Inspire – vb. 1. to exert a stimulating or beneficial effect upon. 2. to put thought, feeling or life into; to breathe life into

Workplace – n. the environment in which one works at one’s job (for too many people a source of stress, anxiety and despair: see Dilbert).

Imagine the kind of workplace where everybody wants to work and where no one wants to leave. Imagine a place where people want to do their best, where creativity thrives and where people come first. Imagine a workplace where your customers become lifelong, passionate advocates for your organization. And imagine if work didn’t feel like work. Just imagine . . .

Now think about the cost of working in a less than inspiring workplace. Imagine the costs associated with employee stress, turnover, and absenteeism. Imagine the cost of losing customers. Imagine the cost of employees quitting and staying put in your organization.
Imagine the cost to your family, your health and your soul.

Unfortunately, uninspiring workplaces filled with uninspired employees are all too commonplace. So to breathe a little life and inspiration into your workplace, consider the following five common inspired ingredients of any truly inspiring workplace.

An Inspiring Vision: Imagine going on a family road trip where everyone drives a different car without ever discussing where the final destination is! Inspiring workplaces have an inspiring vision that serve to unite the entire organization towards a common and compelling dream of the future. People in an inspiring workplace understand that it’s not the words that matter, but the idea behind the words that move people forward with passion. And in an inspiring workplace, the link between people’s jobs and the vision are constantly reinforced, so that everybody feels valued and connected by understanding how their particular role contributes to the greater cause.

Inspiring Values: Inspiring workplaces value their values. They talk openly about their values,  and they use them to help them guide their choices. You know what your organization’s values are by the way people behave—actions are the only real indicators of values. The choices leaders make and the way employees and customers are treated reflect the true values of any organization. And if there is one overriding value that is consistent in any inspiring workplace it is this: people come first. Inspiring workplaces understand that it is not the cars in the factory or the oil in the ground that is their most valuable commodity—it’s their people.

Inspiring Creativity: In an inspiring workplace employees at all levels are encouraged to share their ideas without fear of retribution. Idea-squashing language (“we tried that in 1912 and it didn’t work”) is minimized and failures are regarded as setbacks in the pursuit of learning. In an inspiring workplace, the message employees receive is loud and clear: “Yes, we do pay you to think around here.”

Inspiring Communication: Open and honest communication is a cornerstone of inspiring workplaces. Real communication happens on an on-going basis, and is always treated as a dialogue. Inspiring stories are used to convey a sense of the organization’s tradition and values, to highlight its heroes and successes, and to connect employees to the vision.

Inspiring Fun: Who said work isn’t supposed to be fun?  In an inspiring workplace, work and fun go hand in hand. Safe, positive workplace humour is used to motivate employees, lower stress levels, boost productivity and spark creativity. In fact, the level of workplace fun and laughter is seen as a sign of health—an indicator that employees are working well together and performing to the best of their abilities.

Copyright Michael Kerr, 2006.

Michael Kerr is an international speaker, trainer and author of “You Can’t Be Serious! Putting Humor to Work” and “Inspiring Workplaces.”  You can reach Michael at 1-(866)-609-2640  or mike@mikekerr.com . For more humor at work articles, DVDs and other humor at work resources, surf on over to www.mikekerr.com. Michael helps workplaces reduce stress, boost morale, spark creativity and increase productivity by putting humor to work.