Embracing Playfulness in Leadership

Last week, during a transformative retreat, I discovered a profound truth about success and fulfillment. Despite reaching many professional milestones, I realized something essential was missing—joy and ease. ???

A Playful Exploration

In my recent LinkedIn post, “A Playful Exploration of Myself,” https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/helenerennervik_a-playful-exploration-of-myself-this-week-activity-7220000643602669570-zyN6

I shared how reconnecting with my playful side through drawing and creative activities revealed the power of joy in our lives and leadership.

As Diane Ackerman said,

“Play is our brain's favorite way of learning.”

The Seriousness Trap

In our search for success, we often focus on seriousness and academic achievements, overlooking the value of playfulness. Many successful individuals eventually question whether there’s more to life than meeting goals. It’s not about abandoning your ambitions but discovering joy and fulfillment in the journey and the process.

The Power of Playfulness

My journey has shown me that embracing a playful mindset isn’t just refreshing—it’s transformative. Playfulness and creativity can revitalize our professional lives, allowing us to tackle challenges with renewed enthusiasm and ease. As we grow up, we too often lose touch with the spirit of play—but playfulness is an essential aspect of leadership.

Adam Grant wisely noted,

“Having fun isn’t an enemy of efficiency. It’s fuel for finding flow.”

“When we are at play, we are in flow. We are tapping into our Zone of Genius.” Playful culture has been shown to increase productivity by up to 500%.

Check out this Forbes article for more insights on the importance of a playful culture.

Transformative Leadership

Integrating playfulness into leadership isn’t just about achieving success; it’s about enjoying the journey and inspiring others along the way.

It’s a crucial step towards a more fulfilling and effective leadership style. Embracing joy and creativity opens pathways to profound fulfillment and creates a more vibrant work environment.

Helping leaders keep their heads cool, connect to their bodies, and open their hearts through play and fun greatly benefits and creates a much happier and more effective work culture.

Creating a Live Series

I’m excited to announce a new live series on rediscovering joy and ease in leadership through playfulness and curiosity. This series is designed to help leaders like you reconnect with your playful side and integrate it into your leadership style for greater fulfillment and effectiveness.

My Upcoming Live Event: https://www.dhirubhai.net/events/play-leadwithhelene-ajourneytoj7222502118614589440/theater/

Play & Lead with Helene: A Journey to Joyful Leadership

Episode 1: The Power of Play - Rediscovering Your Inner Child

What You’ll Discover:

• Overcome Barriers: Identify and address common challenges to integrating playfulness at work.
• Foster Joy: Learn practical strategies to infuse creativity and joy into your leadership.
• Engage Effectively: Participate in interactive activities to inspire and energize your leadership journey.

Join Me Tomorrow on LinkedIn: Thursday, August 1, 2024 Time: 15:00 CET

Here are the results of my poll from last week: What is the biggest barrier to being playful at work?

• Fear of Judgment: 41%
• Workplace Culture: 32%
• Time Constraints: 14%
• Lack of Ideas: 14%

These results highlight leaders' common challenges in integrating playfulness into their work environment.?

Fear of judgment and workplace culture stand out as significant barriers.?

Join me in my upcoming LinkedIn Live event to explore strategies for overcoming these obstacles and infusing more joy and creativity into leadership! ??

Let’s embark on this journey together and uncover how leading with joy and creativity can transform your leadership style and overall fulfillment.

Warm regards, Helene