Fani Kiran Vulapalli

When I first started working remotely I struggled with communication. Since I wasn’t in the office every day, I couldn’t just stroll up to my coworker’s desk and run an idea or question by them. Instead of face-to-face conversations, I was having chats over Slack and Skype, using emojis to try to translate some semblance of emotion. I remember one specific instance when I reached out to a coworker for help. My initial question was peppered with smiley faces and words like 'howdy' to convey a sense of playfulness. I was greeted with short, one-word answers that jumped straight to the point. While I tried not to read too far into the answers, it was hard not to. Here I was in my first remote work environment trying to connect with coworkers and instead I almost felt like a nuisance. Definitely not the way I wanted to come across. A little over a year later, I wouldn’t say I’ve mastered remote communication, but I have become much more comfortable building relationships...

If you stop by the Patagonia office during lunch you would be more likely to see employees grabbing surfboards and heading to the ocean rather than into a conference room. While that seems like unusual activity for a company that earned $600 million in 2013 it’s all part of an effort to encourage work-life balance at the company. In some circles, the idea of fun in the workplace seems almost contradictory. But, Patagonia and other leading companies like IDEO have demonstrated how emphasizing fun at work can increase productivity, decrease employee turnover, and inspire new products. Why Have Fun in the First Place? It seems like a no-brainer right? Playing was fun when you were a kid. You probably still have a great time playing as an adult. So, why don’t you do it more often? Amidst work, social commitments, childcare, bills, home improvement projects, and the like, finding time to cut loose can be challenging. Research indicates this lack of playtime is detrimental for a...