Studies of the brain show that laughter releases endorphins. In turn endorphins elevate your mood. And finally an elevated mood increases your effectiveness on many levels. For example, you look forward to working with other people because you have an optimistic mindset. You looking forward to working with them impacts their attitude toward working with you and the partnership, team, and even customer/provider relationship goes better. Cooperation is easier when this mindset pervades. Coming to agreements through a shared vision and compromise is easier and more effective when one’s mood is positive.

So, make yourself laugh every day to improve your effectiveness.

Find the humor in situations such as grocery shopping – loft the loaf of bread to your shopping ass’t (whether your kids or sister)… everyone will get a lift. Find humor on the internet as in this 34 second video from YouTube: 

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(Tip: limit yourself to just 1 or 2 YouTube Video- laughter is addictive and soon you won’t be working with anyone if all you’re doing is watching videos!)

Make faces in the mirror with your kids. You’ll build your relationship there, too!

Comment with what you do to laugh so we can all have better and more effective days!

What words represent keeping things fresh while progressing toward a worthwhile goal? You might  embrace all or some of these. They’re  important because the words we use influence who we are and what we accomplish. Here are some of my top-of-mind words… please add a comment that includes one or some that work for you.

• Retool

  - using what you have to come up with something different
  Example: rather than every group in a company having its own supply cabinet, centralizing supplies for more effective ordering, storage, retrieval, and tracking

• Reinvent

  - start over to create great things. Great things are those that make life better.
  Example: After Jeff ended up in a wheel chair as the result of the accident, he became one of the most inspirational physical therapists in the practice

• Reuse

  - when you’re done with something see how you can repeat your success
  Example: You’ve created a prized presentation. Take it to another organization, profit or not-for-profit that could benefit from that work

• Repurpose

  - same thing, different application
  Example: a bookshelf relocated from against the wall to divide a room

• Review

  - literally view something again. You will see different things when you’re in a different place and/or your perspective is from a different point
  Example: read a book or take a training class again.

• Recycle

  - you’re done with it… pass it on!
  Example: pluck 10 books from your shelf and donate them to the company library, a school library, or your public library

Re-words are particularly relevant in this strapped economy because they use resources that exist. One doesn’t need to go out and develop or acquire much more. He looks at what he has, might have help reassessing what resources, experience, and talents he has, and starts down a new path. What words help you?