Strategy #22: Lighten up and have more fun (the man in the Gray flannel suit is dead!)

Seymour Cray is the founder of the Cray Supercomputer company. As you might imagine, this company is full of brilliant people. One day, Cray walked into the engineering department and saw that everyone was stressed out over a seemingly insoluble technical problem.

Now, a good manager would have rolled up his sleeves and helped solve the problem (perhaps ordering pizza as a not-so-subtle way of telling everyone not to expect to go home for dinner that evening). But Cray was a brilliant leader. Instead of turning up the pressure, he shouted “Let’s go tubing!” The entire department took off, piled inner tubes and refreshments into their cars, and headed for the river. After a day of sun and play, they came back to the office and the problem was quickly solved.

Southwest Airlines has more parties and celebrations than every other airline put together. They are also the most productive airline in the industry. As counterintuitive as this may seem, those two facts are related. People who are having fun at work are a lot more productive. They are also a lot more loyal.

At one of my hospital clients, the foodservice director truly believed that having fun was essential to quality, productivity, and longevity. They had gingerbread house making contests, jello eating contests (yes, with green hospital jello), and all sorts of other outrageously great activities. They also had one of the most outrageously great foodservice operations I’ve ever seen.  What can you do to cultivate a culture where people love to come to work (and serve your customers) because they know they’re going to have so much fun?

“Having a positive attitude is the foundation for successful relationships with your organization and coworkers. When people come to work complaining, avoiding coworkers, and making it apparent they can’t wait to get home, it hurts them and everyone around them.”

Mike Veek: Fun Is Good: How to Create Joy & Passion in Your Workplace & Career

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