Keep It Funny

Appropriate vs. Inappropriate Office Fun

Tim — Tue, 17 May 2011 10:28:41 +0000

The office is probably not the best place to push the limits unless you work in a very forgiving environment, like the circus. There are levels of protocol that have to be followed for the sake of productivity and standards of conduct. Pulling the chair out from under your CEO at the start of a meeting probably isn’t going to endear you, however hysterical it may be to us, but telling that same CEO a joke during a break just might.

This is a joke to share at the office, especially if you work with a bunch of computer programmers: A man was crossing the road one day when a frog called out to him and said, “If you kiss me, I’ll turn into a beautiful princess.” He bent over, picked up the frog, and put it in his pocket. The frog spoke up again and said, “If you kiss me and turn me back into a beautiful princess, I will tell everyone how smart and brave you are and how you are my hero.” The man took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it, and returned it to his pocket. The frog spoke up again and said, “If you kiss me and turn me back into a beautiful princess, I will be your loving companion for an entire week.” The man took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it, and returned it to his pocket. The frog then cried out, “If you kiss me and turn me back into a princess, I’ll stay with you for a year and do ANYTHING you want.” Again the man took the frog out, smiled at it, and put it back into his pocket. Finally, the frog asked, “What is the matter? I’ve told you I’m a beautiful princess and that I’ll stay with you for a year and do anything you want. Why won’t you kiss me?” The man said, “Look, I’m a computer programmer. I don’t have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog is cool.”

Feel free to insert your own position in the punch line to give it a touch of your personality, but remember to be conscious of with whom you’re talking. The point is to be witty without being offensive.

Here’s another one that cracks me up: A pig and a hen were walking down the country road and saw a sign in a restaurant window: Ham and Eggs $4.99. The hen said to the pig, “you know, we walk by this sign every day and I think to myself, I feed these people day in and day out, I’m so proud.” The pig said to the hen, “for you it may be pride but for me it’s a total commitment.”

Learn how to gauge your audience’s reaction by watching when they laugh. Keeping your antics within range of that will keep you on the right side of the boss. If you recognize that this isn’t one of your strongest suits, limit your shenanigans to break times and coworkers rather than those higher up the salary chain. The general attitude in your office will guide you on what you can and should do, and which offices really enjoy having a good time poking gentle fun at their co-workers.

I recall reading a real life example where after laser eye surgery the patient’s officemate took it upon herself to make large, glaring signs with arrows for everything in the office to help out her buddy. She made signs that read DOOR, KEYHOLE – INSERT KEY HERE, CHAIR, DESK, COMPUTER, KEYBOARD, etc. Though her officemate was in a bit of pain and slightly embarrassed by the big dark glasses he was forced to wear, the mood lightened considerably when he saw the signs all around. In fact, he left several up for months afterwards because they made him chuckle. It was a “feel good moment” that made everyone in the department giggle a bit. This is the emotion you should shoot for when considering whether your prank is appropriate in your particular office. Mean-spirited play doesn’t work around the water cooler and should be avoided at all costs.

Nonetheless, even the stuffiest lawyers’ offices need to let loose every now and then and why not be the one to relax things?

Having a reputation for bringing everyone back to center during stressful times can only benefit your career – as well as your mental health – while on the job. Some companies live in a perpetual state of stress and confusion by their very nature. For instance, my wife works with children diagnosed with emotional and behavioral disorders; which is about as stressful as you can get. As much as she loves her job, it can be pretty tough on her. Many people in those kinds of situations don’t last long in their chosen field because of how difficult it is to endure each day. Laughter can be the foremost preventative element for burnout in these types of careers.

There are some standard rules when it comes to office fun that must be followed from a purely common sense standpoint:

Vulgar or pornographic images have no place in the office, nor do sexual innuendos or jokes.

Avoid gags and activities that make fun of religion, as well. There’s no need to alienate your coworkers or supervisors by accidentally stepping on their religious convictions; these tend to be areas where even those with the best sense of humor fails.

Politics can be fair game if the climate in your office is ripe for it, but know just how far you can push. It’s better to err on the side of caution than to spend the next day cleaning out your desk.

If you harbor ill will toward someone, then do not engage in pranks involving them (your sense of fairness may not be all that surefooted).

Don’t mess with someone’s food; allergies are far too common (as are digestive illnesses like diabetes) to play around here.

