The Importance of Fun in the Workplace

Blog #27

The Importance of Fun in the Workplace

Further, laughter and fun at work strengthen the bonds between us. It takes a level of trust and comfort to enjoy the company of our colleagues – and to make no secret of the fact that we’re doing so. If a business leader can keep a team entertained while also efficient, they excel in their role. Far from a warning sign of inefficiency, a group that laughs out loud – and doesn’t try to hide it – is likely to keep producing high-quality work, safe in the knowledge that their efforts are appreciated.

Perhaps more importantly, we also learn more while we’re having fun. This means that we can work smart as well as hard – something that continues to grow in importance as we adjust to a new world. Many of us are still adapting to exchanging prolonged time at home for additional hours with our workplace. By maximising the efficiency of our performance in the office, we can strike an appropriate balance in how and where we spend our time.

It can sometimes feel that having fun in the workplace is akin to walking a tightrope. Nobody wants to feel they’re being flippant during a testing time in human history or cause inadvertent offence. Indeed, there can be a fine line between workplace banter among colleagues and teasing that could be dubbed bullying. Stay mindful of the feelings of others, though, and it’s likely that we can all enjoy the benefits of fun at work.

If you’re keen to introduce a little more fun into your working life, there are plenty of ways that you can achieve this without sacrificing performance. Naturally, it’s crucial that we remember why we go to work. That doesn’t mean that we need to sacrifice any opportunity for amusement to pursue perfection, though. To quote Willy Wonka, a fictional character that will surely relish Jelly Bean Day, “a little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest people.”

Key Takeaways –

• Having fun at work, especially laughter, strengthens the bond between colleagues and enhances trust in leaders.
• Taking a moment to share a laugh with colleagues can diffuse tension and minimise stress.
• We learn more and absorb information faster while we’re having fun, meaning that we can work smart as well as hard.
• While it can be a fine line between good-natured interactions and potentially offensive remarks, mindfulness can help you stay on the right side of a call from HR!