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Creating More Fun Working Conditions

StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Fun Working Conditions|Creating More Fun Working ConditionsAny company can make the working conditions at their company an asset for their employees. A report by CMI Workplace found that if workers feel happy in their office surroundings they are less likely to be stressed at work. This is especially relevant given more than half of Americans report exposure to unpleasant and potentially hazardous working conditions and nearly one in five American workers are exposed to a hostile or threatening social environment at work, as reported by the American Working Conditions Survey. Here’s some examples of how companies are making working conditions at their companies more fun today.

  • Relationship-driven leadership consulting firm SkyeTeam, based in Broomfield, Colorado doesn’t just tell its staff that working with the firm will be fun. They mean it. To help its stakeholders to remember, expect, and demonstrate fun, four of their eight core values are “Have Fun.” Founder and CEO Morag Barrett says, “Having fun is infectious. It immediately breaks down barriers and connects people—clients and associates. When we share experiences and enjoy each other, it’s easier to figure out the real problems and the best solutions.” CSO Ruby Vesely, who has been known to dress up in a KISS rock band costume, considers the whole team as personal friends. “I don’t get up in the morning to work for myself, I work for us, our families, each other.” COO Eric Spencer agrees. Spencer recently designed and delivered a safety program for the oil and gas industry. He feels his genuine, and friendly banter before and during sessions helped to build trust with his groups. The result: the client experienced a 17 percent drop in safety problems. “We show up as ourselves. We’re authentic, prepared, we listen, and have fun. And get great results,” says Spencer.
  • When noted author and celebrated raconteur Peter Jensen was editing articles for Sunset magazine, the Building Editor brought eight hats to work one day. Why? “We used to have some fairly deadly department meetings until the editor had us each put one on and conduct ourselves with a little more levity than usual,” says Jensen. “We had a good laugh and got a lot done.”
  • “Tax season is a time of stress, long days, and longer weeks. In fact, we work pretty much every Saturday from January through April 15th,” said an associate with Horovitz, Rudoy & Rogan, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania CPA firm. To lighten things up, they observe Saturday Fun Days with themes like Alternate Profession Day, College Day, Pajama Day, and Cartoon Day. People dress in clothing and decorate their offices to match the day’s theme. “At noon we vote on the best outfit and office. We keep a leaderboard in the lunchroom and at the end of the season, the top three scores win gift cards,” the associate added. “Even our customers get involved; calling to see what Saturday’s theme is going to be so they can come dressed to ‘fit in’.”
  • At the Denver, Colorado and San Francisco, California offices of Gusto’s, a payroll software business, workers enjoy a “no shoes” policy. Cofounders Josh Reeves, Edward Kim, and Tomer London were all raised in “no shoes” households, so when they started working together out of a house, there was never a shoe in sight. When the company moved to its first conventional office, the no-shoes tradition came too. “Companies can be sterile and cold,” Josh told The New York Times. “We want our workplace to be really comfortable. In some ways, people feel more like themselves when their shoes are off.” Visitors to the company can see over 600 pairs of shoes stored in slots at the entrance, and they are asked to remove their own shoes. Then they’re given a choice of wearing slippers, spa sandals, or company-branded socks. Gusto’s mission is to help people find a community at work and let work empower them to lead better lives, and the “no shoes” tradition ties into it. Traditional work footwear is also not a requirement at Houzz, an interior design application firm located in Palo Alto, California. On their first day of work, workers receive complimentary slippers to wear around the office.
  • Online retailer Zappos, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, has a huge reputation as a fun place to work. The dress code is extremely casual, and anyone entering the building wearing a tie has it cut in half and pinned to the wall in the lobby. Desks have stuffed animals, and Blue Man Group-designed sculptures line the walls and emit sounds. “Create fun and a little weirdness” is written in the Zappos corporate charter.
  • The president of Belmont University in Nashville, TN took a sabbatical to learn more about high-performing organizations by visiting successful companies. He learned that there was a strong correlation between performance and having fun, so when he returned, he created a Fun Committee and placed them in charge of creating more fun on the campus from events, activities, celebrations, and more.
  • Perkins Coie, a law firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington, has a Happiness Committee made up of anonymous employees, any one of who can decide, “It’s time to do something.” Committee members perform anonymous acts of kindness, such as leaving gifts at workstations. Offices also hold monthly birthday parties, regular happy hours, and spontaneous celebrations throughout the year, like a picnic on the roof, and Popsicle socials. An elaborate, annual holiday party features skits from new attorneys and appearances by the firm’s managing partner, who has appeared as many characters including a Vegas showgirl, Dolly Parton, and an Oompa Loompa.
  • About once a month, employees at TechniGraphics, the engineering data company headquartered in Wooster, Massachusetts, completely empty the building during lunch time. They may go bowling, ice skate, or meet at Acres of Fun, where they can drive go-karts or play mini golf. Richard Danby, human resources director, said these and other social events are needed because employees work in units separated from each other. “This is an opportunity for a morale builder and an opportunity for employees to get to know each other better,” he said. Sometimes they host onsite events like chili cook-offs and ping-pong tournaments, as long as they promote fun.
  • “At Zoom, employee appreciation and happiness is not a day, it’s a way of life,” says Heather Swan, Chief Happiness Officer/Strategic Alliances. A video communications business headquartered in San Jose, California, the company offers the expected Silicon Valley benefits. “Our executive team and volunteer employee Happiness Crew also deliver happiness to our employees, customers, and community through unique activities, perks, experiences, and more,” Swan adds. Specific programs include:
  • Reimbursing workers for any book they/their family members buy, with no cap
  • Reimbursing workers for fitness or gym memberships/classes, with no cap
  • Executives taking turns hosting monthly breakfasts for their teams

