The Power of Fun

Last week, I went to Disneyland for the first time ever. Being fortunate enough to have native guides (two people who play there often, one of whom used to work there), I didn't do any planning or research - I just showed up and allowed the day to be whatever it wanted to be.

It was an absolute blast - and since I live just an hour away, I'm looking forward to going again soon!

Along with rediscovering my delight in roller coasters, I found myself considering fun. What are my reactions, and my clients' and friends' reactions, to fun, and where does it belong in life? What expectations do we have about fun, and how could we shift those expectations to have more fun?

My conclusion is that for most people, fun is what happens after everything else is done - after all those weighty responsibilities are taken care of. Fun is something we earn. Fun belongs at home; it might happen at work, but it's not usually what we think of when we look at our career goals.

On the other hand, we know from fields of study such as Positive Psychology and Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi's work on the experience of flow that when you're having fun, you're much more engaged and much more productive.

Your own experience backs that up. Just think of the last time you enjoyed what you were doing, and how quickly the time passed and how much you got done. Then compare that to the last time you had to force yourself to do something you didn't want to do.

So in celebration of roller coasters, summer (or winter for those of you in the southern hemisphere), and just plain life, here's my invitation to you to have more fun at work - and some practical suggestions to help that happen.

Start with intention

Next Monday morning when you're dreading getting up and facing another week, set an intention to find something fun in your day - every day. Be curious about how it will show up each day, each hour, each moment.

Curiosity and an intention to have fun will open your eyes to opportunities you wouldn't otherwise see. New ways to approach old challenges, creative ideas for problem-solving, and inspirations for real leadership - all of these spring from an intention to be curious and have fun.

Break rules

Whose rule is it, anyway, and why is it a rule?

I'm not talking about ignoring standard operating procedures and workflows. They're there for a reason; understanding how work moves from one person or area to the next, understanding who needs to know about something, understanding who's responsible for deadlines and approvals - all of that is crucial to the smooth, functional operation of any organization.

On the other hand, who says you have to have a meeting sitting down - or indoors? Why not go to breakfast with someone instead of going to lunch? What about not using PowerPoint for your next presentation?

Your organization's rules - and your personal rules - are unique. Think about which ones you can have fun breaking, while remaining careful of stepping on unspoken organizational taboos.

Do what you want

No, no, I don't mean going to Disneyland instead of going to the office! But within the context of your work, what has real juice for you? What's exciting? What tasks do you use as a reward for getting other, less-interesting stuff done?

What if you were to focus on those tasks, instead of on all the others that you think you "should" do?

When you focus on the interesting work, other supposedly less-interesting tasks tend to come along for the ride - they get done as a side benefit. But when you focus on the less-interesting work, then you get bogged down in the tedium and funlessness, and progress slows to a crawl.

Engage with others

Some corporate cultures are more social than others, but no matter what the norm is in your organization, it's fun to find ways to connect.

Within teams, a little social knowledge of your co-workers deepens trust, and with trust, more gets done. It's that simple. And you'll have more fun doing it.

You don't need elaborate team-building events or potluck parties or Happy Hours to create social engagement. Those sorts of things can be great, but it's the day-to-day opportunity to (for instance) tell a brief personal story at the beginning of a meeting that really builds the frameworks of trust.

And that's as simple as starting out by saying, "I went to Disneyland for the first time this past week - it was great! Who else has been there? What's your favorite ride?"

"To love what you do and feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun?" Katharine Graham, 1917-2001, American publisher, CEO, and board chair of the Washington Post.

Resources

You can find more information about Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center site: www.ppc.sas.upenn.edu/

Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi's work includes Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life, and Good Business: Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning, among others. You can find all his books on Amazon.

(His last name is pronounced "chick-SENT-me-hi-ee.")

And my favorite ride at Disneyland is Space Mountain. No two ways about it. Wanna go? I'll meet you in line!

(Just for the record, I have no affiliation with Disney - I just had a really great time!)