The age-old advice of not discussing money, politics, religion or sex in mixed company fares well in this platform. If Kill-joy would faint at the topic, leave it alone. The good news is that his stuffiness is good for something. Leave off the more questionable antics for your college buddies or for off-the-clock hours.

Keep laughing without losing productivity

Tim — Mon, 09 May 2011 20:08:50 +0000

There will be a group of people who believe the old myths about the workplace. Things like “Work is no place for fun!” or “If you’re laughing, you must be goofing of; which is wasting valuable time and resources.” I’m sorry, but if I had to spend 40 hours each week doing anything, I want it to be fun! I don’t want to dread getting up each morning facing the day in front of me. Neither should you. Besides, research shows that humor makes the day go better, not worse, in terms of productivity. If you take a moment to research this topic you will find numerous studies showing that there is a direct relationship between the company profit and the happiness of the employees.

Robert Half International conducted a study to see just how much more productive people with a sense of humor are compared to their counterparts. After surveying vice presidents and personnel directors at 100 of America’s largest corporations, the study showed that 84 percent believed employees who laughed were more productive. In the same study, 97 percent of executives counted humor as one of the most valuable assets in the business place. The perception of laughter on your abilities is amazing, but it’s not all smoke and mirrors. A good sense of humor can do more for your career than steadily plodding through each day.

Laughter in the work place generally means higher productivity, more creative solutions and fewer absences. There’s a reason that business consultants regularly discuss team building projects involving fun

and games these days: the climate in the workplace is changing from the dull, drab and boring of old. Evolving dress codes are just one example. Of course, when it comes to having fun while staying productive, as we’ve said, there’s a delicate balance that needs to be respected.

Individual morale affects the team as a whole, and the company by default. If even a single person makes an effort to change the dynamics at work, it will have a ripple effect on everyone. That positive attitude increases communication; which is the single most important aspect of any job. Let’s face it; no one wants to talk to Kill-joy. Avoiding it, however, stifles communication within the team and effectively stifles productivity.

In order to improve productivity in the workplace, it requires a shift of mentality by everyone. The old-fashioned concept of negative feedback to push for higher productivity is lost in today’s business world – no matter what the business. Employees know there are other places more in tune with their morale, and they have no problem moving on. Increased turnover reduces productivity while the company strives to get new employees up to speed and hopefully retain them. The end result is a revolving door of unhappy employees and a significant drop in efficiency. What a nightmare!

The key is to remain serious about your work without taking yourself too seriously. Stay focused on the job-at-hand when it requires your

attention. No amount of fun will make up for a missed deadline or an irritated client because there were jokes to be told or pranks to be pulled. The desired end result is a fun work environment with strong communication that gets the job done. Keep this in mind at all times.

Luckily, there are lots of things you can do in an off-the-cuff way that neither stifles production nor offends the schedule. In fact, even a walk to the printer can be the perfect moment for entertainment during a busy time:

Play Duck, Duck, Goose on your way to the printer or washroom.

Babble incoherently at a co-worker and then say, “Did you get all that? I don’t want to have to repeat myself.”

Every time someone turns a page during a meeting, make a beeping noise.

Open the cap of a White Out bottle and tip the bottle over onto a piece of wax paper spilling a generous amount. Wait a day or two until it dries, and then remove the wax paper. Take it with you to work and place it on the “neat freak’s” desk.

If you ever accidentally leave your fly open and when someone points it out to you leave it and say, “Thanks, but I really prefer it this way.”

Lock all your joints and walk around like a zombie.

Pretend your mouse is a CB Radio.

Do aerobics at your desk while humming “YMCA”.

Blow bubbles.

Put up “Please Use Other Door” signs on all doors going into the office.

Wear a “Kick Me” sign on your shirt – preferably in front so that everyone knows you know it’s there.

Every time the phone rings, yell “We’ve got a big one!”

Name your computer, work truck, or the piece of machinery that you work with; talk to it every day and refer to it by name when discussing it with others.

Sign your e-mails with “Grazie”, “Domo Origato” or “Danke” instead of “Thanks”.

Suggest that only those with a low IQ can’t whistle.

Never use contractions and always refer to yourself in the third person.

Put your garbage can on your desk and label it “IN”.

Develop an unnatural fear of an object of your choice.

