz