The Fun Theory- notes from the Volkswagen experiments

“If you have fun at what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. Make work like play, and play like hell” 

- Norm Brinker

Dissatisfaction with work, being bored, being stuck in life, not having friends at work, what if there was something that could counteract that all? 

A lot of research suggests that there is, and it's really quite simple - fun. 

The Fun Theory, which was popularised in the early 2000s, works on the principle that pleasure is motivating. It says that we can modify behaviour by having more fun– by making activities more interesting and creative, we are more motivated to actually perform them. This is exactly what Volkswagen did. 

In the early 2000s, Volkswagen conducted a series of experiments where they made modifications to ensure that people had more fun, with the end goal of promoting one of their technologies. The first activity, the Piano Staircase, took place in the Stockholm Subway, where they replaced their normal staircase with a piano staircase, one that actually made music every time someone walked on it, in an effort to make more people take the stairs rather than the escalator. The results were astonishingly significant- most people (up to 66%) now took the stairs, and seemed to have fun doing so! 

Watch to know more about the piano staircase!

In another experiment, the company tried to increase the number of people that were throwing waste in trash cans. They did this with the help of technology, by adding sensors and voices to trash cans, so that when a person put something in it, the trash can would make a whooshing and crashing sound. People began gathering around trash cans and trying it out, and enormous amounts of trash was collected compared to before. 

Here's another experiment they tried:

So, can the Fun Theory be applied in the workplace?

A little change goes a long way, especially at work, where most people tend to spend a majority of their time. What if we could turn it from a routine job into a fun interest? 

Having fun at work is quite magical- it makes employees more willing to come in (thus reducing absenteeism), stay more committed to their jobs, be more creative, and it eventually makes people intrinsically motivated. 

And the best part? Your body is pumped with endorphins, and that makes you happy! 

So, how do you really have fun at work? 

Although there's no one size fits all, common methods include 

• recognition of employees' personal milestones

• social events and community volunteering (like office parties, team meals and other events!)

• stress relieving activities and opportunities for personal growth (this could take the form of a little reading/ meditating corner) 

• humor and games (maybe the Office Olympics from the popular TV Show the Office would actually be a great idea!)

• having opportunity for friendly competitions and rewards 

• socializing with other employees is a great way of making your job more interesting! find something that connects you with them, or a common opinion and go from there. 

Some of the most famous companies in the world like Google,Disney, LinkedIn and Ebay are recognised for their fun environments, where employees get benefits like free food, snacks, coffee, fitness classes, insurance, paid holidays and maternity/paternity leave, theme park admission (at Disney), and sometimes, investment options. All companies need not follow this exact format, but it would perhaps be wise to follow the principle of fun, keeping in mind what it can lead to. 

A manager's role in a fun environment is also really important. As a manager, it's important to encourage and foster an environment where fun is a priority, and it is also important to be able to set the boundary of what is appropriate fun at work. Employees often look to managers/superiors for approval of having fun, and so it is crucial to have or be a superior that truly appreciates fun as well.

So, take that little dance break, work hard and have a lot of fun!