Why Play Works.

How do you use playfulness and LEGO® to make an impact on something as serious as climate change? Lucy Hawthorne is the founder of Climate Play. She is a facilitator, LEGO® Serious Play® practitioner and campaigner at heart. She was an environmental campaigner and a social issues campaigner for about 15 years, helping ban fracking in the UK before starting Climate Play. Despite this success she was able to reflect that ultimately they weren't deeply changing people's minds and hearts on the issues. Through Climate Play they create conversations, events and actions that people actually want to be involved in rather than only feeling like they should. Things to consider Links Lucy Hawthorne LinkedInClimate PlayHow to recover from activism burnoutGrowth MindsetShoopery

Have you ever entered a meeting and instantly been set up to fail? Do organizations really want to change or just be seen to change? Consultants also get stuck in this game where they want to bring in more play and creativity and the organization thinks they should change but won’t. This is a challenge that Steve Chapman has encountered many times and has to overcome “vanilla compromises” that leads to no change. He does this through compassion and care, improvisation and subtle tactics like changing the space used. Steve is an artist, writer, and speaker interested in creativity and the human condition. He's spoken around the world on the subject of creativity and culture and worked with over 80 organizations in many sectors to help free them from ever tightening loops of common sense. He holds an MSC with distinction in organization's culture and change, and has held roles of visiting faculty on a number of MSC programs at Ashridge Business School, the Meno Institute, and Ruffy Park as an artist. He sold his work across seven continents, exhibited alongside the lights of Pablo Picasso and David Trigg, and has held a number of successful solo exhibitions in Central London, Hampshire. Things to consider Links Escape from Freedom, Erich FrommBarry Mason, Safe UncertaintyZen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice, Shunryu SuzukiThe (Not A) Lost Cat ProjectSound of Silence PodcastArny MendellOrbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace, Gordon MacKenzieCan Scorpions Smoke

What is the point of play? Is it just acting like a child at work? Nicole has grown children's brands, Ella's Kitchen and worked at informal creative agencies, and also in corporate environments. She has identified over the course of her career 10 key qualities that make up a child's lens on business framework that Nicole shares in detail in this episode. Nicole believes the whole point of play is to have no point. It is not frivolous. It is a vehicle for connection that can have important benefits for employers including staff retention through greater relationships, willingness to collaborate, general wellbeing and happiness and ultimately better results flow from it. “Play is like magic tea!” Nicole extols. But it is NOT just having playful games to be done between the doldrums of work. In this episode explore the definition of play and its deeper meaning beyond just fun in the workplace and the results it will bring. Discussion highlights: Key things to consider

Ace thinks play is wonderful. He sees it as explorative and unstructured, where we scan the world in which we exist and see all of the opportunities to push, prod, dig and learn. Scott thinks play is annoying and that playfulness is where it’s at. Despite disagreeing on these fundamentals Scott and Ace work together at Envoy providing executive guidance; supporting partnership negotiations; facilitating leadership retreats; guiding strategic planning; and mediating conflict. They teach these disciplines through talks, workshops, and executive programs. In this episode, we delve into the power of building momentum and playfulness (or play) in the way we work work. Our guests share experiences and thoughts on how intentional and regular doses of play and laughter can transform our approach to challenges and create a positive environment where different kinds of conversations can emerge. Their work involves building partnerships and exploring the intersection of technology, behavioral economics, and psychology. While Scott and Ace are experts in handling tough conversations they bring a lightness and playfulness to the way they do it - they take the work seriously but not themselves. Discussion Highlights: Things to consider Links EnvoyScott Wayne LinkedInAce Callwood LinkedInEnvoy Recorded Radio Get in touch! Make Work Play Playfilled

