Business – the serious busi-ness of making money.
Of keeping our clients onboard, of jumping through compliance hoops, and dodging the tripwires of people management.
It’s serious. And there’s lots of it.
Always more of it knocking on the door; more hours, more busi-ness, and more seriosity.
And in amongst all this – where’s the sense of play, of fun? The sound of laughter in the office, or over the Teams meeting?
Because fun lightens the mood.
It literally rewires our brains as it redirects the emotional signals from the stress control centre to the playing fields.
And remarkable things happen when we play:
- It connects people in a different way – one of adventure, possibility and banter. We see each other in a fuller, more human way, beyond job functions.
- It opens a sense of creativity, possibility. ‘What if?’ and ‘Yes and…’
- It filters through our subconscious, rejigging things, and problems are seen in a new light with new perspectives.
- People become more effective, productive and delight your clients*.
So, step out of the supposed comfort zone of busi-ness, and bring some fun into work.
Create a space and time where people can release themselves from the suffocating box of “serious”. Play. Take part yourself, dare to be a dork.
It is hard when the default is serious.
It is hard if it’s new and feels against the grain.
But success is built on a lot of hard work and once you start, assuming you persist, it becomes easier, more fun.
And the outcomes are remarkable.
* and it flows through to your bottom line.