Make Work More Fun: Ditch The Crap

Pim de Morree
Written by Pim de Morree February 03, 2021

Recently I came across a very simple but powerful post on LinkedIn. It reminded me of pioneering organizations we've visited. Unfortunately, it's an approach that's often-overlooked.

3362 1140x0

Whatever management book you read, or TED Talk you watch, or (virtual) conference you attend, you will be bombarded with tips on improving your business, career or life. Do this, do that, start this, start that.

If you followed all this well-intentioned advice, you'd be kicking off initiatives every hour of the day. Not a good idea.

Ditch the crap

Instead, try stopping things—to progress. It's true in many aspects of life, but especially when making work more fun.

The most successful workplace experiments often focus on not doing something. For example, we've visited organizations that ditched 95% of their rules and policies—and flourished as a result. There's even a company which based it's entire way of working on the concept of 'less is more'.

Here's a starter list of inspirations to liberate yourself at work:

What's not to like here?

Whatever management book you read, or TED Talk you watch, or (virtual) conference you attend, you will be bombarded with tips on improving your business, career or life. Do this, do that, start this, start that.
Click to tweet

The to-don't list

What would you advise others to stop  doing? Do you have tips on what to ditch in order to make work more fun?

Drop your suggestions in the comments below.

PS: Follow Corporate Rebels on LinkedIn for more practical inspiration. And connect with me personally here.

Written by Pim de Morree
Pim de Morree
As co-founder of Corporate Rebels I focus on: researching, writing, speaking, and building our company.
Read more
Read more
May 18, 2026
Sociocracy 3.0 examples: what a prison, a bank, and an outdoor retailer taught us
Joost Minnaar Written by Joost Minnaar
Last week around this time we were in Zurich, Switzerland. Three visits to pioneering organizations. A local gathering with over 140…
Read more about Sociocracy 3.0 examples: what a prison, a bank, and an outdoor retailer taught us
Apr 27, 2026
Organizational silos: what the Titanic teaches us about information that never arrives
Joost Minnaar Written by Joost Minnaar
Ask anyone what sank the Titanic and you'll get the same answer: an iceberg.Maybe they'll add the part about the lifeboats, the band…
Read more about Organizational silos: what the Titanic teaches us about information that never arrives
Mar 23, 2026
Leadership selection methods: why random selection outperforms the "best" approach
Pim de Morree Written by Pim de Morree
Here's something that most organizations take for granted: if you want a group to perform well, you need to carefully select the best…
Read more about Leadership selection methods: why random selection outperforms the "best" approach
May 11, 2025
Why Your Manager is (Probably) Incompetent
Joost Minnaar Written by Joost Minnaar
Ever wonder why your to-do list never shrinks, your manager is clueless, and getting a simple approval feels like negotiating world peace?…
Read more about Why Your Manager is (Probably) Incompetent
Jul 28, 2024
The Hype Cycle of Work Trends: Fads vs. Fundamentals
Pim de Morree Written by Pim de Morree
Ever feel like you're constantly bombarded with new work methodologies? Agile, Teal, Design Thinking, Holacracy—they come and go like fad…
Read more about The Hype Cycle of Work Trends: Fads vs. Fundamentals
Nov 19, 2023
Ethical AI and Self-Organization: Charting a Path Forward
Joost Schouten Written by Joost Schouten
AI at scale in our society scares me. With wealth inequality perpetually growing, anger in public discourse on the rise, and little…
Read more about Ethical AI and Self-Organization: Charting a Path Forward
Read all articles

Download: Free Guide

Unlock our in-depth guide on trends, tools, and best practices from over 150 pioneering organizations.

Subscribe below and receive it directly in your inbox.

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.