If you’ve had the pedal to the medal, pushing hard to make sales quotas, budget projections and production schedules, we urge you to take a break for a bit of nonsense and about laughter. If you need another excuse, April is Stress Management Month.
So – here are ten April-only ways to help you reduce stress and boost morale, engagement, productivity and performance.
But we must point out that while fun and games can boost all of the above, it can be just like a sugar high, ready for a crash.
The foundation of good morale and productivity is hiring the right people. Yes – don’t hire grumps. And the people must have clear roles, responsibilities, expectations and goals. And they must receive training and coaching which includes feedback, direction, support and recognition from a trusted manager or coach.
If these aren’t in place, go ahead and use some of these ideas if you’d like and then get started right away with some of the other resources on this site that will help you get your roles and goals clear and get everyone headed in the right direction.
Warning: If you choose to do any of these things, you may feel like a fool. Your teammates may roll their eyes. But they will laugh too. And that will lighten the load, break the tension and maybe even bring people closer together. Not just today – but down the road as they think about or talk about the day that ___________ (fill in the blank).
- Pull an April Fools prank
- Celebrate Peanut Butter & Jelly Day
- Enjoy Sorry Charlie Day
- Have a Bunny Toss
- Have an “It’s Been Wild” party.
- Celebrate National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day
- Celebrate National High 5 Day
- Celebrate Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month
- Celebrate National Pecan Month
- Celebrate National Frog Month
Get more details from our April Celebrations Calendar.
Note: Think all of this is way too silly? It is. But…see Quote of the Week: Silly & Intelligent.
* This weekly feature is for managers who don’t have time or don’t want to make time to read lengthy articles or even short paragraphs. We call it a Quick List. AKA – 10 by 10 on Tuesday. 10 ( ideas or tips or questions or steps or ways to Get 2 Goal or Be a Better Manager, etc) by 10 (AM – EST) on Tuesdays. Click here if you’d like to see all Quick Lists created to date.
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