I will frequently ask my clients this question. It doesn't matter if we are working on strategy, sales effectiveness, or leadership. I want to know if they are having fun. The answers are interesting, and almost always followed by the question, "why do you ask?" I ask because it's important. Really important.

I'm not talking about fun as in party fun, or roller coaster fun (though that is not really fun for me). I'm talking about genuine enjoyment from what you are doing. The kind of enjoyment that allows you to get drawn into something that greatly interests you and get lost in it. I've always written about this as passion, but fun seems more evocative.

It's important because it effects how you perform. In a recent study at Harvard, both music experts and novices were better able to pick the winners of classical music competitions by watching silent video, than by listening to audio recordings. That makes no sense, right? But visual cues indicate things like energy, engagement, and of course, fun.

So when the answer to my question is no, I find it crucial to work toward some overlap between a person's talent, what is expected from them at work, and of course, what is fun about it. It obviously makes a difference.

A Slice of Life Balance           

• Take a look at your surroundings at work. Do you have visual reminders of what you like, people you love, things that make you feel good? If not, what are you waiting for. If you do, perhaps they need to be refreshed so you don't get numb to them.

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Scott's Harvard Business Review feature, Making Yourself Indispensable was just reprinted in a collection of popular articles. If you would like a pdf version of the article, email scott directly and he will send it to you.