Do you think fun has a place at work? I do! I think it’s vital in fact and in this episode we are exploring the power of fun with my guest Dr Mike Rucker, author of The Fun Habit.

Mike has spent much of his career in service to workplace wellbeing and performance, as an organisational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He’s a big believer that in our our overprescribed lives we need to seek fun where we can. We’re not talking about zany fun here, it’s finding pleasure in the everyday. It's not about the big milestones, but the small moments that build our rich tapestry of life. As leaders, creating an environment where fun is woven into the fabric of work can transform well-being and productivity. It's serious business to ensure our teams genuinely enjoy their work.

Shownotes

See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-fun-mike-rucker

Key Moments

Planet Human: A big win for carbon neutral cattle here in Australia.

Planet Zoë: Olympus Bound has launched! It is out now, the advance reviews have been fantastic and I’m excited to see it getting in readers’ hands. Order your signed copy from my site, or get the paperback and ebook options on Amazon. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

The Importance of Fun at Work (00:03:28)

Introduction to the concept of fun at work and its significance for workplace well-being.

The Beginning of Fun as a Focus (00:04:38)

Guest Dr. Mike Rucker shares how fun became a focus for him and its connection to positive psychology.

Challenges with Pursuing Happiness (00:09:32)

Discussion on the problematic pursuit of happiness as an outcome and its impact on emotional flexibility and comparison to others.

The Role of Agency and Autonomy in Fun (00:14:10)

Exploration of the importance of agency and autonomy in creating positive experiences and avoiding habituated routines.

The Fun Habit Book Premise (00:18:30)

Explanation of the premise of the book "The Fun Habit" and the importance of breaking habitual routines to incorporate joy into life.

Defining and Incorporating Fun (00:21:40)

Discussion on defining fun for oneself and strategies for incorporating it into the workday.

The Valence of Fun (00:21:57)

Mike explains the psychological concept of valence and its association with pleasure and enjoyment.

The Misunderstood Concept of Fun at Work (00:24:17)

Zoe and Mike discuss the misconception of fun at work, addressing the negative connotations and the need for a redefined understanding.

Creating an Enjoyable Work Environment (00:29:11)

Mike delves into the connection between meaningful work and enjoyment, emphasising the importance of creating an enjoyable environment.

Future Technology and Work-Life Balance (00:33:44)

Mike discusses a technology concept related to work-life balance and the potential benefits of AI in managing work communications.

Transition Rituals in the Workplace (00:36:42)

Mike highlights the need for transition rituals in the workplace to separate work and leisure life, promoting a healthier work-life balance.

Parity and Reward for Work (00:38:35)

Zoe and Mike touch on the topic of parity and reward for work, expressing their views on the unequal distribution of abundance resulting from labour.

Reclaiming Control and Enjoying Work (00:41:42)

Mike emphasises the importance of reclaiming control at work and finding enjoyment, particularly by reclaiming lunch breaks and other breaks in the workday.

Enjoyment and Productivity (00:42:32)

Focusing on the importance of enjoyment in pocket moments for increased productivity and creativity.

Leadership and Interpersonal Dynamics (00:49:00)

An excerpt from the novel Terra Blanca: Insurrection highlighting interpersonal dynamics in leadership.

I’m just back from a two-week epic hike along the Australian Alpine Walking Track and reflecting on the fact that the heart of any expedition is its people. Drawing on these recent experiences for this solo episode, I explore the importance of nurturing relationships, understanding individual drives, and creating a supportive environment that empowers your team. We had some tough times on the trek; challenging terrain and brutal weather. But we also had lots of joy; laughter, dancing and gratitude in the bush! And much like life and leadership, when things get too much we simply focus on putting one foot in front of the other.

Shownotes

See more at: http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-adventure-zoe-routh

Key Moments

Planet Human: A biotech breakthrough that has the potential to transform lives with the ability to grow a ‘mini liver’ in lymph nodes, rather than relying on a transplant.

