are you having fun yet?
JOY IS THE ANTIDOTE TO TURBULENCE AND THE BEST WAY TO NAVIGATE IT. According to studies, Americans averaged 17-18 “laughter incidents” a day (varying by age and context), with a “fit of laughter” roughly every four days. This kind of data is hard to come by, though, since research on laughter frequency is rare and uneven. We seem obsessed with measuring (and therefore focusing on) our escalating anxiety and stress instead.
When we think of laughter, it’s generally not in the context of our work environment, but perhaps that’s not in our best interest either. Because in the history of business, long-term innovation, resilience and prosperity always eventually collapse under the weight of joyless, disengaged employees.
Consider our present moment. AI’s transformation of work and humanity, stunning climate events, boiling geopolitics, the rising cost of everything and a surfeit of opinions from too many people who have no idea what they’re talking about makes a recipe for rampant anxiety that swallows the joy in everyone’s work life, from CEOs to office interns. That saps energy and focus. And it makes the most important job of a leader; which is keeping their teams engaged and healthy, much harder.
The answer isn’t doubling down on your current strategy or being more demanding. Enthusiasm and peace of mind can’t be mandated, or managed, they can only be inspired. Openness to new ways of thinking and creativity, resilience and adaptability to change come with confidence and connection, not fear.
In scientific terms, a culture of joy helps people adapt better, think more flexibly and withstand change with less distress. From an evolutionary standpoint, positive emotions, like joy, play adaptive roles in building the psychological and social resources that enable survival in the face of threats. Organizations and individuals who foster a culture of joy consistently outperform those who do not, especially under stress or ongoing change.
Laughter lives in the body, not just the head. It is an experience, not another business change theory. We have worked with some of the most inspiring leaders in the world, from Fortune 50 companies to start ups, shifting the relationship people have with their organization’s purpose, helping them find clarity in complexity, inculcating a process that builds agency, creativity and the connections that support them in achieving their vision. It’s simple, but not easy. It sparks joy and it’s worth a look.