BoredLess Playful Work Design
The Science-backed Approach to Building a Thriving Culture
These days, creating a positive and engaging company culture is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. A strong culture can attract and retain top talent, boost employee engagement, and drive innovation.
But cultivating a thriving culture is not easy.
It requires a deep understanding of your organization's purpose, mission, and values. It also demands a commitment to creating an active and positive environment where employees feel valued, respected, and motivated to do their best work.
BoredLess can help you achieve your culture goals through our unique Playful Work Design approach. Based on the latest research in neuroscience and embedded with the four pillars (flexibility/autonomy, inclusion, mission-driven, and psychologically safe), our methods are designed to tap into the innate human need for play. By incorporating playfulness into your workplace, we can help you create a more engaging, productive, and fulfilling work environment.
Our Playful Work Design services include:
Culture audits to assess your current culture and identify areas for improvement
Playful work design workshops to help your team develop and implement playful initiatives
Consulting and education to support you on your journey to a more playful workplace
When your organization embraces play, you'll see a dramatic transformation in employee engagement, creativity, and innovation. You'll also create a more positive and productive work environment where people are excited to come to work each day.
Here’s How!
Step 1 - Strategy Exploration
Share how your organization works and what the core values and mission are. At BoredLess, we believe positive company culture is specific to each organization.
Specific actions:
Gather and analyze information about organizational routine, structure, and function
Interview leadership to gain insight into mission, core values, and beliefs
Explore strategy through the lens of hindsight: what worked, what is working, what isn't working
Estimated Timing: 30-60 days
Step 2 - Comprehensive Culture Audit
Evaluation of the dynamics of employee engagement, psychological safety, trust, learning opportunities, and overall satisfaction within your organization. Our focus is on understanding how these elements interplay to foster a strong sense of community among teams and leaders.
Specific Actions
Customized Engagement Surveys
Individual and Team Interviews
Scientific Data Analysis
Detailed Community Report
Estimated Timing: 30-60 days
Step 3 - Strategy Creation
BoredLess will use the data gathered during step 2 to identify areas of need for organizational and team change.
Specific Actions
Leadership briefing of findings from culture audit (full-color report)
Transparent sharing of findings with teams and individual contributors
Identification of areas of need
Development of goals
Creation of priorities for need and goals
Estimated Timing: 30-60 days
Step 4 - Play to Flow
The good stuff. Education, design changes, facilitation, individual and team coaching and consulting.
Specific Actions
Workshops customized for specific teams about the neuroscience and benefits of flow and play
Activations throughout the office to foster communication, collaboration, and cohesion across the hierarchy (physical design specific)
Meeting facilitations adding play concepts, activities, and playfulness
Playfulness coaching and consulting within teams and for individuals as needed
Estimated Timing: 60-120 days
Step 5 - Track and Iterate
BoredLess will monitor progress across KPIs to determine progress, success, and need for adjustment. Leadership and teams together will determine when outcomes are exemplary.
Specific Actions
On-going surveys targeting each KPI for teams and leaders
Scientific analysis of findings to ensure lean processes
Transparent dissemination of findings through periodic all-hands meetings
Identification of potential need for additional support
Direct consulting as needed to ensure ability to carryover acquired knowledge
Estimated Timing: On-Going as Needed. Annual Check-In Calls (1-2 hrs) as Desired.
When organizations integrate the BoredLess approach into their routines, relationships, and overall culture, both teams and leaders can experience a wide range of benefits, including:
Increased productivity: By fostering a sense of ownership and motivation among employees through a playful and engaging work environment, organizations can achieve increased productivity. Engaged employees are up to 17% more productive than their disengaged counterparts.
Increased profitability: By cultivating a highly engaged workforce through a playful and engaging work environment, organizations can achieve increased profitability. Engaged employees are more likely to be productive, creative, and innovative, leading to a 21% increase in profitability.
Enhanced creativity and innovation: Playful environments encourage exploration and risk-taking, which can lead to new ideas and solutions. When teams are able to think more creatively, they are able to come up with innovative solutions to problems that can lead to increased revenue.
Improved employee engagement and retention: Playful and engaging work environments can help attract and retain top talent. Engaged employees are more likely to be loyal to their employers and these workforces experience 43% less turnover than disengaged teams. This can lead to significant cost savings for organizations in terms of recruiting and training new employees.
Reduced absenteeism: Engaged employees are less likely to take sick days. A study by Gallup found that companies with highly engaged employees have 81% lower absenteeism rates. This can lead to cost savings for the organization in terms of reduced sick pay and lost productivity.
Increased trust in leadership: Studies have shown that employees who trust their leaders are more likely to be engaged in their work and more productive. For example, a study by Qualtrics found that employees who have high levels of trust in their leaders are 50% more likely to be productive than those who have low levels of trust.
Improved communication, collaboration, and cohesion across teams: Play fosters a more open and inclusive environment where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, collaborating on projects, and building trust with one another. By providing low-stakes opportunities for teams to practice these essential skills, play helps to break down silos and create a more cohesive and productive workforce.
Improved health of individuals: Play can improve physical health. Play promotes physical fitness and development by engaging the body in various movements, strengthening muscles, bones, and cardiovascular health.
Reduced stress: Play triggers the release of dopamine and norepinephrine, neurotransmitters that play a crucial role in regulating stress levels. By engaging in playful activities, we can effectively diminish the negative impact of stress on our well-being.
Psychological safety: Play fosters psychological safety, where people feel comfortable taking risks and sharing ideas, essential for innovation and engagement. When people feel safe, they are more likely to be open, honest, and creative.
Acey is a leading expert on the neuroscience of play and its impact on organizational culture. She has spent years researching and studying the effects of play on employee engagement, productivity, creativity, and innovation.
Acey is also a skilled facilitator and speaker. She has a deep understanding of how to create a safe and supportive environment where people can learn, grow, and experiment. In addition to her expertise in play, Acey is also a business leader with a proven track record of success. She has helped organizations of all sizes to achieve their goals and objectives.
Acey is a passionate advocate for the power of play to transform organizations. She believes that play is not just about having fun; it is a powerful tool that can be used to drive innovation, build relationships, and create a more positive and productive work environment.