How Pharrell Williams and chickens can improve your workplace
By Cate Schreck - Service Excellence Coach
Recently I delivered a 2 hour training session at Sunshine Harvester Primary School. The session was for Education Support Staff (non-teaching staff) and the topic was "Effective Workplace Relationships".
As I was setting up the training room the School's PA (Speaker System) kicked into gear with Pharrell Williams' song "Happy". I started to smile and sing along and then...before I knew it.....I was ....dancing. Straight after Pharrell and as the attendees were entering the room, the farm yard sounds of goats and chickens came over the PA.
Chris Welsh (School Business Manager) explained that the music is a signal for the students that it's time to go back to class and as the School has chickens and goats, the animal noises are to remind those on goat and chicken duty, to complete their chores. Chris also confirmed that the animals help distracted or emotional students to focus and calm down and the music makes everyone at School smile and feel good.
Workplaces take note; if our schools are helping students to manage their emotions with music and animals and it also gives the staff an injection of positivity and a sense of calm, then what are you providing to evoke these feelings in your workplace?
Maybe you can't set up a chicken coop or goat pen and it will depend on what type of products and services you provide as to the suitability of music, but here's 5 ideas you might like to try:
- Bring in a Fish Tank - or have a "fake tank" streaming via You Tube
- Have a TV/Screen showing pictures of lovable animals
- Allow staff to display photos of their pets
- For staff completing tasks that don't require people interaction, provide headphones and a device so they can play music. Sure, it's not for everyone but it might be appreciated by someone.
- Have music playing as staff enter a meeting - set the mood. Theme song to Jaws anyone? (Just kidding)
If you want a culture of positive and motivated staff who provide a consistently excellent level of service to each other and your customers, then create an environment that is positive and motivating. How do you do that?
Introducing our FREE Customer Service Analysis (CSA) . The CSA covers the 3 areas you must address if you want a culture of service excellence AND gives you strategies you can implement straight away. A CSA takes as little as 30 minutes and can be completed over the phone. CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR FREE CSA