How Play Pumps up Productivity

If you think play is just about recreation on the weekends, think again.

Play can be very powerful and practical for the workplace. ??

Now, I get it, not everyone is into letting loose and having fun at work. And our work-until-it-hurts culture makes play out to be the enemy.

But the kind of play I’m advocating doesn’t mean partying or frivolous time-wasting.

?? I’m talking about play as a mindset.

As a direct path to creativity and innovation, play can actually be productive.?

While the characteristics of a play mindset are more about your mental attitude (the motivation) than how it manifests (the activity), different types of play activate different neural pathways of your brain, leading to new skills or personal growth.?

In this way, play becomes part of an experiential learning process. It offers opportunities for deeper understanding and expands the development of critical thinking.

Your brain is the most sophisticated thing in the entire universe, and it loves to play, try new things, and learn through trial and error.

-Dr. Shimi Kang

We’re not talking about an office trip to the bowling alley here.??

While fun, that type of play is mostly about social bonding rather than problem-solving, risk-taking, innovating, or deriving relevant meaning to analyze and synthesize learning.

To be considered productive, play has to result in skill development or behavior change. At the very least it should engage the individual on intellectual, emotional, and physical dimensions concurrently.

One of my most memorable experiences with play in the corporate setting was actually a wild adventure! ??

When the president of an energy company in Buffalo, New York wanted to build trust, confidence and risk-taking with his senior leadership team, he turned to us for help. I don’t think he had any idea what we were about to set in motion.?

We partnered with an expert off-road Jeep guide and did a leadership retreat in Moab, Utah!??

This was not a scenic trip with a tour guide at the wheel. The participants drove the Jeeps through all kinds of terrain, over huge boulders and narrow paths with 500 foot drops!

Of course, everyone learned about safety and how to guide each other, but one of the most profound benefits was experiencing authentic behavior, both in ourselves and in each other.

In one particularly dangerous moment, one of the male drivers would not look at me while I was guiding him. I directly told him he had to make eye contact or he was going over the cliff! ??

Eventually he heeded my instruction, but I could tell it was very difficult for him.

Later that night, relaxing over drinks, cliffs behind us, we had a very productive and insightful debriefing about our adventure. This man opened up and admitted that he’s always had a very hard time taking directions from women, and never truly realized it until that moment in the Jeep. What an incredible breakthrough for him!

Everyone reflected that they had a terrific time. The leadership team definitely bonded and had so many remarkable breakthroughs. As they demonstrated their willingness to transcend the barrier between comfort zone and learning zone, their confidence and risk-taking abilities increased as a result. They bridged the gap between leaning on existing leadership skills and personal strengths with continuing to develop professional and life skills.

It was quintessential play at work!?

?? An off-road format was one of the best executive team building opportunities for this group. They came to fully grasp that excellence in leadership can mean following at times, living outside your comfort zone, and putting others in the ‘driver’s seat.’

Clearly, play serves a valuable purpose.

?? Consider some of these benefits of the power of play at work:

• Energized work environment (less fatigue, boredom, and burnout)
• Expansion of creativity and innovation
• Increased empathy and interpersonal skills
• More effective communication and collaboration
• Stress reduction via fun (boosts dopamine and endorphin levels)
• Improved health and wellness (fewer days out sick)
• Increased trust and bonding within teams
• More engaged and confident employees
• Higher productivity
• Overall job satisfaction

Play truly is a powerful tool that should be cultivated in the workplace.?

Tips For Making Play a Priority (Hint: flair not necessary ??)

1. If you’re starting at ground zero, focus first on simply changing the energy of the office/organization before taking on some drastic new ‘fun’ measures. As a leader, you will need to adopt a play mindset and eventually you'll pave the way for a playful work culture.
2. Don’t copy what other organizations are doing (dubbed the FAANG Effect (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google) by Paul Lopushinsky*, founder of Playficient).?
3. Make it optional; forced fun mandated by management is a no-no and pressure to participate can have detrimental effects.
4. Ask your employees. What are they looking for with their employee experience? Cater to their interests and then get out of the way and let things happen organically.
5. Encourage creative collaboration. Give employees the opportunity to solve problems and come up with solutions based on their strengths and ideas, not strict rules.
6. If you have the budget, don’t be afraid to go big. Organize a few different team challenges or adventures each year and allow employees to sign up for the events that excite them.

Do you incorporate play into work? How??

I’d love to know. Please drop a comment ??

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