111 - More Fun Equals More Engagement With Jess Ruggieri

“You do not lead by hitting people over the head -- that's assault, not leadership.” - Dwight Eisenhower Did you hear?  Humor Month is coming up in April!  And, my friends, I want you to be ready.  In today's world, having fun isn't something we should hope for, it is something we should plan for so...I am sharing this interview with you a month prior to humor month so you've got time to be ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! The guest is Jess Ruggieri and she works at.....wait for it...The Fun Department!  Jess is, among other things, the Ambassador of Inclusion and she is sharing some tips with us this week to get your team engaged with a little bit of fun! This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart.  Research has shown that people that enjoy where they work and what they do are not only more productive, they are more loyal.  That means it's a two-fer.  One strategy, two results....engagement and retention.  I know you're going to love Jess as much as I do so get ready to write some stuff down and put into action! CHEERS! More on Jess... Jess Ruggieri has found her place as the ambassador of inclusion at the fun dept., a training and coaching company driven by the implementation of "innovative solutions for a happier, healthier, more connected workplace.”  Featured on various news and media outlets, the fun dept.’s clients range from Fortune 100 companies to those with as few as 10 employees and is not partnered with Zappos’s training company, Delivering Happiness. Jessica's history with the fun dept. goes back nine years when the founder, Nick Gianoulis, went out of his way to work from her coffee shop. “I simply wanted to create a fun and welcoming environment for both my staff and my customers,” she said.  It took Jessica nine years to make a career jump.  With her extensive experience in management, psychology, interpersonal communication, organizational processes, training & development, and having received her Master’s in Health Promotion and her certification as a Health & Fitness Coach, Jessica landed her dream job—utilizing her passions and skillsets to impact company culture. “It is a simple and unique systematic approach where we teach companies how to design appropriate ‘play’ techniques to connect and de-stress employees.” Jessica and the fun dept. team have been “playing it forward” to improve work environments for customers, employees, and the bottom line! Connect with Jess at the Fun Department here:  https://thefundept.com/