Are We Having Fun Yet?
By VICKY BROWN
Is Anyone on Your Team Having Fun?
Let’s be honest. For a lot of small teams right now, work doesn’t feel joyful. It feels like survival.
If you’re leading a business – whether you’re a founder, manager, or team lead – you’ve probably noticed it. Your people are showing up, getting through the day, hitting deadlines. But under the surface? Everyone’s running on empty. You included.
That’s not just burnout. It’s a warning sign that your culture is out of balance. Because joy at work isn’t a luxury. It’s a leadership essential.
When Everything Feels Heavy, Joy Disappears
The current climate isn’t exactly built for ease. Between economic uncertainty, political tension, compliance overload, and constant change, most teams are operating in a near-constant state of stress. That weight isn’t just personal – it’s organizational.
And when that becomes the baseline, something gets lost. You stop noticing progress. You stop celebrating wins. And over time, the entire team starts to feel like the only thing that matters is what hasn’t been done yet.
The problem is, no team – no matter how talented – can thrive in that environment. They might survive. They might perform. But they won’t feel proud, connected, or fulfilled. And neither will you.
Let’s Redefine “Fun at Work”
When we talk about bringing “fun” into the workplace, people immediately picture gimmicks: trivia games, donuts (but let’s not kid ourselves – I’m not above a good donut), another team-building scavenger hunt. But that’s not the kind of fun your team needs (again – except for donuts!).
Real fun at work comes from:
- Using your strengths
- Making visible progress
- Solving problems that matter
- Feeling proud of the outcome
It’s not about pretending everything is easy. It’s about making sure the hard stuff is balanced with satisfaction. Because if you’re only ever trudging through, there’s no momentum – and without momentum, your culture starts to erode.
“…When we talk about bringing “fun” into the workplace, people immediately picture gimmicks: trivia games, donuts (but let’s not kid ourselves – I’m not above a good donut)“
The Leader Sets the Tone – But the Impact Is Shared
If you never pause to celebrate a win, your team won’t either. If all you highlight is what’s broken or behind, then no one ever feels like they’re doing well. And if every message you send is about pushing harder, doing more, going faster – then you’re building a culture where joy is permanently out of reach.
But when you, as the leader, take the time to recognize a job well done – when you say “that was hard, and we nailed it,” when you highlight progress before pivoting to the next thing – it tells your team that effort is seen. That progress matters. That we’re not just grinding to grind.
And don’t forget – the way your team experiences culture is shaped by how you show up. If you’re exhausted, disengaged, or constantly buried in stress, they’ll feel it. They’ll mirror it. That’s why protecting joy isn’t just about leadership – it is leadership.
Culture Isn’t Created by Perks – It’s Built by Intention
Want your team to feel energized? Don’t start with another theme day. Start with how you talk about the work. Start with what you celebrate. Start with how you design roles, assign projects, give feedback.
- Are your people stuck in tasks that drain them?
- Are small wins acknowledged and shared?
- Is there space for laughter, pride, or even just a deep breath?
These questions matter. Because people don’t burn out from hard work – they burn out from meaningless work. From work where no one notices. From work where effort never feels like progress.
And yes – that includes you, too.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur jumping into a leadership role, a seasoned business pro with new HR responsibilities, or just starting your HR career – we’ve got the right path to guide you through your HR hurdles.
Check out the Leaders Journey Experience. This online education platform holds the LJE Masterclass, HR SimpleStart Academy and HR FuturePro Academy.
Not sure where to start – take the quiz!
You Deserve Joy, and So Does Your Team
It’s not enough for the business to hit its numbers. That’s not what most people remember. What your team remembers – and what keeps them engaged – is how they felt along the way. Were they valued? Were they seen? Did they get to use their talents? Did they leave with a sense of purpose?
And for you, the same is true.
You didn’t start this business to build a workplace where everyone is miserable – including you. You started it because you had a vision. A purpose. A reason to get out of bed and build something meaningful.
Don’t let the daily grind take that away. Create room for satisfaction. Let yourself and your team feel the win. Because that feeling – the one where people walk away thinking, “That was tough, but it was worth it”! That’s what builds loyalty, motivation, and resilience.
Choose Joy On Purpose
So, are we having fun yet?
If not, it might be time to look closely at how your team works. At how you lead. At whether there’s space for joy to exist – not in spite of the hard things, but alongside them.
Because in a workplace that only prioritizes productivity, people become replaceable. But in a workplace that also prioritizes joy, people become committed.
And that shift? It changes everything.
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