Start a conversation with, “do you think a hotdog is a sandwich?” and see the playful reaction. Catherine Price is an advocate of bringing people together in a playful manner whether it’s a conversation with a stranger, a dinner party, at work or even Zoom. Catherine helps people scroll less, live more, and have fun. She is a science journalist, speaker, teacher, consultant, and the author of several. Catherine is also the founder of ScreenLifeBalance.com, a resource hub dedicated to helping people create more intentional relationships with technology and reconnect with what really matters to them in life. Things to consider Links Catherine Price WebsiteThe Art of GatheringThe Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive AgainHow to Break Up With Your Phone: The 30-Day Plan to Take Back Your LifeVitamania: How Vitamins Revolutionized the Way We Think About Food Get in touch! Make Work Play Playfilled

Play, creativity and imagination can enable people to look at things differently, to extend their own potential. But formal education suppresses our natural instinct to play and as adults makes us think it’s wrong to play. Alison James is on a mission to reclaim the word play. Alison has written about her commitment to teaching and learning creatively in many publications, from early work on autobiography and personal development planning in the creative arts, to her present day interests in creativity, imagination and play in higher education pedagogy. She co-authored Engaging imagination: helping students become creative and reflective thinkers with Professor Stephen Brookfield (2014) and more about Alison and her work can be found at Engaging Imagination. Alison was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2014. At heart she is an educator and facilitator who unlocks conversations, ideas, capabilities in people, including herself, on how play, creativity and imagination can enable people to look at things differently. She left full-time work at the university so that she could concentrate on a three year research study, funded by the Imagination Lab Foundation. While people think she retired, she prefers to call it free-range play. Things to consider Links The Power of Play in Higher Education: Creativity in Tertiary Learning (2019)The Playful University PlatformBrian Sutton-SmithEngaging Imagination: Helping Students Become Creative and Reflective Thinkers, by Alison Smith and Stephen BrookfieldThe Value of Play in HE Get in touch! Make Work Play Playfilled

Gary Ware needs curiosity, exploration and imagination in his life. How can we bring these qualities into our day to day life? Gary grew up as the class clown and got into a lot of mischief. As he got older and became an adult he suppressed his playful side. His goals became the standard that society set; go to university and get a good job. But he felt unfulfilled. He unintentionally rediscovered his playful side from an improv class where he played silly games to be a better storyteller. Through co-running his own digital marketing agency he involved play in everything. Until he was sidelined by his business partner who didn’t buy into this methodology. From this setback he started on the path of facilitation and bringing playful methods to others. He is now a Strategic Play Consultant and created his company, Breakthrough Play. Things to consider Links Gary Ware, LinkedInBreakthrough PlayDr Stewart Brown, PlayGary Ware, Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of Play Get in touch! Make Work Play Playfilled

Colonel Jason “TOGA” Trew is on a mission to help airmen reintegrate intuition, creativity, storytelling, and play into strategic thinking. A Colonel in the US, Airforce, he began his career as a fighter pilot in the where he picked up the nickname ‘TOGA’. He flew in both operational and training squadrons before falling in love with teaching and transitioning to academics. He is Commandant and Dean of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, a Lego Serious Play Facilitator and an Iron Man Triathalon Coach. In this episode, we explore the role between play and power, how even being in the military work can be a case of enlightened muddling through and how the best use of play can often be where it doesn’t feel quite right. Things to consider Links Connect with Jason on LinkedInPrimal ConnectPlayThe Icarus SolutionArticle, Playful SplintersDo You Show up at Work as Your Full Freaky Self?Designfulness (Part I): What if Design Thinking isn’t ultimately about Designing?Playing with Splinters, or Three Thoughts on Play that are Driving Me Mad2021 SA Innovation Summit - Rescuing IcarusReview of The Infinite GameExtended MindGroup Genius Get in touch! Make Work Play Playfilled

Play is the key to collaboration and co-operation. Work and play are intrinsically interlinked, and without play, people are unable to make connections that drive people forward. This is how innovator and trainer Tim Widdowson approaches play at work. Tim is a partner and facilitator at the Culture Experiment and the So Team. He's also a guest lecturer on design thinking, innovation and collaboration at Oxford University's Said Business School. As a behaviour change specialist, keynote speaker and trainer, Tim's core focus is on developing and exploring the creative behaviours needed for cultures and businesses to flourish. Things to consider Links Connect with Tim on LinkedInThe Culture ExperimentPlayfilledMake Work PlayGood People, Cool Things

