Permission to Have Fun: Granted.
December 2025 | Episode 009
Why joy and laughter might be your best leadership tools this holiday season.
When was the last time you really had fun? Not the “this counts as socializing” kind of fun, or “I’ll enjoy this when the deadline’s over” fun… I mean, real, wholehearted, belly-laugh fun.
For many of us, the end of the year feels like a sprint: we’re wrapping up projects, juggling family plans, and running through to-do lists that seem to multiply overnight. But amidst the hustle and bustle of it all, there’s something we often forget: fun is not frivolous. It’s a core part of being human.
When we give ourselves permission to play, we recharge and bolster our emotional intelligence in powerful ways.
The Science of Fun (and Why It Matters More Than You Think)
Fun does more than lift your mood. It also rewires your brain.
When we laugh, play, or do something that genuinely delights us, our brains release dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter linked to learning, creativity, and motivation.
That means fun doesn’t just make you feel better, it helps you think better, lead better, and connect better. This time of year, that’s especially important.
In 2022, 76% of adults surveyed by the American Psychological Association said stress from politics, race relations, violence and inflation has affected their health. They report experiencing headaches, fatigue, depression, nervousness and exhaustion.
So how do you bring back that spark? We think it starts by reconnecting, with curiosity, your relationships, and optimism, three core emotional intelligence skills that fuel engagement, connection, and growth.
The Emotional Intelligence Behind Fun
Fun is emotional regulation in disguise. It gives your mind a chance to reset, your body a chance to recover, and your spirit a chance to reconnect with what matters to you.
Here’s how fun builds EQ in action:
Self-Awareness: You start noticing what actually brings you energy vs. what drains it.
Self-Regard: You remind yourself that joy is something you deserve, not something you have to earn.
Optimism: You build the belief that brighter moments, and brighter seasons, are always ahead.
Interpersonal Relationships: You strengthen connection through shared laughter and lightness, the glue of great teams and strong relationships.mental block that stops us from trying again. Optimistic leaders break this cycle, modeling resilience and problem-solving for their teams.
3 Ways to Lead (and Live) with More Fun This Season
Schedule joy like you schedule meetings, but leave room for spontaneity…
Try it: Protect time for the things that make you laugh, move, or create: a walk with a friend, a cookie exchange, or your favourite holiday movie, and stay open to moments of unexpected fun along the way.
Make “light” leadership contagious.
Try it: Open a team meeting by asking: “What’s something that made you smile this week?” It might sound small, but moments like these build trust, camaraderie, and belonging, key ingredients for psychological safety.
Reframe your end-of-year stress.
Try it: When you catch yourself thinking “I have so much to do,” try reframing it to: “I get to celebrate what I’ve accomplished and reset for what’s next.” That’s optimism at work: seeing challenge as opportunity.
Bite-Sized Wisdom for Big Impact from Our Coaches
I Did Something Recently That Was So Much Fun!
I recently joined Julien Leblanc on Crave: The IFDA Podcast - my first-ever podcast!
It was such a fun (and slightly out-of-my-comfort-zone) experience, and a reminder of how much joy comes from saying YES to new things.
We talked about something close to my heart: the world’s EQ has declined by 6% in the past five years. Empathy and emotional expression are on the decline, right when we need them most.
As AI transforms how we work and connect, emotional intelligence is our human advantage. It’s what helps leaders build trust, belonging, and compassion, things no algorithm can replicate.
If you’re up for a listen, I’d love for you to tune in.
Here’s to more fun, more courage, and more moments outside our comfort zones in 2026!
See you next year!
Jillian & Team
McLaughlin Mentoring Inc.