Making Work Fun AgainMaking Work Fun Again

Carolyn Chapman, Field Director Accounts Management -- MemphisCarolyn Chapman, Field Director Accounts Management -- MemphisNancy Session, Field Director Accounts Management -- Kansas CityNancy Session, Field Director Accounts Management -- Kansas City

4141stst AIM-IRS Annual Business Meeting AIM-IRS Annual Business Meeting and Training Seminarand Training Seminar

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Why Do We Why Do We WWork?ork?

If we define work chiefly in terms of money-making, we If we define work chiefly in terms of money-making, we lose the possibility of understanding the deeper lose the possibility of understanding the deeper dimensions of work, the meaning of work and the many dimensions of work, the meaning of work and the many ways it can nourish us;ways it can nourish us;

SpirituallySpiritually Psychologically Psychologically Emotionally Emotionally Physically, Physically, Economically  Economically 

““The way we imagine our lives is the way we will go on living our lives.” The way we imagine our lives is the way we will go on living our lives.” – James Hillman– James Hillman

To find meaningful work, you need to know what To find meaningful work, you need to know what work means to you…work means to you…  

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Fun Has DifferentFun Has Different DefinitionsDefinitions

recreation or fun is the expenditure of time in recreation or fun is the expenditure of time in a manner designed for therapeutic a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of one’s body or mindrefreshment of one’s body or mind

activities that are enjoyable or amusing activities that are enjoyable or amusing

playfulness; a disposition to find (or make) playfulness; a disposition to find (or make) causes for amusement causes for amusement

What does fun mean to you?What does fun mean to you?

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Should Work Be Fun?Should Work Be Fun?Having fun at work lends itself to many benefits:Having fun at work lends itself to many benefits:

Increases ProductivityIncreases Productivity Increases MoralIncreases Moral Attracts Talented EmployeesAttracts Talented Employees Reduces Turnover CostsReduces Turnover Costs Facilitates CommunicationFacilitates Communication Stimulates CreativityStimulates Creativity Relieves StressRelieves Stress

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Business vs PeopleBusiness vs People

We all have jobs to do but remember there is not We all have jobs to do but remember there is not Business without people.Business without people.

Businesses exists only among people and for Businesses exists only among people and for people.people.

Employees make the businessEmployees make the business

People are loyal to people….not companies…People are loyal to people….not companies…

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Be PresentBe Present

By playing we can resurrect our sense of By playing we can resurrect our sense of creativity and remember how it feels to enjoy creativity and remember how it feels to enjoy what we do…what we do…

Leisure activities have become work-like.  Leisure activities have become work-like.  We have turned play into work, when we We have turned play into work, when we

should be turning our work into play.  should be turning our work into play.    ““Play enables us to rearrange our capacities and our very Play enables us to rearrange our capacities and our very identity so that they can be used in unforeseen ways” identity so that they can be used in unforeseen ways” – – Stephen NachmanovitchStephen Nachmanovitch  

Remember to play…Remember to play…

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Be VulnerableBe Vulnerable

The things that cause us to lose track of time are those The things that cause us to lose track of time are those things that connect us to a sense of the eternal in our things that connect us to a sense of the eternal in our lives and gives us a sense of meaning.lives and gives us a sense of meaning.

Let go of the control Let go of the control

Give yourself permission to have funGive yourself permission to have fun

Get lost in something Get lost in something

Don’t be a clock watcherDon’t be a clock watcher  

What did you do as a child that caused you  to forget time?What did you do as a child that caused you  to forget time?There lies the myth to live by.”There lies the myth to live by.”— — Joseph CampbellJoseph Campbell

The feeling of getting lost in an activity is exhilarating and The feeling of getting lost in an activity is exhilarating and refreshing…refreshing…

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Be AuthenticBe Authentic

When you are able to admit and give room to the little When you are able to admit and give room to the little callings of each day, it becomes easier to hear and callings of each day, it becomes easier to hear and enact the larger calling of your life.enact the larger calling of your life.

It is essential to stay true to what you likeIt is essential to stay true to what you like Learn to say “yes” to what you like and “no” to Learn to say “yes” to what you like and “no” to

what you don’t like.  what you don’t like.  Learn to love what you love Learn to love what you love 

Stay true to you…Stay true to you…

““Just trust yourself, then you will know how to live.” Just trust yourself, then you will know how to live.” – – GoetheGoethe

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Be AcceptingBe Accepting

Explore subjects and activities that catch your attention Explore subjects and activities that catch your attention

Passion is born of experience, not just theory Passion is born of experience, not just theory

Volunteer  Volunteer 

Take classes  Take classes 

Experiment Experiment 

““If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” – Thomas Edisonastound ourselves.” – Thomas Edison

Keep an open mind to new ideas and positive change…Keep an open mind to new ideas and positive change…

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Be UsefulBe Useful

The fundamental principle of servant leadership is that The fundamental principle of servant leadership is that one is a servant first and leader secondone is a servant first and leader second.  There are 10 .  There are 10 characteristics closely related to servant leadership.characteristics closely related to servant leadership.

Servant Leadership…

Listening Listening

Empathy Empathy

Healing Healing

Awareness Awareness

PersuasionPersuasion

ConceptualizationConceptualization

ForesightForesight

StewardshipStewardship

Commitment to Growth Commitment to Growth of Peopleof People

Building CommunityBuilding Community  

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Having Fun Working at the IRS…Having Fun Working at the IRS…

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More Work Fun!More Work Fun!