Bree Groff Talks About Bringing Fun Back to Work

Jul 16, 2025

In this engaging conversation, Bree Groff, a workplace culture expert and author of 'Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously),' explores how fun can transform our work lives. She emphasizes that true joy at work isn't just about perks but about permission to be ourselves. Bree advocates for creativity and engagement, sharing her insights on the impact of our environments on work culture. She encourages listeners to embrace joy, prioritize work-life balance, and ask themselves, 'Was today fun?' to reframe their daily experiences.

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INSIGHT

Workweek Equals Life Time

Wishing away the workweek is like wishing away life since work occupies much of our time.
Work inherently involves creating value and can be enjoyable, but pain is often self-inflicted by rigid systems and cultures.

ANECDOTE

Salmon Tips Promotion Story

Mike Vardy creatively used Costco seafood bins to run salmon tips promotions near the front door.
This novelty excited customers and boosted sales, showing fun at work often requires permission and trying new ideas.

INSIGHT

Creativity Drives Business Success

Business success benefits from creativity and play, which are often blocked by busyness and conformity.
Permission and bravery to experiment bring risk and exhilaration, making work more meaningful and fun.

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What if “fun” isn’t the opposite of “work”—but the missing ingredient? In this episode of A Productive Conversation, I sit down with Bree Groff, workplace culture expert and author of Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously). We dig into how play, permission, and presence can transform not only the way we work—but the way we live.

Bree draws on her deep experience guiding Fortune 500 leaders through complex organizational change to offer a refreshingly human perspective on professionalism, productivity, and yes, pajama pants. This is more than a talk about workplace dynamics—it’s a conversation about reclaiming your days.

Six Discussion Points

Why wishing away the workweek is wishing away your life
How “fun” at work is often less about ping-pong tables and more about permission
The myth of performative professionalism (and the case for stretchy pants)
The role of novelty, creativity, and risk in making work feel meaningful
Environment as a silent force shaping our work habits and culture
How a simple question—“Was today fun?”—can reframe your entire life

Three Connection Points

Talking with Bree reminded me that the best kind of productivity—the kind I advocate for—is rooted in presence, play, and people. Her perspective is a timely nudge toward joy, and Today Was Fun is a book I’ll keep close for those days when the calendar feels heavier than it should. I hope this conversation lightens yours.

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