Page 155 - Harnessing the Management Secrets of Disney in Your Company

136 The Disney Way

were discounted as something of a public-relations ploy by the industry. Some
thought that Disney, with his reputation as a producer of “family” products,
was being singled out to counter the accusations of immorality that then dogged
the industry. Not until he received an Oscar for the full-length Snow White and
the Seven Dwarfs did Hollywood bestow any real recognition on Disney.
Throughout his lifetime, Walt continued to maintain a distance from
the movie-making elite. He never used big-name stars in his pictures, nor
did he invite them to lavish parties or Disneyland events. Walt also shunned
deals with big-time agents. Early on, he established his own standards and
went his own way.

Make It Fun!

Fun is a bad word in old-economy companies. Their management still believes,
“If there’s too much fun, there’s too little work.” In reality, the opposite is true.
Companies which champion fun have higher productivity and profitability.
American Psychological Association has published surveys about this, and it’s
a fact. Take the example of Southwest Airlines. The company boldly requires
job candidates to indicate on their applications whether or not they possess “a
sense of humor.”
In our work with numerous organizations, even some whose core busi-
nesses are highly regulated by standards-driven agencies, we’ve seen how a
fun-filled workplace builds enthusiasm. And, that enthusiasm leads to better
customer service, a positive attitude about the company, and higher odds that
employees will stay. “Most business practices repress our natural tendency to
have fun and to socialize,” says George Zimmer of Men’s Wearhouse. “The
idea seems to be that in order to succeed, you have to suffer. But I believe that
you do your best work when you are feeling enthusiastic about things.” 44
If fun is truly a good thing—for human beings and for business—why
are so many workplaces fun-free zones? One reason for sure is because times
have changed: the effects of 9/11, a recession, downsizing, and the prevalent
“do more with less” mentality. The good news is that companies around the
country, from Motorola to Sprint, have discovered the benefits of humor
in the workplace. The posture of some executives is traditional business
heresy: “I know our company is doing well when I walk around and hear
people laughing,” remarks Hal Rosenbluth of Rosenbluth International, a
Philadelphia-based travel agency that has made the lives of corporate travelers
across the country much easier.