We know that students learn best when they’re enjoying themselves. The same goes for staff. People do their best work when they enjoy their jobs, trust the people they work with, and are proud of the work they do.

Here are some tips for injecting fun and creativity into your workplace.

1. Create opportunities and places for staff to chat. Google famously found that some of their organisation’s best ideas began in the long queue at the canteen when staff standing in line began chatting with one another while they waited
2. Vary the format of staff meetings. Use video, presentations, Google Hangouts, exercises, quizzes and voting to add energy and fun to the format.
3. Use incentives. Make make boring or difficult task more engaging. For example, hold your budget meeting in the garden over lunch.
4. Encourage walking. Getting out and about can get the creative juices flowing, bring new perspective to a problem and breathe life into an idea that seems stale.
5. Schedule social events. Relaxing together away from work is a great way for staff to get to know one another and build trust and shared experiences.
6. Capture ideas. Display suggestions for improving the way things are done. Use the office whiteboard or a closed group on social media to brainstorm ideas and give feedback.
7. Celebrate successes and achievements. Celebrating goals reached, superior work or major milestones are great ways to recognise progress and motivate people to keep up the great work.
8. Spread the word. Share websites you enjoy and technical tips and tricks to make your work easier and more interesting.
9. Have meetings standing up. It’s better for your health and brings a different focus to the discussion. Standing up keeps the meeting moving.
10. Schedule group learning sessions. Whether it’s taking better photos with your iPhone or learning simple meditation techniques. Doing it together highlights the diversity of skills in your group and presents a great opportunity to learn from one another.
11. Review the office seating plan. Is there enough natural light and is the space comfortable and inviting? Make sure it’s easy for staff to mix and share during the working day as well as allocating space for small groups and individuals who need uninterrupted time.
12. Invite a guest to your next meeting. Choose a colleague from another organisation with an experience you think is worth sharing. Or choose someone from a different field entirely whose ideas you think will inspire people to think differently about an issue.

Photo credit: Trapeze 101 by David Galindo CC-BY-NC-SA-2.0

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