Customer Reviews

The Levity Effect: Why it Pays to Lighten Up

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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This books has reminded me how positive and enjoyable work could be...if I remember to enjoy it. I have struggled ENDLESSLY to find the most effective way to manage/relate to/motivate this new generation of colleagues/ employees/ clients. The workforce and workplace are changing. Stuffy, regimented management styles just don't work anymore--I think we all already know this, but are prohbited to break protocol by corporate policies or conservative corporate environments.
For anyone who sees the bigger, more innovative business picture, the truth is this: Maintaining the status quo will give you just that--status quo results. By just modifying my demeanor to be more accessible, more jovial, and more self-effacing, my team has responded by being more available, more eager, more honest. The change is amazing!
Want a department that is creative, encouraged, and on the leading edge of your industry? Want to increase your team's performance? Want to actually look forward to your work day? You don't need to implement new procedures. You don't need to do a reorg in your department. You don't need to fire your staff, or resign. You can increase creativity, productivity, profitablity, and just about anything you want, while enjoying what you do by changing you! You can look forward to your work day, and have people look forward to working with you. Buy this book!

Dang, this book is a good one. There are literally tons of work/management books that should be ground up and turned into high-grade mulch. Not this one. Brilliant, funny in discussing fun, and seriously important.

Right now, I'm trying to decide if I should risk getting in trouble for blowing out the budget on 25 copies for my teams. Yeah, it's that good.

I've served 'em FISH! and Given Them the Pickle, and shared the Luv. . . a lot of good times working on making work fun. The Levity Effect is right there with the best of them.

Buy it, read it, share it, live it.

Although this book has 218 pages, 180 of them say he exact same thing. This mean you are only getting about 38 pages worth of book. And I would be happy with a 38 page book on this topic, but in this case, I had to wade through 180 pages to find the 38 interesting pages.

90% of this book are stories demonstrating that people who are happy are more productive. Sound reasonable. Who would argue with that? They had me with the first 5 stories. I read the next 15 stories thinking that I would be gaining more insight. Nope. All of them were dedicated to this one simple concept. I skipped the next 25 stories and started again at the next chapter. Guess what? The next chapter is EXACTLY the same. This time the stories show that not only are happy people more productive, but this also leads to greater profits. Who needs another chapter to see that greater productivity means greater profits?

Here is a summary of what you will learn. Good stuff, but you won't need to buy the book once you read the following:

- Happy people are more creative, more productive, and healthier
- Happy people are less likely to change jobs
- People listen better if humor is infused into meetings
- An atmosphere of trust is essential before people will lighten up

Then there is a chapter with 142 fun ways to lighten up the office. These things include dressing up for Halloween and celebrating birthdays with cake. Some people may want to read 142 examples, I only needed 25.

Then the most interesting chapter is about how to balance your work and family life. This chapter has 14 short subsections about ways to live a happier life. I found it insightful. It is divided into "Lightening up at home", Lightening up in Public", "Lightening up in Restaurants", and "Lighting up in Private". Again, several of these vignettes were redundant, but at least tolerable (meaning I read them all). You may have already noticed that "Lightening up in Restaurants" is a little silly. It is already covered under the section of "Lightening up in Public". Why didn't they write a section called "Lightening up at the bowling alley" and "Lightening up while driving to work"? Trust me, if this chapter had come earlier in the book, they would have written both of those sections and another 142 others!

So there you have it; happy people are more productive and this leads to greater profits! Cheers.

The Levity Effect does a good job of proving a very valid point that I already knew ... a work place that encourages light-hearted moments produces a more engaged and productive work force. Without the authors' guidance, I proved through many years of corporate management at all levels (including the board room) that humor does in fact result in the positive results set forth in the book. I am pleased that now there is a good reference to which I can refer my more uptight managers. I hope they will follow the guidance so their workers can relax and be more productive for them. Theory X managers will probably scoff at the concept ... as their workers leave for a more engaging manager.

The most effective leaders know how to fully engage their employees in the process called "work". They frequently use humor in their approach to employee relations; most of all, they convey a genuine commitment to supporting their employees, with no hidden agendas.
How do they do it? As Adrian Gostick observes, they understand the value of "lightening up". After all, life's too important to take too seriously, and that even applies to "work". Have fun! We're not here for a long time; we're here for a good time.

