The last 3 years have been tough and 2023 will be challenging. Engaging our teams is more important than ever so how can we bring fun and joy back into the workplace? Is it even possible right now?
Joining us this week are two leaders who think it’s not only achievable but necessary to experience pleasure and enjoyment at work. Emmy O’Shaugnessy, Director of Innovation and Growth at Oxfordshire Youth, is doing fascinating work with her organisation about this. Michael Rucker, an organisational psychologist based in Silicon Valley, is the author of The Fun Habit, a new book about the pursuit of joy and wonder and how it can change your life.
Emmy and Michael take us through how leaders can create more opportunities for fun at work, how to make it inclusive, and where enjoyment can create additional benefits, such as developing psychological safety and changing your culture. Ultimately it’s about us all being free to be who we are at work, and who doesn’t want that?
Notes:
Oxfordshire Youth
Follow Emmy on Twitter
The Fun Habit book (published by Pan Macmillan)
Connect with Mike via his website and Twitter
We also discussed this legal case about how a French employee won the right not to be fun at work(Business Insider).
Email us with your questions and ideas for future episodes startsatthetop@gmail.com
And please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!
Editing and production from Syren Studios and Paul Thomas
Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music
Full transcript of this episode (srt file)
Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)
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Episode 64 - Dr Lucy Ryan, Managing Director of Mindspring International and author of ‘Revolting Women: why midlife women walk out (and what to do about it)’
Episode 63 - Aggie Mutuma, CEO of Mahogany Inclusion Partners - Why leaders need to do more on inclusion
Episode 62 - Cathy Newman, journalist, author and presenter of Channel4 News
Episode 61 - Lorraine Candy - Award winning journalist, editor and author
Episode 60 - Kate Lee, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society
Episode 59 - Eloise Skinner - How to find meaning and purpose at work
Episode 58 - Samuel Kasumu, author of The Power of the Outsider
Episode 57 - Mathilda Della Torre, author and Founder of Conversations From Calais
Episode 56 - Dr Michelle P. King, author of How Work Works
Episode 55 - Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive of Mind on Leaders’ mental health
Episode 54 - Ben Lindsay OBE, founder of Power The Fight
Episode 53 - Alice Kershaw, Head of Digital Transformation at The Wildlife Trusts
Episode 52 - Ben Williams, CEO at Loopin
Episode 51 - Joe Ryle, Director of the 4 Day Week Campaign
Episode 50 - Soma Sara, author, founder and CEO of Everyone’s Invited
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Episode 48 - Donna White, Senior Head of Digital and Youth Marketing at The Prince’s Trust
Episode 47 - Kim Perlow, Founder and CEO of Link UP London
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