My wife was “evaluating” our Kfi team pull-up breaks recently and told me “middle school kids get 1 short recess per day and high school kids get no recess. Why does the Kfi team need so many recesses each day?”
I think recess is really important for everyone (kids and adults). Recess increases productivity and happiness. In the SOC world, we frequently explain to our clients the importance of Control Self-Assessments (CSAs). CSAs are a way to kick the tires and help ensure that controls are operating effectively throughout the year. In a similar respect, I think it is important for firms to complete a periodic Level of Play Self-Assessment (LoPSA) to ensure that they are playing hard enough and getting the correct amount of enjoyment out of work. Here is an example of a Kfi LoPSA:
LoPSA Criteria | Grade / Comment |
Extracurricular activities: do members of the team participate in a sufficient amount of intense activities outside of work and are they encouraged to do this? | A+
Yes. Our team bikes, skis, snowboards, hunts, runs, plays soccer…and we have a Muay Thai fighter! |
Play induced injuries: are members of the team elevating their play outside of work to a level that results in injury? | A+
Yes. Currently 3 of 12 team members have broken bones resulting from a biking accident, soccer game and ski crash. |
Pull-ups: are members of the team doing a sufficient number of pull-ups each day at the Kfi pull-up station? | A+
Yes. Many members of the team do 1-3 sets of pull-ups and dips at the Kfi pull-up station when they are working in the office. |
Happiness: are members of the team happy and healthy? | A+
Yes. There is a lot of laughter and fun in the office. |
Thanks for reading!