As you can see by the above examples, having fun doesn’t have to take a lot of money or time. Start small with something your employees are excited about and build from there. As your workers better enjoy their work environment, they can’t help but better enjoy their work as well, and as a result they’ll be more productive and excited about who they are working with, who they are serving and what they are accomplishing for the company and themselves.


About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Bob NelsonStrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Mario TamayoBob Nelson, Ph.D., is the leading worldwide advocate for employee recognition and engagement. Mario Tamayo is a principal with Tamayo Group Inc. and has more than 30 years of experience in maximizing human performance. Together they co-authored Work Made Fun Gets Done! East Ways to Boost Energy, Morale, and Results (Berrett-Koehler, 2021).

Time For a New Career? Here’s How to Scope Out Your Options

StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |New Career|Time For a New Career? Here's How to Scope Out Your OptionsRight now, there are a lot of people looking for new roles. The reasons for this are various and as individual as each person searching the jobs boards. A major cause of people looking for employment is the coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout the course of the pandemic, many people lost their work – whether that was due to the company they worked for collapsing or being made redundant. Many people also took time on furlough or between jobs and have had time to reconsider what they’re doing, realising that the work they’re currently carrying out isn’t for them and that they’d like to try something new. Whatever your reason for looking for a new job, you can rest assured that there are plenty of options out there. Here’s how you can whittle them down and find the right position for you and your needs.

Industry or Sector

First, consider what industry or sector you want to go into. Many people have a vague idea of what kind of work they’d like to do and would find fulfilling. Knowing a general industry or sector can help you to determine what roles are available and conduct more research into them. Some popular industries and sectors include retail, hospitality, healthcare, IT and more.

Training

If you’re entering a completely new field, you may find that certain roles require training or qualifications that can take time, money and effort to receive. You need to determine whether this is something that you are willing to do to be able to land the position you have in mind. If you want to go into medicine, you could have a long, seven year degree ahead of you. If you want to become a security guard, you may need to undertake security guard training. If you want to become an accountant, there will be all sorts of specific courses to the area that you live in that you will need to complete. Determine whether you’re willing to undertake the necessary training before setting your heart on any given role.

Location

The location of a job can determine whether it’s right for you. You need to determine where you want to live and then you can start job hunting within the area. The good news is that most roles are available in most areas. For example, if you want to become a social media manager, chances are, most locations will have a company in need of this. However, for more specific roles, you may need to relocate. For example, if you want to become a marine biologist, chances are, you’re going to have to be willing to live near the sea.

Salary

Of course, salary should be a consideration when applying for roles. What amount of money do you need to be able to provide yourself with a good quality of life. This figure will differ from person to person. If you have dependents, chances are, you’ll need to earn more than someone who lives alone and independently.

These are just a few areas to mull over during your job hunt. Hopefully, each will help you to find a position that works for you!

4 Steps to Build a Strong Board of Directors

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Board of Directors|4 Steps to Build a Strong Board of DirectorsBuilding a board of directors can be difficult, but getting it right is essential. A well-run board of directors will help you achieve your strategic goals and ensure the long-term success of your business, whereas a disorganized and inefficient board will stunt business growth and harm profits and revenue.

Here are four steps you should take to build a strong board of directors:

Step 1: Choose board members wisely

You need to elect board members who have skills and expertise that align with your strategic business goals. Ideally, board members should have leadership and management experience in a field that is related to your business. They should also show a commitment to your organization and have the time and energy to fulfill their board responsibilities.

Step 2: Elect an experienced chairman

The chairman will preside over board meetings and facilitate good board governance and leadership. They will take on a senior and crucial role in your board of directors, and you must choose the right person for the job.

Research the characteristics of a strong chairman and elect someone who has several years of experience in a similar role. You need someone that can advise you on the best board governance practices, after all. Remember that the chairman you elect will have a significant impact on the overall effectiveness of your board of directors, so don’t make the decision lightly.

Step 3: Select the right number of directors

You must consider how many board members you will need for your company. According to advice on thebalancesmb.com, “five to seven members is plenty for small organizations. Larger, more complex organizations might want to select between 9 and 11 members at the minimum.” Various studies have found that organizations with a smaller board size tend to perform better than those with an excessively large board of directors.

Keep in mind that not every organization has a board of directors, and you might not need a formal board. An advisory board may be a more suitable option, especially if your company is small or a start-up. You can then transition to a formal board of directors when your company grows and becomes more complex.

