June 27th, 2023 - Is playful problem solving possible?
Is playful problem solving possible?
If you’re familiar with my work, you know that one benefit from the massive list of benefits is “improved problem solving” - for individuals AND teams. The neuroscience behind it all is simple, yet fascinating.
But it’s not just that having a playful practice leads to good “serious” problem-solving at work, the problem-solving act itself, when playful, will be enhanced!
You’ll find yourself (and your teammates) innovating in ways you’d never thought you could…while enjoying yourself at the same time.
In professional settings, even ones with playful work design implementations, it can be easy to fall into the basic outdated ways of brainstorming. But we can take just a brief moment (truly less than one minute to introduce it) to boost the entire session.
One great way to do this is by having your people choose a celebrity, author, athlete, politician, or generally “famous” person and apply that person’s “voice” to your problem.
Let’s say you’re leading a meeting with your team and the task at hand is to decide how to approach an unhappy client. You can leave the “famous person” choice open-ended, or provide a list (we’ll say…Oprah, Margaret Thatcher, Nelson Mandela, Mariska Hargitay, and the Hulk). Have each team member choose one of the famous people or their own. Then the team member steps into the shoes of that famous person and considers how the Hulk would handle the problem…what would he say, how would he say it, etc.
This is going to bring out ideas that would very likely not be shared if presented as coming from Jan, the project manager, or Randall, an assistant.
I’m going to create a post on Instagram and LinkedIn for us to try it out together and I’d love to hear from you, Subscriber First Name
(SHOUT OUT to DeMario Bell, Community Manager of the Culture First People Geeks digital community for the inspiration for this in the Slack workspace recently.)
Recent Blog Posts:
Whose Job is it to Create Engagement at Work?
COMING SOON! The Secret to Overcoming Imposter Phenomenon (spoiler alert: it’s playfulness and flow!) The on-demand, self-paced course is slated to launch in July. You can view a 3 minute intro video about it here!
Sign up HERE to get notified when it launches
AND
be put on the list for 10% off!
Subscriber First Name, join us for the first Inner Zest Retreat in beautiful Manitou Springs! September 29th to October 1st. Agenda and host details can be found here.
Early Bird Pricing is Available through June 30th!
Only 4 sets of parentheses, but a special appearance by emdash AND 3 ellipses!
Sharing is caring! Forward this to someone you think might enjoy it and encourage them to subscribe!