For 10 days in July, Calgary becomes even more high-spirited, friendly, and neighbourly than usual.  The Calgary Stampede consistently brings the city to new heights in terms of civic pride, enthusiasm, and excitement.  Calgarians ditch their usual work attire for cowboy inspired denim, hats, and boots.  While the whole city embraces the spirit of Stampede, nowhere is it more apparent than down at the Stampede Grounds.  Athletes, organizers, concession attendants, and other staff can’t stop smiling.  Of course, it is easy to love any job when it only lasts 10 days and is part of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.  Most of us genuinely enjoy our jobs, and the organizations we work for, but there is no denying that some days are better than others.  What can the infectious spirit of the Calgary Stampede teach us about how to improve our workplace?

Some rodeo events literally last just seconds.  From the stands, we watch dreams come true in the blink of an eye.  What we don’t see is the years of hard work that the athletes go through.  Our work lives are pretty comparable.  We can’t break a record every day but we can set professional and organizational goals that excite us.  Those goals can keep us focused and enthused.

It is someone’s job to clean up all the garbage generated by Stampede events and activities.  This includes animal waste, half-eaten food, and recyclables.  The people tasked with this job play an important role in keeping the Stampede grounds safe for visitors, animals, and fellow employees.  They know it is an important job and they do it with pride.  We all have aspects of our jobs that are not enjoyable.  Take a few minutes to reframe those dreaded tasks and highlight their positive impact.

Stampede is 10 days of some of the best celebrations this country sees.  People talk about their Stampede experiences for months afterwards.  When you have a success in the workplace, celebrate it like the city celebrates Stampede.  It doesn’t take a great deal of expense or time to plan an epic celebration.  It just takes thoughtful consideration and genuine enthusiasm.

Every year, the Calgary Stampede debuts new food experiences, concerts, and attractions.  That is part of the reason why people attend the event year after year.  What a great example of engagement.  Employ some of the same concepts to help keep your employees engaged in the workplace.  Studies have repeatedly shown that high levels of employee engagement lead to a more productive, stable, and profitable workplace.  If you are not sure where to start, we can help you create programs and policies that will keep your employees coming back for more.

The Calgary Stampede has policies, procedures, and insurance in place to address a wide range of scenarios that could impact the operation of the event.  This helps staff to understand what is expected of them should an unexpected incident occur.  It also helps to minimize the possibility of a catastrophic financial fallout in the event that something goes wrong.  Policies and procedures can help staff in any organization to have more confidence about their role.  Documented policies and procedures have been proven to positively impact performance and job satisfaction.  We can help you develop HR policy and procedure manuals specifically for your organization.  As licensed benefits consultants, we can put together customized and affordable plans that give you and your employees peace of mind knowing that insurance coverage is available should they become ill or have unforeseen medical expenses.

The Calgary Stampede has a lot to teach us.  It’s time to buckle up and apply these rodeo lessons to your work life!