The Importance of Play in the Workplace

There’s no room for fun in the workplace, right?  I mean, it’s called work, after all. It’s not supposed to be fun.  If you’re doing it right, you probably get paid for it, so you have a responsibility to fulfill a role for your employer, to be productive and efficient.  How can fun factor in that equation?

But it should.  Psychologists long ago determined the importance of play on emotional and intellectual development.  It helps to form the prefrontal cortex, which is crucial for impulse control and decision-making.  Play also contributes to social competency and personal resiliency.

It comes to us naturally. Spontaneous animal play has been observed in the wild, and who hasn’t played fetch with a dog?  Animals that you might not otherwise associate with play – crocodiles, kangaroos, and elephants - give each other piggy-back rides, benignly spar with the adults in their herd, and toboggan down muddy hills.  Rats who have been denied developmental play show intellectual deficits similar to the effects of brain damage (Sergio Pellis, Professor of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge).

I’m not even going to get into how lack of play might be contributing to our obesity crisis.  My focus today is on how play translates to a successful work environment. 

Because being playful shouldn’t end with childhood.

Without play, we struggle to connect, and rely on completing tasks by rote.  A little goofing off goes a long way toward reducing stress, igniting creativity, enhancing productivity and increasing job satisfaction, not to mention fostering the elusive bonding that management tries to accomplish with uncomfortable “team-building" exercises.  You know what I’m talking about - blindfolds, Hula Hoops, trust falls. No thank you.  I recently read about a team-building exercise called The Human Knot in which participants were required to hold hands and then untangle themselves without letting go.  Um, no.  Sounds like the plot to a particularly uncomfortable episode of The Office. 

We’re driven to find ways to shut out the noise inherent in an open office.  When it’s time to concentrate, by all means, put your noise-cancelling headphones on (Plantronics Voyager Focus is my favorite) and listen to some peaceful focus music.  But when you’re trying to come up with that new idea, when you’ve hit a wall, when you need to stretch your legs and your brain, it’s time to have some fun.  If you work from home, be sure to make your way into the office for events, or connect via your unified communications system if a personal appearance isn’t possible.  Socialize with your co-workers.  Engage and relax.  Working remotely doesn’t mean you should be remote.

In today’s world, being successful means setting yourself apart.  The internet makes products and services easy to access – it’s the ultimate playing field leveler.  So it’s important to foster an atmosphere that invites new ideas, spontaneity and communication.  Play has actually been proven to help us consider alternative solutions to our problems (Dr. Stuart Brown, Baylor College of Medicine).  Lack of play leads to antisocial and depressive behavior. 

I consider myself to have a strong work ethic (thank you, Dad).  But still I’m wondering what I can do to up the fun factor at my office.  Although company culture shouldn’t be built around having a foosball table in the break room, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great idea.  Try a basketball hoop in the courtyard, a dartboard on the back wall, and Rubik’s Cubes or Legos on the conference room table.  Taking a break to have some fun stimulates creativity, and having something to look forward to can actually boost concentration.

So, for at least a few minutes a day, put away the serious and just play.  Don’t think about the end result, or deadlines, or even rules.  Embrace your inner child and enjoy.  Your day will be brighter, your work will improve, and maybe your boss will even thank you for it.