Of course, the happy employees are usually the most motivated and most productive. It should be a part of every company's mission statement - ingrained in their culture - that it's absolutely mandatory to have fun, every day. That would be one company policy everyone would embrace; and it wouldn't hurt the bottom line, either. Come on, corporate America; get with the program and instill a little levity in your drab existence. Your employees will thank you; your customers will thank you; and the stockholders will be pleased, as well.

I enjoyed the book but it didn't say much. Just try to be fun and funny and great things will come. It was a quick read. I just think the authors tried to hard to be funny as opposed to layout sound fact and findings. But levity may have been part of the purpose of this book.

I once had a boss who everybody seemed to like. He always had a smile on his face and always had kind words to say to his employees. His attitude was contagious and it paid huge dividends for the company, as profits soared, customers were happy, and so were the employees.

Unfortunately, the people in the corporate office thought he should act more serious. They criticized his fun loving approach to the business and eventually forced him out the door, despite the fact that his operation was one of the top performers in the entire company. Not surprisingly, after he left, employee morale went down the drain. Profits dwindled, customer service suffered, and employees were resigning left and right. I never could understand why the company was so narrow minded. Here was a guy doing a terrific job, but since he did things a little differently than "the norm", he gets whacked.

Certainly, that's no way to run a business, as the author of this book, Adrian Gostick, agrees. After reading this wonderfully engaging guide to "lightening up", I thought about our old boss, Larry, and wondered what he's up to these days. We called him "Uncle Larry" because he was so easy going, funny, and nice. The nickname seemed perfect, but of course, the corporate suits thought it was inappropriate for a high level executive to have such a silly nickname. Clearly, they really needed to lighten up, but they never did. Things are only getting worse, from what I understand. The company's not making much money these days, and just about everybody I worked with only a few years ago, has quit in a total state of disillusionment.

I'm glad I read this book. It's nice to know some people really get it!

The Good: The Levity Effect explains why levity at work is a good thing by outlining extensive research, revealing how "Great" companies consistently earn significantly higher marks for "fun."

The Bad: The Levity Effect runs the risk of not being taken seriously due to the nature of its business concept.

Action Item: Workers, managers, and leaders learn how to create a fun, productive environment that benefits their careers and companies. Want to earn more than your peers? Read this book to understand why leaders, who are light-hearted and funny, earn more than their colleagues do; how fun employers have more loyal employees and customers, and higher profits; and how employees, who are considered humorous, are more likely to be promoted, especially to senior roles.
What is Levity?

Admit it. You want to work for an employer that's fun. You don't want a job that requires you to submit "TPS reports" or any other mindless paperwork like in the comedy film Office Space. Having fun at work feels like a once in a lifetime gig, when we finally experience it.

For example, I once worked for a company that practiced levity as part of its human resources program. My favorite moment working there? My employer secured a private screening of Phantom Menace for its employees. Why was this special? We saw the movie before Phantom Menace was released in theaters nationwide! They worked with Lucasfilm for over a year, so it could reward/indulge its employees by taking us to a pre-screening of this movie. Now that's levity. Did it work? Yes, we were productive and my guess is our CEO was greatly benefiting from his employees, who worked their tails off for him. And we were fiercely loyal to him.

So what is levity? Levity is fun at work. It's discovering wit and humor, being funny, and being fun. Levity isn't about chattering teeth or other gimmicky props. It's not channeling Michael Scott to get your employees, colleagues, or boss to laugh. It's about being authentic, genuine, and lighthearted. Letting people be themselves.
greys-anatomy-miranda-baileyThe Proof is in the Research

Believe it or not, there have been studies about positive cultures. One study linked a positive culture of the "100 Best" companies with strong financial performance. These companies earned nearly two times the return to the S&P 500, indicating that great workplaces product outstanding results.