Put a mosquito netting hood over your head. Play a tape of jungle sounds all day.

Show people your driver’s license and demand to know if they’ve seen this person.

Stare at static on a display TV and challenge other employees whether they, too, can see the “hidden picture.”

If you have to take an elevator to get to your office or cubical, try some of these.

Offer nametags to everyone. Wear yours upside-down.

Make race car noises when anyone gets on or off.

When arriving at your floor, grunt and strain to yank the doors open. Then act embarrassed when they open by themselves.

Greet everyone getting on the elevator with a warm handshake and ask them to call you Admiral.

Crack open your briefcase or purse, and while looking inside ask: “Do you have enough air in there?”

Ask each passenger getting on if you can push the button for them.

Productivity requires creativity, and that thrives in a fun-filled environment. So even during the busiest times, it makes sense to take time to laugh. In fact, laughter may help drive productivity beyond expectations. Take Google™ for instance. The company thrives on having fun and look at the success they have achieved. The work environment includes a slide, game room, igloos for meeting ‘pods’, and it even has beanbag chairs. About.com gave this one of many examples: ‘All the Engineers at Google™ are encouraged to spend 20% of their work time on projects that interest them. Not only does this keep Engineers happy and challenged, it‘s also good business’. Some estimates directly attribute half of all new product launches to

projects that came from the 20% time program.

In the end, it serves the higher purpose of any company to have a fun work environment. People are more inclined to stay at a company where they enjoy going to work each day. Atmosphere is one of the top three things potential employees look at when they apply for a position, and a sense of humor is often looked for in the interviewing process.

So while it’s important to know your stuff, it seems more important to be able to do your job with a positive attitude and a sense of humor. My suggestion to every working person who agrees with that statement: You owe it to yourself and to the continued growth of your company to follow the right chain of command and work to take baby steps in this direction. How? Make at least a yearly, but much better, a monthly commitment to an organization-wide “fun day.’ Watch what happens.

Downtime at work is your most productive humor time.

Tim — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:05:54 +0000

Even the most efficient and industrious companies have their down times, and these are the best times to find humor on the job. Since a lot of downtimes come after some very harrowing problems, these are the best times to horse around a little and regenerate the humor factor around you. In fact, your coworkers will likely thank you for relieving everyone’s stress and it will give the office a feeling of renewal to tackle the next major project.

Here are some fun ways to enjoy break or lunch time:

Bring in a giant bouquet of balloons and pass them around the office.

Fill a common cupboard with ping pong balls.

Use a binder clip and clip the sleeves of a jacket or sweater hanging on your victims chair, enjoy the confusion when they try to put it back on.

Make paper airplanes and throw them over the cubicle wall; point to someone else when they come around to see who did it.

Staggered throughout the week unplug different parts of your co-workers’ computer. Start with the mouse, then the ten-key pad, then the monitor, and even the keyboard. If unplugging is not really an option, just put some scotch tape over the roller ball of the mouse and you will have some fun.

Glue a quarter to the floor in your office, the break room, outside the front door, anywhere. Just place it where you will be able to watch people try to pick it up.

Leave a message on someone’s voice mail, please call Mr. G. Raffe. And leave the number to the local zoo.

If there is a coat rack at work, turn all the coats, sweaters, overcoats, hats, mittens or anything else you find inside out. At the end of the day you will have some fun watching the confusion. My suggestion is to place your coat there and turn it inside out as well to make you appear innocent.

Make up stories about your pen out loud.

Have roller chair derbies around the office.

Roll a large piece of paper up like a cigarette and go out for a break with the smokers; ask for a light.

Put sticky notes all over your co-worker’s desk while he or she is away.

Walk into someone’s office and turn the light on and off 10 times

while they watch you. If they ask you why, look at them like they’re crazy and leave without answering.

Rearrange a co-worker’s desk so that it looks exactly the same, only in a mirror image.

After a particularly stressful meeting or conference call, take a deep breath and then bark like a dog to clear your head.

Have a snowball fight during lunch.

Get some hair extensions that match an officemate’s hair color and leave clippings around their desk and chair over the course of a week or so; watch them constantly run to the washroom to check their hair.

Make several copies of paperclips, put the copies in the feed tray, and watch as people go nuts trying to find the paperclip in the copier.

