I enjoy sharing knowledge with B School & Communication students. Have been a happy guest faculty at ISB&M, MET institute of Mass Communications, Pearl Academy and am on the Board of Governors of the Mulshi Institute of Business Management. It gives me a great kick to bump into my students in corporate corridors and Industry events. I met a student recently at a renowned corporate and got talking. When I asked her if she liked work, her reply triggered deep retrospection in me. She said “Sir I do not come to work. I come to fun”!
I started researching about fun and was astonished to discover that fun is not just frivolous. As much as happiness is a much sought after state of mind especially after the pandemic and the prevailing era of uncertainty, fun too is a sought after feeling and experience. Then my mind went to how ‘fun leadership’ is a winning and emerging practice. That means, developing a ‘Fun Mindset’. What better way to come to fun and not to work. For most of us work is at office and fun is outside work. Imagine how life would be. How motivated and happy employees would be. I spoke at random to the zen next, they always follow leaders who know the way and show the way. But a cool boss is a ‘fun boss’.
First, you must really want to evolve to this mindset. And if you do, what are the simple steps to develop a ‘Fun Mindset’?
Are you the fun type?
Before you even jump off the cliff to evolve to a ‘Fun Mindset’, you must be careful to check out are you the fun type? Do you celebrate and enjoy life? Ask some of your friends and measure your fun-quotient yourself. Even if you score five on ten you do have the potential to pursue a ‘Fun Mindset’. If you are not the fun type be careful to ensure that you are really committed to the change you seek. Start by becoming a fun person. Leadership is serious business but unless your leadership moves the needle and gets results it remains an intent. You can get much more output with a ‘fun mindset’ which sets you apart, changes your style. Being knowledgeable and guiding your team as their leader is a given. But a leader with a ‘Fun mindset’ is a paradigm shift. It truly makes you a cool boss!
Understanding a new perspective of fun
Clowning was earlier understood earlier as the meaning of fun. Look around you in the world today. You will see grouchy faces and grumbly voices. You rarely see a smile, leave alone an open hearted laugh (No wonder they have laughter clubs). Human beings have become robotic and forgotten that the body and mind works the best when you are calm and positive. We are perpetually in a fight or flee mode. Any wonder stress related diseases abound and mental health is one of the fastest growing health disorders in the world. When you see a smile in a crowd it’s like a bulb that glows in the dark it’s a ray of positivity. Fun allures and attracts, gets people to smile. Fun is the best catalyst of positivity.
Simple ways to transform yourself to a ‘Fun mindset’
Yes, your colleagues will love you more, your friends and family will seek your company and you will become that favourite uncle of all kids. But humour and fun is serious business – a fake ‘Fun Mindset’ can be hugely counter- productive. As always you will need to be serious about this transformation and for a start loosen up a bit. Create a relaxed work and home environment. Of course, the workplace is about business but remember, human beings are not machines.
This article will be continued in my column next Monday…
“Happiness depends on your mindset and attitude.” Anonymous
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