Do you have fun at work? Between customer demands and measurable results, there often isn't time for fun. However, enlightened business leaders constantly take the opportunity to enhance their existing programs for workplace fun. How can a program for workplace fun become more effective and efficient? Read this issue on Promotional Consultant Today to learn more.

A healthy program for fun at work has essentials that ensure you'll get the culture, leadership and investment to perform optimally. They are called the 3 Cs: Consistency, on Company Time and Culture Compliant.

Consistency: The traditional model for workplace fun generally involves two specific high-profile events. They give employees a chance to connect and share, celebrate and bond. They're typically pure fun and have been around since the dawn of business. You probably already plan these events. They are ... the company picnic and the holiday party.

You might spend months preparing for these celebrations. And they can be valuable for your team, no doubt. But any morale boost they produce is fleeting—maybe just a few days or a week, tops. Before you know it, your employees may fall into a rut of apathy about the workplace, at least until the next special event many months later. Consider that this apathy, lack of motivation and connection costs you money, productivity and loyalty.

As opposed to planning two large events each year, you should focus on consistent delivery of engagement. When it comes to fun in the workplace, consistency is key and should help to make fun feel as natural and typical to the staff as the rush hour commute or weekly meetings. Monthly fun programs are an easy starting point and offer six-times the amount of fun than only the holiday party and company picnic.

On Company Time: Studies conducted on employees and work-family balance show that employees value their time with family and friends much more today than ever before. Time is among the most highly valued commodities. Yet, company leaders hesitate to schedule fun events on company time. Doing so, they believe, impacts productivity and is merely a distraction.

Many companies follow the same agenda for retreats and conferences: meetings from 8:30 am to 4 pm and team building from 4-6 pm. And what happens after 6 pm? That's the time reserved for the mandatory happy hour and team dinner, of course. That doesn't sound like fun for anyone. The "fun" is too long and disrupts family time.

Consider instead a 15-minute icebreaker at 8:30 am to set the tone for a productive day, followed by a brief team activity after lunch to reenergize the group for the rest of the day. And then, at 4 pm, send people home for some downtime. Be a superhero and save the company some serious money on the booze and food for the evening.

It's easier to attract talent and start adopting a culture of fun and the positive results that follow when fun is delivered in short stints.

Culture Compliance: Compliance speaks to more than just the typical view of the concept of legalities. Compliant fun will integrate with your company's culture and bylaws and encourage everyone to participate in their own way.

First, make sure you have a good sense of the likes, dislikes, tolerances and intolerances of the folks who make up your organization. Second, fun needs to appeal to extroverts and introverts alike. Some employees will gladly do the limbo; others will prefer watching. Everyone should feel comfortable enough to play along in the way that suits their tastes.++

The key to success? Allow team members to define their own fun. Listen. And plan events that allow for a variety of different kinds of participation.

Source: Nat Measley, MPA, is the CEO and managing partner at The Fun Dept, and co-author of the recently released book Playing it Forward: The Definitive 'How To' Model for Creating a Winning Workplace Culture. Measley earned his MPA with a focus on organizational leadership from the University of Delaware. He is an experienced public speaker, facilitator and trainer who works directly with CEOs, leaders, HR professionals and administrators to develop fun programming that supports their organizational goals.