Make your company more fun

How do I get more performance out of my team?

I get this question a lot.

One idea: Make it FUN!

I often think about athletes when I think of my CEOs. They have the same expectations as pro athletes do.

Pro athletes are also the best of the best. My CEOs want to be the best. Why not learn from the best in other domains, like sports?

Let’s look at how athletes work: They get in, perform at the highest level, get out, rest. They challenge each other. They celebrate together.

When I watch the Toronto Raptors play, even in tense games they are having fun. They are smiling. They celebrate when a team member does something special.

How do you bring that spirit to your company?

Create fun challenges: Everyone has some level of competitive spirit. Tap into that.

I am part of a mastermind group of fellow entrepreneurs. We were challenged to create and post content for 60 days in a row. I am now on day 100 and loving it.

I wouldn’t have done it without that push.

Break bread together: We forget this in the era of remote, zoom work, but nothing beats going for a meal together. That ritual of eating together creates bonds.

When my clients need to have really sensitive conversations, I often suggest doing it over dinner.

Remove obstacles to success: I am a big Formula 1 fan. One of the things I like about F1 is the elite performance.

Teams will go to great lengths to make the car a fraction of a second faster. They can replace 4 tires in 2 seconds. This is crazy!

The teams will do almost anything to enable the driver to go faster.

What if your company did the same for your team members? What if it was part of your operating system to remove time wasters, blockers, etc?

Your company would be more fun to work at. People would enjoy work more.

Celebrate achievement: I find many leaders struggle with this. They have not achieved their vision. How can they be happy?

Public praise is a powerful motivator. Especially when it comes from the top. I am not talking about praise for what is expected. But when you see something above and beyond, recognize it.

These are just a few suggestions. How can you make your company more fun to work at?

Photo by Possessed Photography on Unsplash