Motivational Management: Inspiring Your People for Maximum Performance

Do You Have to Make Them Laugh?

By the way, having fun at work seems to be the hot new trend, and lots of books, Web sites, and magazine articles urge us as managers to introduce games, jokes, and clowning around into our workplaces. This is not such a bad idea, but don't forget that your core responsibility as a manager is to make sure your people are working well on tasks they find meaningful. And when you do, you will find there is plenty of natural enthusiasm and positive energy in the workplace, and you won't need to supplement it that often with jokes and nonwork-related play. Sure, a good laugh is a nice release, but there is no need to push it and try to become a comedian. (For instance, you might end up offending somebody when you run ...