Lately, though, I've been thinking about how much of that idea applies to our work lives, too.
Why do we think laughter, play, and having fun are just for kids?
Honestly, I think adults need them just as much.
We Spend a Lot of Time in "Work Mode"
Think about a typical workday. Meetings, emails, deadlines, projects, problem-solving, follow-ups, and trying to keep up with everything coming at us. There is always something that needs to be done.
It can be really easy to get so focused on the work that we forget about the people we're doing the work with.
I can't even count the number of times I've been in a meeting that started out completely serious and somehow, five minutes later, we're all laughing about something totally unrelated. Maybe someone's microphone isn't working, someone's camera freezes at the worst possible moment, or one little comment sends the whole conversation in a completely different direction.
Before you know it, everyone is laughing, we've completely lost our train of thought, and someone finally says, "Okay, where were we?" 😂
Honestly, those are usually the meetings I remember.
Not because we weren't getting anything done, but because we were getting to be people together.
Making Room for Laughter
I think there is something really valuable about creating that kind of environment at work.
Creating a fun workplace doesn't mean we aren't serious about our work. It doesn't mean deadlines don't matter or that we don't have high expectations. It simply means we make room for people to be people.
We can work hard and laugh.
We can have difficult conversations and still have fun.
We can celebrate the little wins, be a little silly, bring some creativity into a meeting, or take a minute to talk about something other than the task in front of us.
Those little moments of laughter and connection can change the energy of a team.
What We Can Learn From the Classroom
When I think back to using The Laughing Classroom, I realize the lessons weren't really just about creating a fun classroom. They were about creating an environment where people feel comfortable being themselves, connecting with others, taking risks, and enjoying the experience of learning.
Those things don't stop being important when we grow up.
We still want to work with people who make us laugh. We still want to feel comfortable sharing ideas. We still want to feel like we belong. We still want to enjoy the people we spend so much of our time with.
Maybe that's why I keep coming back to this idea.
I started thinking about laughter as a teacher, but I understand it differently now as I work with colleagues and teams.
Work is just better when you can laugh together.
Maybe we don't need to leave the "laughing classroom" behind when we grow up.
Maybe we just need to bring it with us.
If we can bring a little more laughter, creativity, and fun into our workdays, why wouldn't we? = )
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