There is nothing better than a good laugh, a bit of a giggle to put the hop in your step. Fitting in a laugh can be hard though and not because the only jokes you know are about chickens crossing a road. Maybe you work in an isolated office and don’t get much contact with your co-workers. Or maybe your schedule is so busy you’re not sure if you’ll have time to eat, let alone laugh. But below is the excuse you needed to slot in some time for laughter.

Laughing can boost productivity but also help you appear more competent. Studies have shown that a cheesy dad joke at work can help you wiggle your way into the hearts of your colleagues while boosting your performance. Even if you’re not the joke telling type, laughing along with the workplace comedian can help ease your stresses and create higher efficiency. 

It is important to make sure you don’t get carried away with your jokes. Inappropriate or bad jokes can knock you down on the totem pole. Best to play it safe.

So next time you need a favour, why not start with a good joke? You’re not only helping yourself, but your team as well.

Who you are and what you do:

My name is Alex. I am the Head of Account Management at Scout Talent Recruitment Software and an enthusiastic participant in the Tour de Office event for the last four years.

What does a basic rundown of your day look like?

On a good day, I’ll get up at 5.30am and go to a boxing class at Brisbane Boxing in West End (followed by a well-earned coffee!) If I don’t manage to get out of bed early, I’ll typically try to fit in an 8km run along the river at lunchtime. After work, I’ll go to BodyFit, my local group fitness gym in Milton. The classes are pretty tough, but I love the social side of it.

Stretching before bed is a good habit I try to stick to, as I always enjoy better sleep afterwards. My other secret weapon is a cup of rooibos tea. It’s caffeine-free and a well-known anti-inflammatory. I have my South African roommate to thank for that one!

How do you stay motivated and continue to do this (nearly) every day?

The best way to stay motivated is to exercise with a friend. Once you’re committed to doing an activity with someone, you’re much less likely to bail on them. So, I always try to invite a friend along with me or ask if they have any workout plans I can join in.

What do you find the most challenging about keeping an active and healthy lifestyle?

Getting the right nutrition is a challenge. I’m always hungry and that means keeping healthy snacks around me in the office. We celebrate everyone’s birthday with a cake at work, so you’ll usually find me going back for a second slice if there’s any leftovers!

When did this routine begin? And why?

It began not long after I moved to Australia four years ago. I lead a much more active lifestyle here than I did in Scotland. It’s no secret that Australia enjoys fantastic weather, but the quality of the shows on TV is awful. This combination means I spend a lot of time outdoors. Any excuse to avoid watching The Bachelor, right?

Do you ever change it up?

I’ll usually try something new every couple of months. Yoga and indoor rock climbing are two activities I’ve enjoyed in the past. These places usually offer trials so you can give it a go without being locked into a membership.

What is your tip for others?

The hardest part of any workout is getting started, but once you get the heart rate up and the endorphins kick in, that’s it… you’re doing it! Keep going!

What is your favourite exercise?

Cycling is the one I find myself returning to most often. When times get tough, there’s no better feeling than taking the bike up Mount Coot-tha for a Sunday spin and enjoying the view, especially at sunset. It’s like pushing the reset button ahead of the working week.

98% of TDO riders said they felt engaged during the 2018 ride event, but exactly how does employee engagement lead to increased business success?

A review of the Gallup Studies regarding employee engagement and business performance found that employee turnover is reduced and productivity is increased when the employee feels that:

• The employer cares about him/her

• There is a strong mission/purpose

• The organisation is a ‘friend’

• The organisation is committed to quality

• The organisation provides opportunities to learn and grow

What’s more, the Gallup Studies found a demonstrable relationship between employee engagement and business unit success. Business units at the 95th percentile of employee engagement improve their odds of success by 42% over the median business unit.

The Gallup data review allows us to extrapolate to attach dollar values to employee engagement by translating business unit success, customer satisfaction and employee turnover into hard costs.

Employee Engagement Translated into Dollars – For example – A 100 person business unit with $20 million in revenue:

 

It’s black and white! Employee engagement is great for everyone and your bottom line!

Love is in the air. Valentine’s day – or as known by single people: February 14th – is already here and everyone is in the spirit of buying overpriced chocolates, stuffed bears and dying flowers. But the question to ask is, are we actually gifting the right person? Maybe there is someone else in our lives we are overlooking who is supplying us with a healthier and happier workplace.

Most people in the workplace have a work wife or husband, that person who they can rely on to make their workweek slightly more bearable. Work spouses are more than just our desk buddies, they are what pull us through those dragged out meetings, those ‘I just can’t do it’ days and those taxing weeks when everything has piled onto itself.

Maybe they just bring you a cup of coffee in the morning or maybe they are ready to help you become more active in the workplace. You share an intense connection with your work spouse that could combat your actual relationship. They’re the Sherlock to your Watson, the JD to your Turk, the Cristina to your Meredith.

But did you know that your work spouse can lead to higher productivity in the workplace (even if you may not feel like you’re actually working). This higher productivity is due to the trusting friendship you have built. A study by McBride, a professor at Creighton University, has proven to have that special someone in the workplace can assist in managing your stress and preventing burnouts so you have more time for what you want (possibly training for Tour de Office). The health benefits supplied by having a work spouse can lead from emotional support to physical with afternoon walks after work or Saturday morning yoga.

So this Valentine’s day, don’t forget to thank the one who is there for you eight hours a day, five days a week. Without them, we would not be working in the happier and healthier working environments we have.