Pimp your Workplace Beyond the Rugby World Cup

Ross Thomson

One of the many positive outcomes of the Rugby World Cup was the rugby themed fun that everyone had. Kiwis, normally shy and retiring, celebrated their team and displayed black and white flags all over town! Workplaces also finally gave themselves permission to add some colour and fun into the work environment. This included pimping the office with flags, adopted country themes, costumes, draws and games. It is clear that the RWC brought teams together to embrace more than just work. And so, now that the cup is over why not carry on this enthusiasm and camaraderie, by continuing to pimp your workplace and have fun?

Many workers are feeling the effects of having to take all their RWC decorations down. They are realizing just how dull their workplaces were before the cup.  In one local office staff mourned the loss of these decorations and felt deflated. However, they were consoled by the admin staff and told “Don’t worry we will replace them with Christmas Decorations!”

No one seems content to go back to the status quo of a boring, normal looking office. This ongoing spirit of fun could even be good for business. David Koutsoukis in his book Workplace Fun Ideas suggests that “happy people are productive people”. And, the famous comedian John Cleese once said “if you want creative workers, give them enough time to play”.

Fun is good for business

Koutsoukis outlines what research has found about having fun (and laughter) in your workplace:

1.    It makes you feel good.

2.    It promotes optimism

3.    It reduces stress

4.    It eases boredom

5.    It helps us cope with problems

6.    It helps build relationships

7.    It breaks down barriers

8.    It lightens up serious or tense situations

9.    It promotes creativity and problem solving

10.  It creates joy among people

Keep the fun going!

Having a common office theme during the RWC has helped most people embrace the idea of fun at work. Workplaces could therefore continue to promote themes that everyone at work values or has in common. These could include:

1.    Christmas

2.    Summer Holidays

3.    Waitangi Day

4.    St Patrick’s Day

5.    Valentines

6.    Easter

7.    Anzac

8.    Queen’s Birthday

9.    Bastille Day

10.  Ramadan

11.  Melbourne Cup

12.  Hanukkah

13.  Australia – New Zealand sports clashes

14.  Pet Day

Workplaces could also encourage individuals to pimp their own workspace. This allows individuals the fun and creativity of bringing a bigger part of themselves into the workplace. Workspaces might include:

1.    Photos

2.    Favorite colours

3.    Hobby memorabilia

4.    Green plants

5.    Sports memorabilia

6.    Favorite music

7.    Sports interests

8.  Most outrageous clothes

Having had a taste of pimping our work places and having fun celebrating a theme, it is now up to all of us to keep the momentum going. Surely none of us would want to be guilty of confirming John Cleese’s humorously cynical view of the business world when he says “I find it rather easy to portray a businessman. Being bland, rather cruel and incompetent comes naturally to me.”

Ross Thomson is a Director of Joyworkz Ltd.

REFERENCES

 Cleese, John. (2011) http://www.brainyquote.com

 Koutsoukis, David (2006) Workplace Fun Ideas E-book retrieved from http://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/94543/workplacefunIdeas-education.pdf