Sometimes extra-time compensations and commendations are not enough to make people feel better about working long hours on a Friday. Your friends are out partying. Some of them have returned home early to pack for a trip over the weekend. Some are cozying up to spend time with their partners. And you are stuck at work with a grumpy set of colleagues because you have a deadline coming up. This can be a frustrating end to a gruelling work week.
But there are some things you can do to turn the situation into a more positive vibe. Working late Friday hours can be cool too with a few simple things.
Here’s how you can cheer up your colleagues on a dull Friday evening.
Positive Venting
You can start by talking to your colleagues about their weekend plans. These conversations can lighten the mood and build comradery. If someone says, they are going for a trip, then others too would talk about it. The gentle banter among colleagues can make time fly. It makes everyone realise that they are in the same ship, and they have to sail through to reach the targets together.
Prasad More, an HR Manager at SRV Media, suggests, “It is important for everyone to remain positive. Often, I go to my colleagues and talk to them about my plans. They too feel good about it, and talk to me about their plans. Sharing such positivity helps to keep a good frame of mind, even on late Friday evenings.”
Get A Pizza
It is not about compensating for the extra time. But ordering in a pizza can build a friendlier atmosphere at work. It can be a short happy break before you all go back to work. The mere act of sitting together and sharing a slice can break the tension, and act as a motivator to finish the task at hand.
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Shikha Chaudhary, Content Manager at TalentSprint, says, “We all plan a lunch or dinner together after working long hours. Another stress buster I like is playing carrom in our lounge room. It does not require much time or preparation, but puts everyone in a good frame of mind.”
Building Incentives
You can begin planning a trip with your colleagues for the next day off. Making fun plans together definitely helps the team see through the long work hours. For instance, you can begin the subject of deciding a spot for team picnic on the next long weekend. Such plans often work to build incentives.
These fun approaches can make it easier to cheer up grumpy colleagues on a Friday night.
