I had to write a proposal over the weekend and I was astonished by the words that seem to come unbidden from my fingers. Playful language, evocative language, jocular language. Where on earth did it all come from?
A moment’s thought and it wasn’t difficult to deduce. I’ve been doing some more conventional work in more conventional organizations. Everyone is so angry, so abrasive, so concerned that they are losing out.
Any good wishes seem calculated. The smallest problem is a disaster. Little is an opportunity to create a better and more joyful world together.
My proposal was little more than a response to 4 months in an emotional desert. The flowers came out at the first opportunity.
Playfulness and joyfulness begets playfulness and joyfulness – I hope
Then I got two emails from people I don’t know – at all. I had contacted them about their work. In both cases, it gradually had come through that they were having to make a stand at work to be heard. They are doing a good job. Smooth. Polished. And very, very professional. But there was an emotional cost – an unnecessary emotional cost.
With no expectation of any sort of reply, I replied to each raising real questions about their work. I also pointed them to connections and opportunities that might benefit them. They then replied to me with more connections. They weren’t that interested in my ideas but they liked it that I had created a loop in their lives or reminded them of one that had fallen off the radar.
What is your essential environment?
I’d never thought of myself as needing to be in a playful environment. I am not playful person. I don’t come from a playful culture. And that’s the under statement of the year. I can at least make people laugh by taking off the favorite phrase of ‘my people’ – we will make a plan.
But I think I need a playful, joyful environment otherwise I try to be the playful, joyful one. And I’ve not had much practice.
But I sent off the proposal anyway. It began “I’d be delighted to spend my time in the company of lively burbling . .”
I’ve been writing serious posts. That’s not surprising. I’m of a serious turn of mind.
Have fun at work
But work is not all serious. It’s possible to have fun at work and make money.
10 hacks for pulling your boss’ leg
Here are 10 hacks from dumblittleman for keeping good relationships! They ar fun in a mischeivious sort of way
But what if they are pulling yours?
I suppose in countries where there is a strong tradition of irony, people will know what you are up to. Heck, you boss might deliberately come in 5 minutes before you, so you have to come in 5 minutes earlier!
Your boss might reply to your 5pm email with “as you have everything with you at home, can you sort this out quickly. See you in the morning at [your normal arrival time].”
Thank you for your coffee and ask for tea.
Do boss’ get irony?
It’s surprising how many people don’t get irony. It’s also very surprising for someone in charge to get irony. Being in charge does seem to make us blind to what other people think.
Can we remain playful and teasing in our approach to work?
Perhaps the dumblittleman can write 10 hacks for managers to remain playful and teasing in attitude to work?
