Bring a smile to work...

The theme of this week’s messages is about the passion people have for the things they do, especially their work. Interestingly, when looking up passion in a thesaurus, good humor is highlighted, between compassion and excitement. Thus, while we want employees to be passionate about their work, we might want to explain that one of the best ways to do that is by approaching it with good humor. Not “hah hah” humor, but the kind that comes with a positive outlook – optimistically seeing every glass as half full; the kind that comes with active engagement – replete with a can-do attitude; the kind that comes with being supportive – lending your efforts towards common goals and solutions; the kind that comes with being flexible – because adaptability and resilience matter in a changing world; and the kind that’s seen as leading by example – stressing ‘we’ rather than ‘me’. That’s the kind of person that adds to a culture of excellence rather than a workplace in disarray. Because good humor makes all things tolerable. Grumpy, inflexible, and intolerant people need not apply. And because they don’t call it work for nothing, do your part by bringing good humor into it today.

 

Henry Ward Beecher (1813 – 1887): American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, known for his support of the abolition of slavery and his emphasis on God's love.