Funny business

The cabin crew on flight DJ247 were so funny they had me eating out of their hands. Are you taking fun seriously?

Thank God for plane trips. If I’m going to take my career as a blogger seriously, I think I’m going to have to stay in the sky, because that’s where all my inspiration comes from.

Meet the cabin crew of Virgin Blue flight DJ247. It’s headed up by Matt, who’s making me rethink my career as a blogger and consider serving tea and coffee on aeroplanes. Right now I’d do anything for him, I’m finding him so funny.

With a deadpan face, he introduces the first cabin crew member.

“Ladies and gentlemen, at the front of the cabin we have Carol. Carol comes from a little town outside of Brisbane. She’s just been released from the local women’s detention centre and is serving with us to learn anger management skills. I’ve been hit by her a few times now, but don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be safe.”

Matt’s speech about Carol has got me thinking. Business should be fun and our workplaces should be happy. We shouldn’t take ourselves so seriously. Now I fundamentally believe all of this. I love a good laugh. But when business gets stressful, we forget, right?

I’ve always been one for making my workplace fun. I’ll often hide under my desk if I think someone’s looking for me, and when they get close, I’ll jump out and scare them. Hee hee. I’m also partial to spontaneous dancing on the office desk from time to time if the mood takes me. If an invite to a fancy dress party lands on my desk, I’m the first to RSVP.

“And in the middle of the cabin we have Gavin. You’ll recognise Gavin from the last series of Australian Idol. He made it through to the last three thousand contestants and now he’s back flying with us.”

If you have to make a phone call you don’t want to (it may be a cold call or to address a customer complaint), put on your sunglasses. Yes, you heard right. The bigger the sunglasses, the better. The aim is to feel silly. Or buy some big costume hats (think jester or cowboy or even witch). It serves two purposes – you’ll feel so silly that you won’t help but laugh at yourself, (your customers will experience you feeling this) and it will also show other people in your team that you’re rolling your sleeves up and getting into it.

“And up the back is Carlos, our retired male model from South America”.

Buy a whoopee cushion. Subscribe to a joke of the day and send it around every now and then. Dress up. Throw a stress ball across the office. Decorate your space. Laugh at yourself. Steal someone’s coffee to confuse them then put it back when they’re not watching.

“If you’re caught smoking on the plane, we’ll take you outside to have a word about it”.

I can’t help but think that when these guys look up their shifts for the month, and find that they’re being lead by Matt, they’ll be overjoyed. Everyone wants to work for a leader who inspires, who makes work fun, who makes you think that you’re there to make others happy.

What sort of workplace do you have? How much fun are you to work with? Would Matt’s cabin crew throw in the towel and exchange their tea and coffee for answering emails and representing your business in your office all day???

“And I’m Matt, the only Virgin Blue cabin supervisor who needs mousse for his eyebrows”.

Samantha McDonald at darecoaching.com.au writes: Emma, as always, you make me laugh. And, of course, everything you say makes perfect sense.