It
is important to create a playful atmosphere at work as work can become dull and
uninspiring at times. The first question that we need to ask ourselves is, how
are we viewing work at the workplace? Work does not mean only effort, solving
challenges and discipline. Work should be engaging filled with fun. This makes
one productive. Making work as play sounds good and appealing, however
implementing it in our daily work as part of organizational culture does
require lot of effort. We need to understand that it does not happen overnight. Fun
at work should not be viewed as a task which has to be completed. The momentum
of play has to build slowly among the team members. The approach has to be made
playful so that it blends with work and not the team viewing it as a new task.
Be aware of the fact that fun means differently to different people. Not
everyone will view fun in the same way. Approaches have to keep changing as fun
connects differently to people. It takes time to integrate play with work.
Associate
Celebration with Challenges:
A
positive, playful and energetic workplace does not happen by accident or by
chance. It has to be designed. Challenges with a fun side topping like a bet
will get energy triggering and moving the team in a single-minded direction to
achieve the same. The energy of the team changes as people start coming
together for fun filled challenges. Play should not be treated as the opposite
of work. Play and work are mutually supportive. There are
benefits to play and maintaining a playful attitude, even in the most serious
of careers. We all have a need to have fun. The people who stay sharp and interesting as
they age are the ones who continue to play and work. play
helps us deal with difficulties, handle challenges, approach routines and
emotions, such as boredom or frustration.
Cultivate
a Playful Attitude at Work:
Most
of us are spending long hours at work and would like to inculcate fun to fuel
our work. Working in a serious atmosphere builds stress, however showing our
playful side can make a huge difference to how we approach our work and the
levels of stress we experience. Keeping objects at the workplace which will
remind of funny situations will bring a smile at laugh to share with
co-workers. Make it a point to make a co-worker laugh on a daily basis. Sing
and dance just for the fun of it. Our sense of humour will start surfacing back
as we start developing a playful attitude towards life just like when we were
kids. Start incorporating playful and funny elements in presentations. Create a
handmade funny side of yourself and hang it on your table. Playing games in
office will also help to develop a playful attitude. Playing in the office can benefit health and wellbeing. A ping pong and foosball with park
benches can be earmarked for the team to chill-out in that earmarked zone.
Playful designs make the employees feel young at heart. The more the inner
child comes out the team becomes more productive. The feel-good factor is
infectious and catches like wildfire in the team.
Laughter as a Tool for Developing Playfulness:
Take time out to
laugh at least for a few minutes in the workplace, if we really care about our
team and want to create a productive and happy environment where people feel
good about themselves and what they do. The business community is also recognizing
its role in the physical and mental well-being of company employees. Many
organisations are working to create space and time for all kinds of healthy and
happy workplace.
Laughing as a playful activity allows individuals to bond and
grow close to one another through light-hearted interaction. It can
benefit work-relationships positively in the workplace. Playfulness
enables friendly atmosphere and nourishes trust, which leads to caring and
sharing. Playfulness stimulates creativity to those who bring a playful mindset
to work. Playfulness leads to imagination and innovation. It helps us to find
new solutions to challenges in the workplace. When we stop playing, we stop
growing. The fact that the entire team is given an opportunity to participate
and play makes them feel appreciated. So we have to find subtle ways to infuse
a little bit of playfulness into our life and work. The management has to keep
working continuously in the background to introduce creative ways of keeping
the team engaged and high in spirits.
In
current pressurized working environment, we can help manage our mental
well-being by recognizing signs of stress, developing good playful habits, and building positive relationships with colleagues.
Comment below with your thoughts.
Watch this space for more insights on healthy mindset for self-leadership. Want to bring about the culture of managing with meditation,
progress and perform mindfully for maximizing your outcomes in a playful
approach at your workplace or in your venture, attend our Turning
Point– Turn in and Tune in workshop. Mail us at culture@hasovan.com for more
details. Our team would be happy to get in touch. Catch the work-place
philosophy of various companies in the book “Erupt with Joy” by Savitha
Hosamane.
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