A few years ago, the World Health Organization officially recognized the phenomenon of workplace burnout as a serious health concern. This recognition of workplace burnout has helped shift the conversation away from putting the entire onus on the individual to “fix themselves” and instead put the focus for solving workplace burnout where it most often belongs – on organizations, particularly their leadership and workplace culture. A recent survey by Gallup found that the top-5 reasons for workplace burnout are: 1. Unfair treatment at work 2. Unmanageable workload 3. Lack of role clarity 4. Lac ..read more

I was completely delighted by an automated email response I recently received after placing an order for deodorant. Yes, a simple ten-dollar purchase for an everyday product resulted in me telling thousands of people about my experience with this company! Why? Because their email autoresponder was SO funny! The personalized email, with the subject line reading “Michael You Rock,” described in length how excited the entire office was because of my $10.00 online purchase. Clearly, this business understands that exceeding customers’ expectations isn’t just about those moments when you interact di ..read more

How Do You Add Humor and Create a More Fun Work Environment in a Highly Conservative Company? I frequently hear a similar lament from clients and audience members: “We work in a very conservative company so how can we bring more humor and fun into our workplace when it’s such a conservative environment?” My answer is always the same: “You can’t. Just give up.” Okay, I’m joshing. (It’s kind of how I roll.) Of course, you shouldn’t give up! Adding humor into a conservative business or workplace isn’t much different than adding it to any other kind of workplace. Here are some tips and strategies ..read more

Isn’t Sarcasm at Work Just Great? Or Am I Being Sarcastic Right Now? A friend recently threatened to buy me a t-shirt emblazoned with the following: “Zero Days Without Sarcasm” So, evidently, I can be a just a wee bit sarcastic from time to time. Which is completely normal and fine when we’re chilling with our friends or family, but when it comes to using humor in the workplace or in any professional context, is sarcasm the best route to success? Given that the word ‘sarcasm’ is derived from the Greek word ‘sarkasmos,’ meaning to “tear at flesh like a dog,” the answer is probably, well, not so ..read more

I was pondering the term “quiet quitting” – the overused pandemic-induced phrase referring to how many employees, in response to shifting priorities, were doing the minimum requirements of one’s job and putting in no more time, effort, or enthusiasm than necessary. As I pondered the term (pondering by the way, is one of my favorite pastimes) I pondered what the opposite of “quiet quitting” might be? And no, I’m not talking about your annoying colleagues who work way too loudly or need to be heard at every meeting regardless of whether they have anything of value to add. I’m thinking of a conce ..read more

What’s one of the biggest morale-suckers in any workplace? A survey by executive coach Marshall Goldsmith aligns with other research that sadly suggests that most employees spend 10 hours or more per month complaining about their managers or listening to other employees complain. And that doesn’t even include the time spent complaining about peers or customers! Not only is this cacophony of cranky complaining a productivity sucker, it’s also a soul-sucking, fun-sucking energy zapper! Research shows that chronic complaining has detrimental physiological effects. Chronic complaining can cause ou ..read more

Welcome to January 2023! Here is a by-no-means-complete list of some of the offbeat, fun, wacky and not-so-wacky theme days headed your way this January! Celebrating these theme days, even just by listing them on a whiteboard in the lunch room, or acknowledging them in your emails or voice mail messages, is a simple way to add a bit more fun into your workplace! January 1 New Year’s Day Commitment Day First Foot Day Polar Bear Plunge Day Z Day World Day of Peace January 2 Thank God It’s Monday Day! Buffet Day Happy Mew Year for Cats Cheese Lovers Day Motivation and Inspiration Day Personal Tra ..read more

Welcome to December! Here is a partial, by-no-means-complete list of some of the offbeat, fun, wacky and not-so-wacky theme days headed your way this December! December 1 Antarctica Day Basketball Day Bifocals at the Monitor Liberation Day Clark Kent’s birthday Day With(out) Art Day December 2 Bartender Appreciation Day Mutt Day Safety Razor Day Faux Fur Friday Salesperson Day December 3 Bike Shop Day International Baboon Day Earmuff Day Play Outside Day World Pear Day December 4 Cookie Day Dice Day Sock Day World Wildlife Conservation Day December 5 Bathtub Party Day International Ninja Day D ..read more

Welcome to November! Here is a partial, by-no-means-complete list of some of the offbeat, fun, wacky and not-so-wacky theme days headed your way this November! November 1 Author’s Day All Saints Day Calzone Day Deep Fried Clams Day Cinnamon Day Extra Mile Day Go Cook For Your Pets Day Sports Fan Day Give Up Your Shoulds Day Forgiveness and Happiness Day Hockey Mask Day International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day Plan Your Epitaph Day Prime Meridian Day World Vegan Day November 2 All Souls Day Cookie Monster’s Birthday International Stress Awareness Day November 3 Cliche Day Sandwich Day Public ..read more

Welcome to October! Here is a partial, by no means complete list of some of the offbeat, fun, wacky and not-so-wacky theme days headed your way this October! October 1 International Coffee Day CD Player Day International Day of Older Persons Model T Day Walk Your Dog Day World Vegetarian Day World Card Making Day Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Day October 2 Name Your Car Day Custodial Workers Day Pickle Day Produce Misting Day World Farm Animals Day Country Inn Bed & Breakfast Day Get Out and Drive Day October 3 Blue Shirt Day of Bullying Prevention Techies Day World Day of Architecture World Ha ..read more