Another study asked workers to identify a TV boss that reminded them of their own such as:

* Michael Scott from The Office (idiotic)
* Donald Trump from The Apprentice (demanding, powerful)
* Simon Cowell from American Idol (judgmental, insulting)

Workers listed only three positive examples:

* Sam Malone from Cheers (amicable, fun)
* Miranda Bailey from Grey's Anatomy (tough, but fair)
* Jack Shepard from Lost (smart, looks out for the team)

I've had my share of Simon Cowells, but I've been fortunate to work for Sam Malones, Miranda Baileys, and Jacks. I wasn't surprised to learn that employees, who liked their boss and rated them as having a sense of humor, were more inclined see themselves in their job a year from now.

You learn why leadership with a touch of levity is essential. Employers that use levity understand that "The need for fun is hardwired into our systems and has a biological impact on the body." Finally, a business book that validates what I've noticed with employers. If it was a fun job, then I like my job more.
Levity and Communication, Innovation, and Wealth

Gostick and Christopher explain why employers, using levity have workers that are listening, are creative and are more profitable. The authors provide tools to help managers and leaders incorporate levity into their communications. They recommend using MIRTH:

* More efficient meetings
* Information relationships with employees
* Remarkable presentations
* Training that sizzles
* Humorous communications

Using MIRTH, managers and leaders can also use fun to inspire workers to be more innovative. After explaining why levity is important to creativity, they offer several strategies to create an innovative environment. For example, they recommend eight tips for "out-of-the-box creativity," such as keeping a stack of toys, puzzles, Nerf balls, slinky toys, etc. to get the ball rolling at meetings. Common sense, right?

As a manager, I had a collection of toys like stress balls, basketball Nerf set, and action figures for myself, it never occurred to me to share with my direct reports. During team meetings and one-on-one meetings, I noticed my direct reports would play with the toys as they brainstormed. I was using levity and didn't even know it...go figure. I was in my mid-30s then, so I have an excuse.

Levity encourages creativity, but wealth too? According to Gostick and Christopher, levity lowers turnover, recharges batteries, increases personal success, and makes you employable. Today, the challenge in managing a workforce is managing Generation Y, known as the Millennials. They offer six ways to create "Techno-Levity" to reach this generation or workers. Boomers and Gen X'ers will appreciate this approach, since Gen Y tends to ignore memos, but reads anything electronically.
But Your Management Team Doesn't Understand

Okay, you're convinced that levity is a good thing. But how do you pull it off? Some of us are natural comedians, but most of us aren't. Case in point, I can come up a zinger every now and then like once ina blue moon, but I'm not funny. How do we start creating a culture of levity? Gostick and Christopher offer specific advice on how to be genuine, which has to come before fun. They explain that we're not supposed to be "funny," we should be "fun." There's a difference. They also dispel worries that too much levity is bad. They assure managers and leaders that a fun environment is part of a high-trust environment.
Conclusion

After reading this book, manager and leaders will be convinced to add levity into their company. The authors even provide 142 ways to start fun at work. If you're a Michael Scott, then change your game play. Course correct by stopping the inappropriate behavior and being funny in an awkward way. Instead, create a fun environment. Channel your inner Sam Malone. If you're Simon Cowell, then channel your inner Miranda Bailey with a touch of fun. Use levity to create loyal employees who will take your company to improved productivity and profitability.

This is a good business book that shows that you can work hard to reach goals and have fun doing it. The author sets forth to prove that humor does in fact result in the positive results. It was good, easy reading. It reaches out and grabs you and holds your attention. If you are in business, this book is a must read.

This book was first published in 2008, and it is hard to believe that in 3 short years that the information in this book has become so outdated. This book was written at the height of the economy. Everyone was still giddy with the amount of cash flowing in the US, and in other parts of the world. The economy contracted and now college educated graduates cannot get jobs. The big discussion is "Occupy" and 99% versus 1%. I think we have returned to the serious work place. Perspective applicants are reminded to get any hint of "silliness" off of FACEBOOK and other social networking sites. Comedy isn't a goal in any workplace in 2011, and employees are hanging on by their fingernails. The 60 hour work week is a thing of the past, as employees are asked to work more and more hours with less pay and dwindling benefits. This book was a good "chuckle" if you want to go down memory lane. :-)