I was talking with Keith Krach, founder of Ariba and self-made billionaire, about the number one trait for successful leadership.
“Guess this trait,” Keith challenged me.
“Be a visionary? A risk taker? Brave? Tough?”
“No,” Keith said. “Tell you what. Envision someone you feel is a good leader.”
I did: a creative director I worked for at Nickelodeon.
(By the way – you reading this – yes, YOU. Join along and think of a leader you respect.)
“Are you ready?” asked Keith. “This trait is: be FUN.”
Yes, fun. It made sense. Employees are more inspired to be productive when they work in a fun work environment – than in a tough, serious space which operates on fear and stressful internal competition.
Sure enough, my leader from Nickelodeon: fun. Those under-30 billionaires at Google: fun. And Keith? Fun.
(Was your chosen leader fun? Write me and tell me if you want: [email protected])
Two psychological studies at Cornell University support Keith’s theory.
#1. People shown a funny movie were afterwards tested and proven to be more capable of creative flexibility and problem solving than those who shown a serious, dark moviie.
#2. Radiologists who received a small fun present before work, made more accurate diagnoses.
Interestingly a huge premise in Jim Collins’ best selling book GOOD TO GREAT is also that great leaders are fun. According to Collins, leaders at the biggest and best companies were consistently shown to be fun, likeable, humble people – not narcissistic tough tyrants. His theory? Not only were employees more inspired to make a kind, fun boss happy, employees were less afraid to reveal difficulties. As a result this increased communication increased the companies speed at curtailing problems before they spun out of control.
The lesson learned: Create a more fun work environment, and you’ll laugh your way to the bank.
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