Have you ever wondered why some organizations consistently receive rave reviews and a special place in the hearts and minds of their workers? For many, it’s because they cultivate a work environment that allows for levity to flourish.
What is levity at work anyway?
Let’s start with an analogy. Like a good PB&J sandwich, levity requires a few components to make it fulfilling and satisfying. What does PB&J call for? Bread, peanut butter (I prefer creamy), and jelly (or jam for the sophisticated folk). Without these parts, there is no sandwich.
It’s not what you think.
Let’s look at levity. Levity is defined as an uplifting and/or pleasurable dynamic between two or more individuals that lacks tension and anxiety.
It is a characteristic of the quality of exchanges between people. We look to communication, behavior, and shared feelings when we look for the presence of levity. When present, this makes for a good time at work and with colleagues. People feel good at work and they appreciate their colleagues.
We look to communication, behavior, and shared feelings when we look for the presence of levity.
Do you see the components of the sandwich? Each of the following parts serve as levers that we can pull to raise levity across the board.
Keep it Light: Buoyancy
It’s Buoyancy – an interaction that is organic in its origin and requires minimal effort.
As it relates to a company, buoyancy here can mean lightness. This happens when employees are allowed to interact with themselves on things that are of interest to them. This way, while socializing, they can carry out their tasks with relative ease. This does not necessarily mean the employees shift their attention from the work to be done, but that they are also allowed to comment and make jokes around things that interest them.
Keep it Fun: Amusement
It’s Amusement – a pleasurable interaction that incorporates playful exchanges.
While there are many companies with a whole lot of rules making the work environment all serious all the time, little do they know that employees of such companies may be on the verge of burnout. A small, well defined and coordinated sense of humor allowed to find expression in your company, can do your company a whole lot of good while fast-tracking its rise to greatness.
Keep it Uplifting: Edification
It’s Edification – an interaction that is psychologically uplifting in that it celebrates achievements or corrects behavior in a manner that is easily absorbed and appreciated by the recipient.
If levity were a sandwich, it could start with a spread of buoyancy and a bit of amusement; then we’d seal it with edification. This is what distinguishes a workplace that has levity from one that offers bean bag chairs and ping pong tables. It’s not just about having fun.
Edification is an old school term, but one that raises the moral element and promotes this type of environment to a higher level of conscious operation. Employees support one another. They lift each other up. Strengths and achievements are acknowledged and appreciated, and most importantly everyone acts like he/she is a leader as well as a follower. When correction is needed, it is done compassionately and with the intent to help the other person grow.
That’s it. Any surprises?
That’s levity in a nutshell. This model holds up and has been tested internationally with a wide variety of working professionals. Do you know where your company stands in the hearts and minds of your employees? If you’re ready to find out, click the “Get Started” button below to launch a survey campaign with me.
If you’d like to read a more in-depth version, check out my publication, Keeping it Light: Introducing a Model of Levity at Work.