There are alternatives to PowerPoint, and to playing Devil’s Advocate. Filling a space with foosball tables and slides doesn’t inherently make a space “playful”. Joining Lucy to discuss how play forms the basis for so much of their creativity, are Brendan Boyle and Michelle Lee-Schmidt from global design form IDEO. Brendan is the founder of the IDEO Play Lab, adjunct professor at Stanford, board member of the National Institute of Play and an award-winning author of the Klutz Book of Inventions. Michelle is Managing Director of IDEO's Play Lab, where she leads an integrated research design and development team, bringing engaging, interactive, and playful experiences to market. Things to consider Links Connect with Michelle on LinkedInConnect with Brendan on LinkedInVisit IOEO’s Play LabMake Work PlayPlayfilled

Many people feel they work better under pressure, but if you need to think creatively, a relaxed environment will work far better. That’s how Dr Heidi Edmundson approaches play, and importantly makes the distinction that although play can be childlike, it’s not childish. Things to consider Links As we recover from the pandemic let’s not forget to encourage staff to take a breakPlayfilledMake Work Play

Tommy Crawford and Brian Fitzgerald of Dancing Fox work with individuals and organisations tackling problems as diverse and weighty as climate change and childhood cancer. But the often isolating nature of the work makes play all the more vital. Tommy is a published poet, shamanic storyteller, and a fountain of wild ideas. Brian spent 35 years at Greenpeace, and wrote the children's book, The Moon Candy Rebellion. Things to consider Links Dancing FoxKeith JohnstoneNot Knowing: The Art of Turning Uncertainty into OpportunityMake Work PlayPlayfilled

Our sense of culture and identity impacts how we approach and conceptualise play. Many of the black women Stacey-Ann Morris has worked with have felt a pressure to fulfil the role of the “strong black woman”. Stacey-Ann is a learning experience designer, facilitator, and educator who creates playful, inclusive, and meaningful connections related to personal and career development in work, school and community settings. She's a graduate of Harvard university, a Lego Serious Play facilitator and has designed curriculums programs and workshops at several universities and colleges. Things to consider Links Connect with Stacey-Ann on LinkedInLego Serious PlayBuild Out LoadPlayfilledMake Work Play

Play is a powerful connector, transcending boundaries of culture and background. That’s the philosophy that Kay Scorah brings to her play practise. Kay is a facilitator, coach, comedian, dancer, writer, and general polymath. Kay started work as a research biophysicist, before moving into market research and subsequently into advertising. She now runs HaveMoreFunlimited, working with individuals and groups to improve verbal and non-verbal communication. Things to consider Links HaveMoreFunlimitedTurning the Tables conferenceMake Work PlayPlayfilled

Play is a form of exploration, and it begins with the environment we have at our fingertips. This is Lee Kim’s approach to play, and it permeates the work she does in what we might consider one of the most serious of environments. Lee is a design strategist and community builder, based in New York She studied mechanical engineering and fashion design. She serves as Global Congress Lead at Pfizer and is the founder of a social impact nonprofit called Design Dream Lab. Things to consider Links Design Dream LabHow Wearing Silly Hats Helped a Mom Find JoyMake Work PlayPlayfilled

Improv is a social technology for approaching uncertainty and complexity. That’s the philosophy Robert Poynton brings to his playful practice. Rob is the author of two books in the Do series (Do Improvise and Do Pause), and an Associate Fellow at Oxford University’s Said Business School. He designs and facilitates workshops, retreats, and pauses, and runs online projects that help people learn how to integrate play into their work. Things to consider Links Do ImproviseDo PauseYellowThe Everyday ImproviserMake Work PlayPlayfilled

Lucy Taylor from Make Work Play and Tzuki Stewart from Playfilled interview play practitioners, academics, and leaders who are taking play seriously. Why Play Works explores questions such as Each episode serves up playful practices that you can take away and inject into your work.