How to play your way to better relationships
Play in relationship building has been on my mind for ages.
It creates safety, builds trust, strengthens connections… AND reduces conflict, but… I bet you feel resistance to it… ‘how childish! We’re grown ups you know, and need to get some proper work done!’
Funny though, how many eyes light up when I bring a colourful floor mat to my (very useful and productive) workshops!!!!!
We WANT to play. Even if we’re not ready to admit it!
TRY THIS...
Start to experiment (ha ha, I mean play!!!) with the idea of playing more at work…
Play isn’t a behaviour it’s a state of mind
💡Top TIP - Use the phrase ‘let’s have a play with the idea… layout… timetable…???’ and let your imagination run wild
Stories fuel the imagination, which makes them a form of play. They connect through shared experiences.
💡Top TIP - Share a story about how your favourite childhood game taught you something you use now.
I share what roller derby taught me at around 1hr 20 minutes in this podcast
Be curious and open - when we are interested and seeing potential we are being playful
💡Top TIP - ’ask what others are thinking’ or ‘swap sides and speak on behalf of someone else’
Get physical - We play with our bodies not just our minds.
💡Top TIP - Ditch the screens and get out some flip charts & coloured pens or swap seats every time you change topics (or every 10 minutes) to reset your perspective.
I get teams to line up and walk around in my workshops as much as possible.
If you want to ‘bounce some ideas around with me’ (yep, play) about being proactively (and productively) playful I’m game … some of my best ideas come up in conversation 😉
SOMETHING TO PONDER...
Do you consider yourself to be a playful person?
What feels like play to you?
Do you give yourself permission to play at work?
SOMETHING FOR LATER...
If you missed it - look up this previous Inner Circle about the role of laughter.