Fun isn’t a distraction – it’s a powerful enabler of deep learning, collaboration and creativity. Laura Thomson-Staveley shares how creating joyful, inclusive environments helps professionals feel safer, think more openly and bring their best selves to work – a little joy can go a long way in transforming workplace learning experiences
As a leadership coach and trainer with 25 years of experience, I’ve noticed a fascinating shift in workplace dynamics over recent months. More and more participants in my workshops, regardless of their professional background are specifically requesting one thing: a fun learning environment.
When we enjoy ourselves, we’re more receptive to new ideas and more willing to engage in meaningful collaboration
The importance of fun in professional settings has become even more apparent in the past five years, as people have navigated unprecedented challenges and changes. Workshop participants explicitly requesting fun as part of their learning experience isn’t about trivialising serious work. It’s about recognising that when we enjoy ourselves, we’re more receptive to new ideas and more willing to engage in meaningful collaboration.
This trend has prompted me to reflect on the role of fun in professional development and I’ve identified three crucial ways it enhances learning and workplace effectiveness.
Meaningful learning
First, fun creates psychological safety, which is essential for meaningful learning. When participants can share a laugh together respectfully, it breaks down barriers and creates an environment where they feel comfortable taking risks. This is particularly important in leadership development programs where we need to have challenging conversations that might push people out of their comfort zones.
I’ve observed that when people laugh together, they’re more likely to engage in role-playing exercises, ask difficult questions and remain open to new perspectives. The shared positive emotion builds trust and enables deeper learning.
Team belonging
Second, fun fosters a powerful sense of team belonging. There’s something magical about sharing laughter as a group – it’s an ephemeral, spontaneous experience that creates lasting bonds. We’re seeing this phenomenon play out on a larger scale with events like Taylor Swift’s record-breaking tour, where shared experiences create powerful emotional connections.
In the workplace, this collective joy translates into increased engagement and motivation. When people feel they belong to a group, they’re more likely to bring their best selves to work and connect with a purpose beyond their daily tasks.
Being uniquely human
Third, and perhaps most intriguingly in our AI-driven world, fun represents something uniquely human – the ability to go ‘off-script’. These unplanned moments of joy and creativity often lead to our best ideas and innovations.
Unlike AI systems that operate within predetermined parameters, humans can spontaneously create moments that spark new ways of thinking. While fun might seem purposeless in the moment, it paradoxically enhances productivity by enabling deeper engagement and creativity.
What’s particularly striking is that this isn’t just about making work more enjoyable – it’s about creating an environment that maximises human potential.
You can’t force fun, but you can create conditions where it can naturally emerge
In my workshops, I’ve seen how a day filled with laughter, listening and learning from each other becomes a highlight of participants’ work week. It’s no longer just about knowledge transfer; it’s about building relationships and creating collaborative environments where people can thrive.
However, it’s crucial to approach fun thoughtfully and inclusively. What one person finds amusing might be uncomfortable for another. That’s why I always start my sessions by asking participants how they want to work together. You can’t force fun, but you can create conditions where it can naturally emerge.
Bringing fun to work
One of my tried and tested techniques to incorporate fun into my leadership training sessions is music. It’s proven to be one of my most effective tools for creating an engaging environment. My portable Bluetooth speaker has been one of the best investments in my professional career.
There’s nothing quite like having James Brown or Bruce Springsteen playing as people enter a room – it immediately signals that this isn’t going to be a typical corporate session (make sure to investigate the appropriate licensing to do this -Ed). I often incorporate a ‘secret song choice’ activity, where participants anonymously request songs that are played throughout the day. This creates a fun guessing game and builds inclusion without putting anyone on the spot.
As a facilitator, I’ve learned that my own energy sets the tone for the entire session. Before each workshop, I make sure to centre myself and cultivate a positive, relaxed demeanour. If I appear stressed or tense, that energy will ripple through the room. Instead, by approaching each session with genuine joy and gratitude, I help create an environment where both learning and fun can flourish.
For your next team meeting or work event, I’d encourage you to think about how you can bring the fun. You can’t compel people to experience joy, but you can set the tone by asking people at the outset what kind of energy they need. How do we want this session to run? How do we want this meeting to go? Asking these questions instantly relaxes people and sets the tone for a positive productive session because you’ve taken the time to care about creating a great environment.
Getting deep
Fun isn’t a distraction from serious work – it’s an enabler of it. When we create environments where people feel safe to laugh, share and explore together, we unlock deeper levels of engagement, creativity and collaboration.
In an era where technical skills can be automated, these distinctly human moments of connection and joy become even more valuable. They represent our unique advantage and remind us that the best learning happens when we bring our whole selves – including our sense of fun – to work.
Laura Thomson-Staveley is founder and leadership coach at Phenomenal Training and co-host of Secrets from A Coach podcast
