How to Make Work More Fun and Increase Productivity

Most people believe that work and play shouldn’t be mixed. However, research has shown that allowing your staff to have fun at the office might just lead to increased productivity and reduce your organization’s turnover. Team happiness spurs productivity and by making your work environment a ‘happy place’, you can take care of your team and encourage them to get more done.

Here are 5 ways to make work fun so your employees stay happy and motivated

1. Encourage Friendships

‍Socializing with coworkers can go further than after work drinks on a Friday and the odd team-building day. Workplace friendships can also help you develop a culture of ‘compassionate love’ and can lead to higher levels of satisfaction and teamwork, as well as a reduction in sick days.

‍2. Have a Games Area

‍If you want your team to stay motivated and refreshed, you should be encouraging them to take regular breaks. So try to provide a fun and relaxing ‘breakout area’ where people can go for 10 minutes to clear their minds. Some downtime on the sofa can be just what is needed to put a smile on the faces of your team members. A common area such as this can even help to stimulate engaging discussions about projects by providing a fresh new perspective for employees to take back to their desks.

‍3. Arrange Themed Office Days

‍For some of the more open-minded companies, this initiative can bring a lot of fun and can work to increase employee loyalty. Themed or even casual Fridays can make your employees feel more relaxed and comfortable with their colleagues, especially with respect to newcomers. Show them that home isn’t the only place where they can let their hair down!‍

4. Encourage Communication and Free-thinking

‍Offer flexibility. Be supportive of new ideas. Work does not necessarily have to happen from inside the box. Encourage employees to develop, follow and share their own interests with colleagues and co-workers. Fun at work enhances the employee experience, after all.‍

5. Go Out Together

‍Have fun with your whole team by going for regular days and / or nights out. Going out together as a team is a great way to get everyone engaged and forming new relationships outside of work, which in turn, can help to inspire collaboration back at the office.