Fun, Work, Innovate

Submitted by jim wilde on March 10, 2005 - 13:15

One of the best ways to energize people is to engage them in fun. Laughing helps arteries and boosts blood flow "Laughing appears to be almost as beneficial as a workout in boosting the health of blood vessels, a new study suggests." So go visit Bernie DeKoven's FunLog, Dr. Fun and learn something new about having fun. Afterwards, check out the Joy at Work by Dennis W. Bakke. Written by co-founder Dennis W. Bakke, Joy at Work tells the story of AES, a global electricity giant organized on principles of social responsibility and fun. AES is structured around small teams with almost no functional departments, while those at headquarters act as advisers, accountability officers, and guardians of the principles. Joy at Work offers a model for other companies to successfully adopt such a system. Bakke's Top Ten:

When given the opportunity to use our ability to reason, make decisions, and take responsibility for our actions, we experience joy at work.
The purpose of business is not to maximize profits for shareholders but to steward our resources to serve the world in an economically sustainable way.
Attempt to create the most fun workplace in the history of the world.
Eliminate management, organization charts, job descriptions, and hourly wages.
Fairness means treating everybody differently.
Principles and values must guide all decisions.
Put other stakeholders (shareholders, customers, suppliers, etc) equal to or above yourself.
Everyone must get advice before making a decision. If you don’t seek advice, “you’re fired.”
A “good” decision should make all the stakeholders unhappy because no individual or group got all they wanted.
Lead with passion, humility, and love.

Put all this together and creativity, learning, and innovation flourish.