What do businesses like the Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle and SouthWest Airlines have in common?

They’ve created a workplace culture that’s fun at the same time as being highly productive and profitable.

Having fun at work can help alleviate stress, improve motivation and create lots of positive energy in the team. Here’s a few easy-to-implement fundamentals to try in your business (from How to Motivate Every Employee by Anne Bruce):

• Laugh with people, not at them.
• Lighten up. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
• Think with a sense of humour.
• Adopt a fun and playful attitude.
• Plan to have a good time, every single day.
• Help others see the lighter side of things.

The benefits of having fun at work and creating an enjoyable environment are virtually limitless — from reducing absenteeism to boosting performance, from easing conflict to improving customer relations.

All things that add to a more profitable, successful — and enjoyable! — business for you.