Come Work for Us, They Said. It Will be F.U.N., They Said.

How do you feel about F.U.N. in the workplace? On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your organization's ability to create an environment that employees would describe as F.U.N.?

To many the idea of F.U.N. in the workplace is counterintuitive. When I first began marketing myself as a speaker who promoted having more F.U.N. at work, many were vocal in expressing caution. Speakers' bureaus, organization heads and even friends advised that many in the corporate world are fearful of the word F.U.N. Let me be specific, they weren't fearful of employees having F.U.N., they were fearful that F.U.N. would inhibit productivity and potential clients wouldn't take me seriously.

Despite this advice, I decided to move forward. Based on my experience in the workplace, I believe that there isn't an individual, association, organization or industry out there not looking to improve employee engagement, reduce attrition or create an environment where employees actually enjoy coming to work. We all want to have more F.U.N. in the workplace, we're just calling it something different.

Years ago, while working at my first "adult job" out of college in a call center for a Fortune 500 insurance company, I had a conversation with a manager and several other employees. For context, I was known to many as "Tigger" due to the perception that I was always bouncing around (metaphorically). "Are you always this upbeat and optimistic?" asked one of my coworkers. "Give it time," retorted the manager, "this place will get to him."

Give it time this place will get to him? Can you believe it? My whole life I had been taught that I could make anything happen, accomplish any goal and perhaps change the world if I set my mind to it. Here I was in my first job as an adult being told that a work environment would alter my perspective.

Too often, I believe we allow our environment to shape our emotions. Wouldn't it make more sense to identify the emotion that we want to FEEL and allow that to help shape our environment? Through a commitment to creating an uplifting work environment where people are encouraged to laugh and have F.U.N., I'm certain organizational performance will improve.

As you move forward with outlining a plan to improve employee engagement, reduce attrition, attract the right people or alter perspective in the workplace, remember that F.U.N. is not about being silly, zany or stupid. F.U.N. to me is about being deliberate in your approach to happiness. It is an acronym that represents the following:

• Foundation - In order to achieve maximum fulfillment in life or the workplace, one must have a comprehensive grasp and acceptance of their true self. This holds true for both individuals and organizations. Specifically, how is your personality or the identity of your organization best defined? How do you communicate? What motivates you? What are your top personality strengths and where are your areas of opportunity?

• Understanding Others - If you're looking for stronger relationships in your personal or business life, it's critical to have a strong understanding of others. In order to have stronger employee or customer relationships, one has to explore the possibility of different perspectives. How do other personalities differ from yours? As a result of those differences, how should your communication style differ based on those with whom your talking? Understanding others is heavily dependent on perspective. Consistently being present in conversation, heightened awareness of how others live and being genuine in your interest of those in which you interact will help provide more fruitful personal and business relationships

• Next Steps - Once you have a solid grasp of your foundation and a better understanding of others, you can start to identify the next steps necessary to create a higher level of consciousness and enlightenment while bringing more F.U.N. to your day. In addition, you will be far better equipped to showcase strengths while mitigating growth areas as they are being developed

In closing, I challenge those reading this to incorporate more F.U.N. in the workplace. Laugh more, facilitate uplifting team meetings/1:1s, introduce music with purpose, express appreciation more often, explore mindfulness or come up with your own ideas. If you're having trouble, call me. Regardless of your approach, I promise that incorporating more F.U.N. in the workplace will move you one step closer to being the employee or organization you aspire to be.