#play14 a republié ceci
Owner @ Playfulmonk | Stay calm and connected in complex situations | Leadership consultant | Coaching Supervisor |Mindfulness-based executive coach | Agile mindset coaching
How To Foster Playfulness as a Leader in Your Organization Imagine this: You’re part of a small team playing a game where you win and lose points based on dice rolls, but there’s no communication allowed. At the end of the game, the person with the highest score moves to another team, and the same happens for the person with the lowest score. I had the lowest score in the game, moved to another team, and started playing again. I did much better this time, but once again, the people with the lowest and highest scores switched teams. Another round began, and one of the team members made a gesture that I interpreted, in the silence, as “Let’s forget the rules.” I quickly lost again, got confused about the game, and gave up. The person next to me was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down their face, and I found myself laughing in confusion. Where was I? I was at the Play14 unconference near Rotterdam, surrounded by playful people, collaborating, reflecting, and playing serious games to explore business dynamics. One of the key questions that surfaced during the event was: How do I bring play into my team, group, or company? The usual challenges came up—people are too busy, they’re too rational, or they just want to get on with the job. There was resistance to the idea of play. But here’s the thing: Serious games have transformational power. They help us explore complex themes, such as communication, team dynamics, and problem-solving, in simple, accessible ways. In my game, I reflected on my feelings of being rejected by the team and how that mirrored workplace dynamics. Together, we discussed how this game could teach us about onboarding new team members, handling miscommunication, and aligning team objectives. It became clear that the lessons we learned through play could be applied directly to real business challenges. Here are six practical suggestions to bring play into your business: 1. Explain the Purpose and Benefits 2. Start Small and Gradual. 3. Make Participation Voluntary, Not Forced 4. Tailor Games to Suit the Culture 5. Align Games with Work Challenges 6. Address Concerns and Create Psychological Safety Why Playfulness in Leadership Matters The real power of serious games doesn’t just lie in the fun—it’s in the reflection, learning, and growth that follow. Games allow us to embody lessons in a way that traditional methods often can’t. They reveal organizational and team dynamics in a safe, non-confrontational way, allowing us to tackle problems without the personal stress that comes with more direct conversations. In a world where business challenges are growing increasingly complex, playful leadership provides an innovative edge. It helps teams think outside the box, strengthen their relationships, and approach problems with fresh perspectives. How can you bring serious games into your work environment? #leadershipdevelopment #executivecoaching #play14