How to Make Work Fun Again: Why Fun Is Your Competitive Advantage in Business
“When it stops being fun, people quit.”
– Unknown Climber (and probably your best employee)
Looking for ways to improve team morale, reduce burnout, and re-energize your business culture? Whether you're scaling up, building your leadership team, or implementing a business operating system like Pinnacle or EOS®, one truth holds: fun is a competitive advantage.
It’s not just about good vibes — it’s about performance, retention, and long-term growth.
Why Fun at Work is Good for Business
We often treat fun at work like a luxury — something you earn after the serious work gets done.
But in reality, fun isn’t a distraction from performance — it’s a driver of it.
I’ll bet on the team that’s having fun any day of the week. Why? Because those teams are usually:
Doing work they enjoy and are great at
Focused on what adds value
Building trust and energy as they go
Celebrating the wins and progress to reinforce their flywheel
That’s not just culture. That’s smart business strategy.
Why Q3 Is the Perfect Time to Recommit to Fun
We’re deep in Q3 — the part of the year where reality sets in.
You realize how much is left to do... and how little time is left to do it.
That pressure can create overwhelm — and when that happens, fun is usually the first thing to go.
But this is when fun matters most.
When your team is tired, scattered, or discouraged, fun becomes a productivity tool.
It lightens the load. It rebuilds connection. It creates momentum.
Systems Make Fun Possible
When everyone’s guessing, chasing, or firefighting, fun goes out the window.
But when your team is aligned and equipped, fun flows naturally.
That’s why a clear business operating system matters.
At Higher Peak, we implement Pinnacle — a flexible, people-first system that creates clarity around goals, roles, and rhythm.
It helps teams:
Build trust
Reduce friction
Turn the vision into execution
Which makes the work feel lighter — and a whole lot more enjoyable.
EOS® vs Pinnacle: Why Flexibility Helps Culture
Not all business systems are created equal. Some are rigid, one-size-fits-all with strict templates and rules that feel more like compliance than culture-building.
That’s why I chose Pinnacle.
Pinnacle gives you structure and freedom.
We start with Base Camp tools, then tailor a system that fits your business. Your vision, your team, and your climb.
That flexibility isn’t just easier to implement…
It’s more fun to use.
When your team enjoys the system, they actually use the system, which means better results, faster.
What’s Blocking the Fun? You Might Need to Let Go.
Sometimes what’s stealing the joy isn’t the work — it’s how much of it you’re doing yourself. The times I often felt myself or leadership team members feel tired or burned out were the times that we were doing work we didn’t enjoy, weren’t good at, or didn’t have time for…all because we we trying to shield our team.
I thought I was helping my team by trying to do it for them or shielding them, but I was burning myself out and robbing them of the opportunity to shine.
If you’re a founder or CEO still holding onto too many hats, it may be time to use one of our most powerful tools: Letting Go.
This delegation framework helps you identify where your energy is being drained, and how to free yourself up for high-impact work.
It maps your time into 4 zones:
Genius Zone – tasks you love and are great at
Suck Bucket – tasks you dislike and struggle with
Martyr Zone – tasks you’re good at but don’t enjoy
Letting Go of Excellent – tasks you’ve mastered but could delegate
Letting go is one of the fastest ways to reclaim energy and bring the fun back to your leadership.
Try This: 3 Ways to Build More Fun Into Your Business This Week
1. Make “fun” a Weekly Tactical Agenda Item
Ask: What energized you this week? or What made you laugh?
These little moments build team culture and reinforce momentum.
2. Use the Letting Go Tool With Your Leadership Team
Have each leader identify at least one “Suck Bucket” task they’ll delegate this quarter.
Tie it into your Quarterly FAST Rocks.
3. Audit Your Flywheel and System for Friction
If confusion, clutter, or unclear roles are killing the vibe — simplify.
Evaluate if there are any “logjams” in your flywheel. Is there friction in a key component to your flywheel that is causing things to break down?
Enjoying the Climb Isn’t a Luxury — It’s a Leadership Mandate
Great companies don’t just perform — they endure.
And they endure because their people want to keep climbing.
So ask yourself:
What’s one thing you can let go of this week to make the climb lighter…and more fun?
Let’s build businesses that win…and actually enjoy the climb.