Planet Zoë: 200km in two weeks - Zoë reflects on an amazing experience in the Australian bush.

**Challenges and experiences during the trek (00:02:39)**

Zoë shares the physical and emotional challenges faced during the bushwhack, including navigating off-track and encountering feral animals.

**Leadership dynamics in the bush (00:04:52)**

Zoë explores the leadership dynamics and decision-making processes involved in the intense bushwhack experience.

**Factors contributing to successful teamwork (00:13:11)**

Zoë discusses the factors that contributed to the successful teamwork during the trek, including shared responsibilities and collective decision-making.

**Lessons for applying to the workplace (00:15:11)**

Zoë draws parallels between the bush walking experience and workplace projects, highlighting the importance of a meaningful "why" and an energiser for the team.

**Key points for project success (00:16:18)**

Zoë emphasises the importance of relationships, setting parameters, and adapting as you go for project success.

**Adapt as you go (00:20:25)**

Importance of flexibility and adaptability in facing unexpected challenges during the adventure.

**Practice appreciation and gratitude (00:21:32)**

The significance of acknowledging and expressing gratitude for the experiences, company, and moments during the journey.

**Have fun along the way (00:22:35)**

Emphasising the necessity of incorporating enjoyment and fun into the leadership journey, even during challenging times.

Words matter and my guest this week is an accomplished author and ghostwriter with over 100 books to her name - averaging around one book a month! Rhiannon D’Averc shares her writing process, her experience ghostwriting in various voices, and the importance of detailed outlines. Many leaders are charged with translating complex ideas into compelling narratives and Rhinannon’s insights into how she organises her research and removing roadblocks are not just applicable to writing but to any leadership role: it's all about efficiency and clarity. We also talk about how Rhiannon embodies a client's voice through interviews and written materials and discuss some of the challenges of editing and finally publishing a book. All of which is extremely top of mind for me as I prepare to launch Olympus Bound!

Shownotes

See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-communication-rhiannon-daverc

Key Moments

Planet Human: Discussion about the Australian Research Council's investment in space agriculture and its relevance to future space exploration.

Planet Zoë: Back from an epic adventure on the Australian Alpine walking trail and focused on the upcoming launch of Olympus Bound.

Getting Started as an Author and Ghostwriter (00:05:32) Rhiannon D’Averc’s journey into writing and ghostwriting, and her prolific output of over 100 published books.

Writing Process (00:07:08) Insights into Rhiannon's streamlined writing process and her approach to removing roadblocks.

Ghostwriting Process (00:08:34) Discussion of the process of getting into someone else's head and embodying their voice in ghostwriting.

Managing Ego as a Ghostwriter (00:10:01) Rhiannon's perspective on dialling down her ego as a ghostwriter and dealing with edits.

Capturing Ideas of Future Experts (00:11:32) Exploration of capturing future-oriented ideas, including using sci-fi as a medium to reach wider audiences.

Marketing Efforts and Impact (00:17:07) Rhiannon’s marketing efforts for her own books and the challenges of balancing writing and marketing.

The importance of innovative messaging (00:20:21) Discussion on using science fiction for broader audience reach and interesting ideas and perspectives worked with different clients.

Exploring future technology in finance (00:21:01) Working with a financial expert on future finance vision, linking it to technology, and discussing the future of social media.

Social media and blockchain technology (00:22:00) Exploring decentralised social media through blockchain technology and its implications.

Cherry-picking stories for nonfiction books (00:24:04) Helping authors select stories to bring their ideas to life and the significance of storytelling in nonfiction books.

Insights about people and leadership (00:26:17) Rhiannon's observations about human nature and leadership, emphasising shared experiences and fallibility.

The fast five with Rhiannon (00:27:30) A series of quick questions covering future technology, leadership tips, workplace issues, political leadership, and favourite leadership book.

Writing and editing process for books (00:33:16) Discussion on the phases and timeline of writing a book, including the research, interview, writing, and editing phases.