Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

It’s Only Common Sense: Lighten Up!

There’s a strange thing that happens when you’ve been in business for a while. Somewhere between production schedules, endless emails, delayed shipments, quarterly reports, and meetings, we forget how to have fun. We start acting like joy is somehow unprofessional. Like if you smile too much at work, people won’t take you seriously. I’ve never believed that for a second. In fact, the longer I’ve been around business, the more convinced I’ve become that the happiest companies are usually the most creative, productive, and successful companies in the room.

The best ideas rarely come when people are stressed out, exhausted, and staring nervously at spreadsheets. Great ideas usually surface when people relax a little, such as during conversations over coffee, lunch with customers, a walk through the plant, or in those moments when somebody throws out a ridiculous idea and everybody laughs before someone says, “Wait a minute, that might actually work.” There’s something about a relaxed mind that opens doors creativity loves to walk through.

I’ve seen this happen throughout my entire career. Some of the smartest breakthroughs in business started as ideas that sounded completely crazy at the time. Every major innovation begins with someone willing to say something others might laugh at first. That’s why environments filled with energy, curiosity, and humor matter so much. When people feel safe enough to have fun, they’re also more willing to imagine.

Unfortunately, too many companies accidentally squeeze the creativity right out of their people by becoming overly serious about everything. The atmosphere becomes stiff. Every meeting feels tense. Everybody talks in corporate language that nobody actually uses in real life. People stop sharing ideas because they’re afraid of sounding foolish, and when people stop sharing ideas, innovation walks out the door.

I remember visiting one company years ago where the mood was so serious you could almost feel the stress in the walls. Nobody smiled or joked around. The place was technically efficient, but emotionally exhausting. Their products reflected it, too. Nothing was terrible, but it didn’t feel exciting either. Everything was safe, predictable, and forgettable.

I compare that to another company I visited, where people were laughing on the production floor, customers were greeted warmly, and employees actually seemed happy to see one another. There was energy and life in the building. Almost always, those are the companies doing interesting things. They are the ones attracting customers, inspiring employees, and creating momentum.

That’s because joy is contagious. Employees and customers feel it immediately. People naturally want to work with companies where they employees enjoy what they do. Nobody enjoys being around constant negativity and tension. The world already provides enough stress for free.

Now don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying business isn’t serious. Of course it is. Customers, deadlines, and quality matter. But there’s a huge difference between taking your work seriously and taking yourself too seriously. Some people act like being stressed all the time proves they’re important. They wear exhaustion like a badge of honor. Meanwhile, the best leaders I know usually have a sense of humor about life. They work hard, but they also laugh easily. They understand that most problems eventually become stories anyway.

I remember a trade show years ago when absolutely everything that could go wrong did, from the booth shipment arriving late to mistakes with the graphics and even mixed-up hotel reservations. One customer meeting was interrupted by a fire alarm, while another happened with construction workers hammering concrete nearby. By the end of the day, everyone was frustrated and exhausted. Then suddenly somebody started laughing and it just spread through the group. The situation had become so ridiculous that fighting it no longer made sense.

What’s actually funny about it is that the moment everyone relaxed, the whole event changed. Conversations became more genuine and customers remembered us because we acted human instead of corporate. What started as a disaster ended up becoming one of the best trade shows we ever had.

That experience taught me that we enjoy doing business with people who enjoy life. Customers are drawn toward energy and authenticity. Nobody wants to spend their days around people who drain the life out of every room they enter. Especially today, when so many people already feel overwhelmed by stress, uncertainty, technological changes, economic pressure, and nonstop noise, joy becomes a competitive advantage.

But don’t fake it either. People can spot that instantly. Rather, find genuine enjoyment and pride in what you’re building. Enjoy the people around you, and remember why you got into the business in the first place.

Most of us get to do some pretty amazing things every day. We solve problems, build products, and help customers succeed. We work with smart people, create opportunities, and invent solutions that didn’t exist before. There’s excitement in that if you allow yourself to see it.

But too often, we get buried under pressure and routine, becoming so focused on surviving the week that we forget to enjoy the process. Sometimes you have to intentionally bring the joy back into the business. Some ideas I like include playing music in the office, celebrating small victories, and encouraging people to share ideas without fear. Take customers somewhere memorable instead of the same boring, forgettable dinner. Let your meetings include laughter and stories. Sometimes all it takes is giving ourselves permission to enjoy what we’re doing again.

Life moves quickly and faster than any of us expects. One minute you’re starting your career, trying to prove yourself, and the next thing you know, decades have gone by. That’s why I believe you should enjoy the ride while you’re building the business, not just hope to enjoy life someday after all the work is done.

Laugh during the difficult days. Celebrate progress, and stay curious and creative. Keep trying new ideas, and remember that some of the best breakthroughs of your entire life may arrive when you’re relaxed enough to let them happen.

It’s only common sense.

Dan Beaulieu is president of D.B. Management Group.