The Power of Fun
The Difference Between a Grind and a Delight
As many of you know, I used to be an avid runner. I ran both short and long distances and between November 2003 and November 2004 I ran three marathons; one of my proudest achievements. My first marathon was the NYC marathon in November 2003 and it was a typical first; I experienced all the things a new marathoner experiences including stress, exhaustion, blisters, and, at last, great relief in getting to the finish line. Five months later I ran the Jersey Shore Marathon with my brother and was trained and ready for race day. Aside from a crazy half-body sunburn, this marathon was hands-down my best. I ran steadily, happily, and I achieved a PB (personal best); it was my fastest time as a marathoner.
My third race was the NYC Marathon six and a half months later. This one was very different than the previous mainly because I wasn’t really trained or in marathon shape. This was due to the fact that in May I had finished my position at Balthazar and started my job at Per Se and for 7 weeks worked both jobs, six to seven days a week. Even when I was only working at Per Se I had very little time for running and would run one or two times a week; I only logged a single “long run” as preparation. On top of that I walked 8-10 miles - yes, miles - a night in dress shoes in my role as mâitre d’ at Per Se. My feet were in agony and pounding the pavement on a ten-miler wasn’t exactly a treat for the feet. To say I was unprepared was an understatement, but I convinced myself that my previous year of marathoning and long runs was going to get me to the finish line.
In April I also I met Reinhold, my coach from running class and a teammate on our running team (now my husband). He and I would go on running dates and my time with him was a welcome distraction from my punishing work schedule. We made the plan to run the upcoming NYC marathon together and as race day approached, we made this plan: we would run the Verrazano bridge together and, once in Brooklyn, Reinhold would run his race and I would run mine (I wasn’t even convinced that I would finish at this point). On race day we saw other teammates at the start in Staten Island; nervous but undaunted we were eager to get going.
The race didn’t go as planned. I was concerned that I would hit the wall and crash and burn due to the lack of training and, despite our plan to split up, when we hit Brooklyn Reinhold stayed with me. We continued together, going steadily along, taking frequent stops to shoot photos, say hi to friends on the course, and drink water. My nerves relaxed and I started to have fun. We chugged through the miles and Reinhold stayed with me up until we hit the corner of Columbus Circle. At that point I looked up at the exterior of Per Se and waved to the windows, incredulous that I was almost at the finish line. Feeling a surge of energy and excitement, I took off into the park toward the finish line, Reinhold in close pursuit. We crossed the finish line with smiles on our faces and energy to spare…we had had a wonderful time on the course and I even did 2 minutes faster than my previous NYC marathon the year before. I couldn’t believe it. Turns out when you’re having fun, the miles just go by and you finish feeling energized and accomplished.
This was a stark difference to the races that some of our teammates had experienced. At the team meetup area we ran into one guy who missed his personal best by a couple of minutes and was miserable. He was so tense at the start that he puked when the starting gun went off. Then, as he pushed himself through the miles and maintained an enviable pace, he felt awful, his legs continuing to cramp and seize up. He got himself to the finish line in an amazing time and he placed in the top of his age group, by all accounts it was a great race. However, even though he had accomplished the race in an insane time, he was miserable and disappointed in himself. Meanwhile, Reinhold and I agreed, if we had to do it over, we’d choose our race and not his. We were simply grateful for a memorable time running the best race in the world with one another.
If I boil it down the main difference in our experiences was that Reinhold and I had fun running our marathon. Turns out, fun is a powerful mindset and has been widely studied. Here’s what fun can do for you as a leader (and a person):
Stress reliever: A study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine discovered that people who engage in fun, enjoyable activities handled stress better than folks who don’t. “Fun acts as a natural stress reliever, allowing leaders to approach challenges with a clearer and more composed mindset.” As we ran, my stress dissolved because we were enjoying the miles, not counting them.
Creative thinking: Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) found a link between joy and creativity. “When leaders incorporate fun activities into their routines, they often become more capable of coming up with innovative solutions to complex problems.” Think about it, when you’re happy and in the zone, your thinking is much more expansive. And fun gets you into that creative headspace.
Improved decision-making: Neuroscientists at Stanford University discovered that “humor and laughter can enhance decision-making processes.” Leaders who incorporate humor into their work make better, more cohesive decisions because they are open to different perspectives and outcomes. This is a great partner to the above insight: when we feel more creative, we make better decisions. This is essential for leaders who want to enjoy their work and and feel confident in their decision making.
Increased collaboration: Gallup research has found that teams who are having fun are more productive and collaborative than those who aren’t. “Leaders who create a fun and inclusive work environment tend to have teams that are not only happier but also more effective in achieving their goals.” At the heart of our fun on the marathon course was that we were doing it together. Our collaborative marathon was fun and energizing for us both and we finished with smiles on our faces and delighted by the experience.
So, how can you bring fun to your work? What can you do to ensure you’re finding a balance between grinding it out and finding some levity in your day? The first thing is awareness, making sure you’re taking time to get your head above water so you can enjoy the view and interact with your colleagues. Simply reminding yourself that it’s okay to have fun opens you up to possibility. And this possibilit is the pathway to an expanded, delightful mindset and P.O.V.
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