Think about your best-ever work experience. Got it? I’ll bet even if it was tough, ultimately it was fun.
I remind you of that because, as a leader, the same is true for those in your organization. If you’re hoping for their best-ever work (working for you), "fun" needs to be on the table. (A state of stress, indifference, tension and angst won’t induce peak experiences, or peak output.)
Leaders who encourage an appropriate level of fun on the job are happier and more effective, and their people are too.
No one wants grim determination, even on a Monday.
So it's up to you to encourage a playful spirit when possible and you will unleash good energy and creativity on old problems. Everyone, including you, will operate at a peak level when you let go of any notion that work isn’t supposed to be fun.
Three "leaders make fun, not stress" coaching questions:
- If someone asked your people if having some fun is part of your organization’s culture, what would they be likely to say?
- In what ways do your own beliefs or assumptions stand in the way of an enjoyable atmosphere among your people, or in your organization?
- What can you do more to promote a spirit of constructive play in your organization?
