Play in the Harvard Business Review
A friend and colleague recently shared an article on Harvard Business Review posted in September 2024 about PLAY IN THE WORKPLACE! Let’s have more of this, yes please!
In the article, Duncan Wardle, ex-Disney, discussed how integrating play into work is no longer just a “nice-to-have” but essential for businesses, especially post-pandemic. With 44% of employees reporting burnout, we need to rethink the traditional work environment. Play, creativity, and psychological safety can reduce stress, improve morale, and ultimately help organizations thrive in a world of “business as unusual.”
Here’s a quote from the article that really stood out to me:
"The cost of not integrating play into the workplace is a return to business as usual, which is no longer viable in a post-pandemic world. We are now in an era of business as unusual, where fostering creativity through play, comfort, and psychological safety is not just beneficial but essential for ongoing innovation and success."
PREACH IT DUNCAN! (If anyone can introduce me to him, that would be amazing)
But here’s the thing—while the article was a great overview, it skirts around the deeper issue of flow.
Flow is where peak performance truly happens, and it’s closely linked to play. When you’re in flow, you’re not just engaged—you’re at your best. It’s the state where you lose track of time, your creativity soars, and work becomes effortless.
A couple years ago I wrote a blog diving into the four stages of flow, how to reach that state, and why it’s so beneficial for both personal well-being and workplace productivity. From the Struggle phase (where we prepare) to the Release phase (where play helps us shift into flow), flow is a powerful tool that enhances performance and creativity. Play is also crucial for the final stage of the flow cycle - Recovery. I also spoke about this very topic in my TEDxManitouSprings talk from December 2023.
If you’re interested in learning more about how play leads to flow and how you can bring this to your work and life, check out the full blog here.
Flow at Work
Flow is especially transformative at work. When leaders create environments that foster flow—through low-stakes play, reduced distractions, and psychological safety—teams are more engaged, creative, and productive. If you want to dive deeper into the science of flow and how to cultivate it in your workplace, my Playful Work Design workshops are designed to help teams achieve that exact state.
Curious to learn more?
Let’s schedule a chat about how your team can integrate flow and play to reach their full potential.