Tape down the button on an officemate’s phone so that it continues to ring even after the hand piece is picked up.

Greet people in the elevator like Mork from Ork, saying, “Nanoo nanoo!”

Walk like Groucho Marx around the office; fiddle with a fake cigar while you do so.

Playing games in the office is great fun, but there are dozens of ways to create a cohesive team mentality outside the stuffy confines of the building, and even outside of work hours.

One of the worst parts about growing up and getting a job is the loss of team fun we had in school. When was the last time you played in a league of any sort? Have you spent any time cheering for your friends on the field since high school? Now that was fun! Well, you may no longer be in school, but you may find that your co-workers miss that kind of thing as much as you.

Contact your local park district to find out what types of leagues they offer in each season, and put up a few flyers around the office to see who’s interested. Most park districts have at least softball, basketball and flag football, but a few may have some of the more unusual sports, like dodge ball and badminton. Think outside the box and find something that’s unique for your crew to dig into. Heck, there may even be a sandcastle or snowman building competition open to teams.

Even those not interested in playing sports can get into the action by coming along to cheer. And if league action doesn’t do it for you, there are lots of other options.

Start here:

Bring in lawn darts and have a week-long tournament.

Create a Frisbee golf course around the office using trees and light poles as targets.

Ask the company to supply an air hockey table or buy a used one at a garage sale and ask if you can bring it in.

(GREAT stress reliever)

Have a monthly Karaoke date at a nearby place for the whole crowd.

Plan ahead by bringing in an extra set of clothes and have a water fight on a particularly hot day.

Fill a piñata with fast food gift cards, candy, and coupons for casual days; then give everyone a chance at it; make it really fun and dress it up in a suit and tie.

Bring in a charcoal grill and make hamburgers and hot dogs for the whole team for lunch; be sure to wear your favorite goofy chef’s apron and hat.

Make a Hop Scotch board out of printer paper taped together and use a paperclip for the rock; make a tournament out of it.

Race a friend up the wrong escalator.

At the very least, you should take 10 or 15 minutes out of your day every day to laugh, no matter how you make it happen. Whether you are stuck behind a desk or pumping a jackhammer on an overpass, you can always create opportunities to laugh at work. Find a website with clean, funny jokes and read them out loud to your coworkers or bring a book of comedy shorts to browse through for a few minutes over lunch. Keeping yourself in a good mood will go a long way toward keeping everyone else that way. It’s like a reciprocal gift you give yourself.

For more: Check out my book “Lemons to Laughter”

Is Fun at work an oxymoron?

Tim — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:34:46 +0000

For most, no less than 40 hours each week are spent on the job. A person’s attitude most often means the difference between a promotion and stagnation. How can you keep your attitude positive and your mind fresh? Focus on being a proactive, team player in order to develop the needed synergies and level the playing field for you, your boss, and the customers your organization serves? Laughter, of course, is the right answer, but you need to do it with class. Know when your humor will be most appreciated and how to apply it to the best audience.

The atmosphere in today’s business world is open and inviting fun while maintaining strong guidelines on productivity. Largely gone from the halls of most employers are the starched shirt, suit and formal wear of the past. Open collars and even open toes are much more common than ever before. Use this level of informality to your advantage as you go through your day and you’ll find that you enjoy being at work more than ever before. There are limits, and of course a time and a place for everything. Consult your employee handbook if there’s any question whether a line you’re considering as optional to cross is really a form of insubordination or unwelcome harassment. Better yet, schedule an appointment with your human resources director. Bring a copy of the manual in Braille and admit there are parts you don’t quite understand and would appreciate some guidance in interpreting.

Unlike a lot of performers today, I prefer to keep my material fun for the whole family. I strive on going to the edge, but never going over. I enjoy pushing people’s limits of laughter. Having a good time doesn’t have to mean being vulgar, and in fact, I like to think that it’s a sign of real talent to be able to avoid the easy shots. This is how I spend my time, and I want to be comfortable doing it no matter where I happen to be. Whether I’m at a comedy club, on a University campus, in Las Vegas or at a company event, I tailor my act for my audience, but it’s still a show that anyone can see and appreciate. This is important to note, because when you go out there on your own and start pushing your own limits, you’re going to have to know where to stop before crossing the line.