Step 4: Offer effective board orientation

When a new member joins your board of directors, you must provide them with an effective orientation to prepare them for the role. Make sure this covers the roles and responsibilities of board members, your company background, and your strategic objectives.

An effective orientation process will make new board members feel welcomed and keep them engaged in their work. It will also provide them will the tools and knowledge that they can hit the ground running and add value to your organization.

Summary

Assembling a board of directors that will add value to your business can be a difficult and daunting task. However, you must get it right, as your board will play a vital role in business growth and development.

Follow these steps to create and maintain a strong board of directors that will drive profits and help you achieve your long-term objectives.

3 tips for brainstorming as a professional

StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article | 3 tips for brainstorming as a professionalBrainstorming sessions are the perfect way to improve your business. They will make sure all noses are pointing in the same direction. It almost sounds promising and exciting to go in for a new session. What are we talking about today? Which new products will we launch the upcoming months? Being part of a team of motivated employees and working on new things to improve your business can be ecstatic. It will boost your creative mind in ways you have never felt before. Unfortunately, this is not always the reality. Bad brainstorm sessions are more common than you think. Want to know how to improve the brainstorm sessions within your business? Here are 3 tips to help you brainstorm as a professional.

1. Only use pen and paper

Brainstorming can be quite hard when there are distractions all around you. That’s why it can be a great idea to put smartphones, tablet and laptops aside and just use plain and simple pen and paper. Just get out your favourite cross pen and an empty notebook and start writing. Just as you would when there weren’t any shortcuts.

Fun fact: by writing you’ll boost your brain to think more creatively. Writing words will take some effort from your brain. The left- and right side of your brain will need to be in perfect harmony to write. That’s why its capable to think more solution-oriented. Just what you need when brainstorming as a professional.

2. Assemble a great team

The people you work with during a brainstorm session are the most important. They make or break the success of the meeting. That’s why it’s important to assemble a great and very much diverse team. Don’t speak only with the employees of a certain department, but assemble a team with people from every department in your business. People who have right to say things. Of course, this doesn’t mean you’ll invite the janitor when there is a brainstorming about launching new products. The people you invite, need to have some form of connecting to the issue you’re trying to resolve.

It’s not only important to assemble the right team, but also to make sure that there aren’t to many participants in the room. The magic number will be between six and ten. Not too big, not too small.

3. Document everything

In the heat of the moment sometimes people will be outspoken by other participants. That can be a shame. Especially when great ideas aren’t heard. That’s why it’s important to ask a team member to document everything that’s being said. So, when the brainstorming session has ended, you’re able to read through the different ideas and maybe enjoy a great solution, which you hadn’t known about if there weren’t any notes.

A Look at the Bitcoin Price History

StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article |Bitcoin Price History|A Look at the Bitcoin Price HistoryEver since Bitcoin was made public, it has gone on to be one of the most valuable crypto coins. Bitcoin has high liquidity, meaning that selling it is very easy. However, Bitcoin prices tend to be highly volatile and its price fluctuates so much.

However, its volatility shouldn’t discourage you from purchasing a few Bitcoins. In this guide, we will take a look at the Bitcoin price history. We will also look at how you can invest in crypto coins if you haven’t done so already.

Buying Bitcoin

Buying Bitcoin is very simple these days. You have the option of using crypto exchange apps or P2P platforms. If you are a newbie, we would suggest you use a crypto exchange platform. They are simple to use and offer wallet services that can come in handy when you’re starting out.

Crypto exchange platforms are available as web apps and on iOS and Android. So, you can access the service from your smartphone or laptop. You will first need to sign up for an account to access the services. Most crypto exchanges allow users to buy, sell, or swap crypto coins. The signup process is very straightforward. All you need is an email address and you’re good to go.

Once your account is verified, your next step is adding your preferred mode of payment. These days, you can buy crypto from your bank account via your debit or credit card. The crypto platform will charge you a small fee to cover the transaction. If you’re new to crypto, this is a great post to read as it will help you understand its history.

History of Bitcoin Price

If you look at the price of Bitcoin over the years, there is one standout feature. Bitcoin prices always close out at a higher price than what they started with at the beginning of the year. When Bitcoin was made available to the public in 2009, it was valued at $1 USD. At the time, most people didn’t believe in digital currencies.

Bitcoin’s major selling point was that the transactions were anonymous. The transactions were added to the blockchain without any human intervention. In 2011, Bitcoin was still trading at $17 USD. However, in June of the same year, its price crashed down to $0.01 USD.

That price crash was caused after a major crypto exchange trader announced that it had been hacked. In 2012, Bitcoin faced another test of time. Many Bitcoins were scammed through a Ponzi scheme that promised investors interest rates of up to 7% per week. During that period, close to 700,000 Bitcoin was stolen in that Ponzi scheme.

In 2013, Bitcoin started at $13 USD but closed out the year at $770 USD, which was quite a rise. However, there were numerous fluctuations throughout the year. Some of the incidences that affected Bitcoin’s value were after it was officially banned in China. Even though Bitcoin is considered one of the most volatile crypto coins in the market, most investors continue to buy it. However, if it stands the test of time, most investors predict that Bitcoin may soon hit the $100,000 USD mark sooner rather than later.