Fun and Games
Benefits of Laughter | Interactive Quizzes | Laughter ProgramsLaughter Programs: The Laughter Cure for Stress at Work - a transformational experience
Did you know that:
- laughter increases productivity?
- those who laugh out loud are more creative at problem solving than those who don't?
- those who laugh have better memory retention than those who don't?
- those who laugh have less stress, and miss less time from work than those who don't?
- laughter is a major coping mechanism?
- those who laugh together may work more effectively together than those who don't?
Katherine Hudson, president and CEO of Brady Corporation says it this way:
“For the past seven years, we have made fun an integral part of the culture at Brady Corporation…for serious business reasons. Getting people to loosen up and enjoy themselves has numerous benefits…breakdown jealously guarded turf boundaries, foster an espirit de corps throughout the company and on teams. It can start conversations that spark innovation and increase the likelihood that unpleasant tasks will be accomplished. It can help convey important corporate messages in memorable ways. It can relieve stress and, God knows we can all use that.” (“Transforming a Conservative Company, One Laugh at a Time”, Harvard Business Review, July-August, 2001)
As “Fast Company” magazine points out to us “Work is personal.” People take their work personally. When there are problems at work, especially those that are out of the person's control, they affect productivity, effectiveness, morale, and physical and emotional health. We are all affected by such things as feeling undervalued, an uncertain future, difficulties with a co-worker or a boss, transfers, loss of a large contract, a merger or acquisition, etc.
There are many things out of our control at work. But there is one thing that we can control – ourselves! We have complete control over our perceptions, attitudes, and behavior. We can influence our health, emotional well-being, perceptions of ourselves as workers, stress levels, and level of creativity.
Laughter at Work is one program that can positively influence the bottom line by contributing to employee's health and emotional well-being. Employees who are healthy and feel they are making a contribution miss less time from work due to physical and mental illness. While they are having fun giggling, guffawing, chortling, and chuckling, they will actually be saving the company money!
The program consists of two parts, each powerful by itself and transformational when combined.
Part 1: The Laughter Experience
-- Pat Cornish, past president National Federation of Business and Professional Women
What is a Laughter Experience? A Laughter Experience is like an icebreaker for a group. It is a new systematic process to make laughter the medium to improve working relationships, personal attitudes, physical health, emotional well being, and to increase creativity. Barrie Zucal, a Certified Laughter Leader leads the process. The experience lasts between fifteen and twenty-five minutes.
What happens at a Laughter Experience? Nothing you don't want to happen. You are in complete control of the activities in which you participate. Barrie first introduces very focused and easy breathing and stretching exercises. Then she teaches a simulated laugh such as a “greeting laugh” and demonstrates it. Participants then practice different kinds of laughter which leads to chuckling, chortling, giggling and guffawing. Belly laughter is common.
-- Laughter Experience participant, an empowered employee.
Why would I do something like this at work? Because there are very real benefits in laughter to your health and performance. After a good laugh, you will be more focused and less stressed. Benefits fall into two categories - the scientifically proven and those reported by participants.
- Scientifically proven: stress reduction, cardio benefits similar to aerobic exercise, stimulation of the immune system, enhancements in alertness, memory, learning, and creativity, more creative problem solving, relaxation of tense muscles, and improvement of coping mechanisms.
- Reported Benefits – reduction of physical pain as in the case of arthritis, a good sense of humor and mood lift that lasts for a few days, less anger and fear, and openness to new possibilities.
-- Laughter Club participant
Who is a Laughter Club for?
- Anyone wishing work was more fun.
- Anyone who needs inspiration.
- Anyone who feels pressured.
- Anyone who could use a lift.
- Any leader and team wanting to be more innovative.
- Any group wanting to become more cohesive
- Anyone feeling rushed or grumpy lately.
- Anyone feeling discouraged, overworked and undervalued.
Part 2: After the Laughter: Tips to Transform You and Your Workplace
After the Laughter, Barrie introduces one small way you can effect big change in your workplace. She also leads your group in developing new and lighter ways to be together in the workplace. Organizations are transformed by the people who work in them. A change in one person in the work system can impact on the system itself. Many changes that occur simultaneously throughout the system have the power to transform the organization.- Eliminate Your Stress! – Learn what gets in the way of laughing everyday. Most programs talk about “managing” your stress. You will learn specific ways to begin eliminating most of the stress in your life! Then you will learn what to do differently based on your values.
- Open your creativity channel – Bring your whole self to work. Use laughter to lighten up with an activity that briefly takes you away from the present task and brings you back refreshed and able to approach work with new possibilities. Assess the laughter in your life and work and make plans to add more.
- Develop the Symptoms of Inner Peace – learn the symptoms of inner peace and then develop specific ways to move forward to achieving it.
Part 3: Follow-up Coaching
Barrie has created a set of questions to help you add results long after the laughter at work subsides. Shift attitudes and perceptions that hold you back. Use a smile to open doors and bring hope to the world.For more information contact Barrie Zucal
or phone 301.274.3898 in the United States, Eastern Time.