There's nothing I love more than the sound of laughter. Especially when it comes from a group of volunteers working together.
As I sit at my computer in the corner office in downtown Peterborough overlooking George and King streets, I wonder what is the impetus for such contagious laughter spilling out of the board room at the Health Services Foundation.
Gathered around the long table in the centre of the room, Chit, Marg, Anne, Lindsay and Celia - all volunteers ranging in age from 21 to 77 - are stuffing envelopes with thank you cards, annual reports and the latest communication pieces reporting on what's new at our Foundation.
I listen but it still offers no clue as to why they are laughing and I soon realize it doesn't matter. It's such a welcome sound I sit and enjoy it and even get the impulse to join in.
Which is exactly what our Executive Director, Hannah Routly does.. No more than five minutes of joining the group at the table, she too is folding and stuffing and laughing, not only helping to lessen the workload but making the task an enjoyable and worthwhile one.
From a recent article in The Globe and Mail written by Karl Moore and Sienna Zampino - Why finding purpose at work drives the economy - www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/leadership-lab/why-finding-purpose-at-work-drives-the-economy/article19693719/
"By building community leaders and allowing their organization to form a bottom-up culture, rather than dictating top-down solutions, leaders will find their organization achieves success through the empowerment of their employees. A sense of community and the feeling of working towards something greater automatically boosts the motivation of employees and their performance.
Gathered around the long table in the centre of the room, Chit, Marg, Anne, Lindsay and Celia - all volunteers ranging in age from 21 to 77 - are stuffing envelopes with thank you cards, annual reports and the latest communication pieces reporting on what's new at our Foundation.
I listen but it still offers no clue as to why they are laughing and I soon realize it doesn't matter. It's such a welcome sound I sit and enjoy it and even get the impulse to join in.
Which is exactly what our Executive Director, Hannah Routly does.. No more than five minutes of joining the group at the table, she too is folding and stuffing and laughing, not only helping to lessen the workload but making the task an enjoyable and worthwhile one.
From a recent article in The Globe and Mail written by Karl Moore and Sienna Zampino - Why finding purpose at work drives the economy - www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/leadership-lab/why-finding-purpose-at-work-drives-the-economy/article19693719/
"By building community leaders and allowing their organization to form a bottom-up culture, rather than dictating top-down solutions, leaders will find their organization achieves success through the empowerment of their employees. A sense of community and the feeling of working towards something greater automatically boosts the motivation of employees and their performance.
Mr. Hurst suggests that being collaborative won’t be just a choice for much longer. With the growing need for purpose and a sense of accomplishment and happiness in the workplace, organizations will need to start molding themselves to suit that. And why shouldn’t they? After all, happy employees are good for business."
I get that it's often tough to find joy in what we do. But often more than not, it's a simple thing, like laughter that ignites and connects people resulting in community building, partnerships and yes, a happier place to work.
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