Choose to have a good day

Tim — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 01:24:52 +0000

The five+ year journey of writing my book, and my passion for keynote speaking all started in Reno, Nevada. There, I was working the Sammy Davis Jr. Room at Harrah’s Casino and finishing my 31st show in a seven-week run. I was hot. I was tired and in a rotten mood. I wanted nothing more than to go back to my dressing room and relax. The last thing I wanted to do that day was go through the “meet-and-greet” after the show. But, I knew it was the right thing to do.

I plastered on a fake smile and politely answered questions and acknowledged compliments from audience members, all the while wondering when these silly exchanges would end. After what seemed like an eternity, I heaved a sigh of relief and prepared to leave. As I walked towards the stage, I saw a woman sitting at a table close by waving me over. no less tired, but curious; I approached her. She was crying quietly and had been for some time, it appeared. Her tremulous smile broke my heart as she told me her story.

“…I lost my husband six months ago,” she said. “I haven’t been able to get my mind off of the loss and haven’t really found anything to smile about, either. I was told that I should come out for the day and see a show. Young man, for an hour I did not think about my loss. I didn’t about any of my troubles. All I did was laugh. I laughed so hard I cried. Your show gave me an hour to forget everything, but how to laugh…”

I was reminded at that moment that laughter is a gift. It’s a gift we give ourselves and we allow others to give back to us. That experience reminded me that every day I wake up; I make the CHOICE to have a good day. It’s a choice we all make. That lovely lady reminded me of why I’m here.

Find a way to Keep it Funny

Tim — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 01:22:35 +0000

One Saturday afternoon, I received a notice in the mail there was a certified letter at the post office; which could be picked up on Monday. I found myself with two options; I could allow myself to ponder the notion the letter contained bad news, and then over the weekend my stomach would have gone into knots, my heart rate would have gone up, and I would have been as punchy as a sixth grade kid with ADHD.

Basically I would have been stressed out! But as my mom used to say; “Don’t borrow trouble”. My second option would be to put in my mind that it was a sweepstakes prize and I won a million dollars. There would be no knots, no fast heart rate and I would have no need for Ritalin©. I might have even laughed about it. It’s all in your head, you control your thoughts. Life is about perception. We can take every situation and choose to think of it as the worst or best case. Any situation can either evoke anger or joy. If we could just work on assuming the best and finding the laughable side of whatever the situation, it will reduce the emotional tension; which just might be the cause of our stress. I believe that humor will provide an emotional distance to any issue. It can allow you to step back and evaluate the situation letting you realize that maybe the problem is not that big a deal. And in the event that it is, you will give yourself the opportunity to see there are more resources to help solve the issue.

I realize not everything is funny and there are certainly times when laughter can be inappropriate. All I’m saying is; the next time something in your day is a little foul, try to find a way to keep it funny.

For more, read my book “Lemons to Laughter.”

A bit about Tim

Tim — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 01:11:48 +0000

Tim’s national television appearances have included Crook and Chase and repeated performances for the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.

Tim’s “keep it funny” philosophy is apparent throughout his laugh-a-minute- show.

Tim recently authored and published a book entitled, “Lemons to Laughter.”

Whether starring in his own show at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay or appearing in the legendary Mac King show at Harrah’s, Tim remains one of Vegas’s finest.

Tim’s corporate clients include: 3M, E! Entertainment Television, Verizon Wireless, Pfizer, Nestle, Coke, General Mills, Progressive, Cargill, ING, Medtronic, IBM, Boston Scientific, State Farm, Jack Link’s, ITT Hartford and literally hundreds more!

Tim’s keynote “Lemons to Laughter” shows audiences how laughter serves the higher purpose of any organization and how to have a fun work environment. By laughing it forward.

Nebraska Health Care Association

Tim — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 19:14:50 +0000

Tim Gabrielson was a huge hit with the attendees of our Mid-Year Meeting with members of the Nebraska Hospital Association and the Healthcare Financial Management Association (Nebraska Chaper). He is an extraordinary comic, entertainer and magician. His show was hilarious and in good taste – perfect for this group. Attendees are still talking about how much they enjoyed his show. He had a great ability for choosing just the right people in the audience to interact with. Tim was outstanding and we’d certainly recommend him to anyone wanting to impress and entertain a corporate audience.

Respectfully,

John L. Borton

Senior Director of Education
Nebraska Hospital Association