FInd the Fun at Work: How Smart Leaders Prioritize Play During Tough Times

The “Find the Fun” Habit:
 What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Bring It to Life This Week

We’ve all been on that team where everything feels… heavy. The deadlines are looming, the to-do list is growing, and the energy? Flat.. But here’s the good news: you can find the fun at work and get the results you need.

That’s the spirit behind Find the Fun—the habit of bringing levity, energy, and even a little play into your process. Not because the work doesn’t matter. But because it matters so much that you want people to have the energy to do it well.

And it all starts with one magic question:

“What if we gamified this?”

Yes. A dash of play can turn a task into a challenge, a meeting into a mission, and a slog into something worth high-fiving about.

What It Means to “Find the Fun” at Work

This habit is about finding opportunities to inject joy into the work, not as a distraction, but as a catalyst. You look for ways to energize the team, celebrate progress, and keep spirits high… even when the work is tough.

You’re not ignoring the challenge. You’re reframing it. You’re saying, “What if this could feel just a little more human, a little more fun?”

Why Play at Work Matters

Fun isn’t fluff—it’s fuel. When you bring lightness to the process:

• People feel more motivated and less drained.
• Collaboration gets smoother—because laughter is the fastest trust-builder on the planet.
• Creativity improves. When you loosen the tension, the ideas start to flow.
• And you reduce burnout. Because a moment of joy can carry a team a long way.

Momentum loves a little mischief.

Why It’s So Hard to Find the Fun

There’s a myth in many workplaces that serious work needs to look serious. That if you’re having fun, you’re not working hard enough. (Spoiler: that mindset is how you get burnout and bad decisions.)

Injecting fun can feel risky—especially if your team is stressed, overwhelmed, or stuck in spreadsheet mode. But that’s exactly when it’s needed most.

You’re not trying to be the class clown. You’re the energy architect. The one who asks, “What if this didn’t feel so hard?” And then helps build a better way.

How to Make Work a Game (Even if You’re Not “The Fun One”)

Here are five low-risk ways to bring this habit to life:

• Say the phrase. When the team feels stuck, just toss it in: “What if we gamified this?” Even if you don’t have a full plan, it gets people thinking differently.
• Add small wins. Celebrate every milestone. Stickers, GIFs, inside jokes—whatever works for your team.
• Create a scoreboard. Progress becomes exciting when it’s visible. Bonus points for friendly competition.
• Let people name the challenge. “Operation Inbox Zero” or “Sprint & Snack” makes the work feel like a mission, not a burden.
• Use themes or alter egos. Pirate Day. Spreadsheet Bingo. Task Roulette. A little ridiculousness goes a long way.

Or hold a confidence burst day.

Other Phrases to Spark Fun and Energy

• “What’s a ridiculous prize we could give ourselves if we finish this?”
• “How do we make this just 10% more fun?”
• “What would this look like if we were doing it on a game show?”
• “What would the ‘best team ever’ do right now?”
• “Can we race the clock just for fun?”

Three Fun-Finding Mini-Experiments to Try This Month

One of our favorite ways to end a highly interactive keynote is to have every audience member craft a mini-personal experiment (something that is easy to do, feels a little scary, ahas measurable outcomes. So if you’re looking to find more fun at work, why not try one of these mini-personal experiment (more on how to set up a mini-personal experiment here).

1. Gamify One Task: Pick a routine team task and say, “What if we gamified this?” Try a point system, a timer, a prize, or even a silly title for the winner. Notice the energy shift.
2. Name Your Sprints: Give the next three team projects creative names. See how it changes your team’s mindset—and their memory of the work.
3. Win of the Week: Add a fun five-minute segment to your meetings where everyone shares a tiny win. Keep score. Bonus points if you celebrate with a team “theme song.”

Work can be meaningful and joyful. When you find the fun, you don’t just make things lighter—you make them better. More connected. Energized. And, Sustainable.

It starts with one curious question:
“What if we gamified this?”

Note: Find the Fun is one of the 48 habits in our SynergyStack® Team Development System. To learn more about how you can use the SynergyStack® to accelerate performance, reduce stress, or work better together, click here. Or contact us at info@letsgrowleaders.com to learn how to become a certified SynergyStack facilitator.